I broadcast a prayer meeting today which meditated on Psalm 119:9. I’d like to take a moment to write out some main ideas to help in prayer. First, the verse reads:
“How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.” (Psalm 119,9)
This verse begins a new section titled by the Hebrew letter Beth נ which means house or tent, symbolizing household. In ancient times guests welcomed into a home had their feet washed. Our Lord washed his disciples feet as an example of service for disciples to one another. The best way we serve each other is with the Word, especially in difficult times.
There are many things going on in the world that tempt us to leave the Word and its work. Both men and women are driven away from the home to be in the know about everything except God. But we can do little good for the world unless we be people in the Word.
Our prayers also need cleansing. Our prayers are cleansed by being saturated or baptized in the Word of God. Purity—as it stands, can only come by means of making the Word our home, not the world. We may live in the world, but not be of the world—if we will live in the Word of God.
Jesus prayed according to this same counsel in John 17:17,
“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”
This should teach us then that the Word is where we need most to live. Daniel’s friends could stand in this world and against it only because they lived more in the Word (Daniel 3:12–18) than in the world.