Hidden things and purity... how to make this happen

The question is asked in the Good Book, "How shall a man keep his way pure?" I wonder if that's a question that's beyond normal conversation in these days. Maybe more are thinking about their superannuation. How shall a man keep his 401-k? Or how shall a man keep his children safe at public school? Those questions might be more an American consideration today. They say that there are more mass murders in the US than days of the year, at least so far in 2024. The world stopped to notice gun violence the other evening when candidate for president Donald Trump was shot in the ear at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Safety, gun violence, terror-- those are topics of late, but not purity.

Even so, the question is there in the Good Book, so it warrants some thoughtful discussion. After all, there are some for whom purity does matter. A few years ago the world stopped in a Covid-heartbeat and watched as trauma, lack of information, viruses, governmental mandates, jabs, and school and work closures trampolined the planet into a financial crisis, and many nations or metropolitan areas are still reeling from that season. I still wash my hands a different way in these days. When I use public restrooms, I still take an extra paper towel with which to exit through the closed doors, rather than use my freshly washed hands. Purity of hands...that makes sense.

On the pickleball courts, at synagogue, at church and other social contexts, more people fist bump than shake hands. That's leftover from sports and Covid. I haven't seen what they labelled 'social distancing' any longer, but I do know of folks who still prefer to sit apart from others, especially as Covid seems to be resurging this US summer in certain states. Ah, for purity.

Leonardo da Vinci is known for many inventions and artwork, but this quote of his about purity speaks for itself. "Iron rusts from disuse; water loses its purity from stagnation... even so does inaction sap the vigor of the mind." That speaks to me. Seems that a bit of activity is required for us to have purity of soul. In other words, purity is not stagnant; it's not a characteristic that is settled in an ingenue or old man; it's demanding our attention.

The Good Book had an answer to that question. It's found in the Psalms. The longest psalm in the Bible. 119. And in verses 9- 11 we read this: 

 "How can a young man keep his way pure? 

      By keeping it according to Your word.
With all my heart I have sought You;
      Do not let me wander from Your commandments.
Your word I have treasured in my heart,
     That I may not sin against You."

That advice seems colleagial with Da Vinci. Somehow keeping our way consistent with the Word of the Scriptures and 'treasuring' it in our heart will prevent impurities from lodging within us. The word translated 'treasure' is the Hebrew word "Tsafanti" from the root meaning 'to hide.' Hiding is an activity I employ with my grandchildren, and it launches a game where each of them tries to hide the coin or the die behind their ear or my ear, and they laugh out loud for the pleasure it gives them. Whatever else is included in the verb, it's clear that hiding is an active word. Reading the Bible is a good enterprise and is itself active, but I think the author (King David, et. al.) is intending something else.

God is often the one who is hiding. In fact, the game of hide-and-seek might have been played by God long before my siblings and I found it in the 1950s. 

For instance, Moses records this from God's lips:

“Then My anger will be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them and hide My face from them, and they will be consumed, and many evils and troubles will come upon them; so that they will say in that day, ‘Is it not because our God is not among us that these evils have come upon us?’ But I will surely hide My face in that day because of all the evil which they will do, for they will turn to other gods." (Deuteronomy 31.17-18)

   

The ancient Jewish prophet Job who had plenty of personal and family troubles, said to God, 

“Why do You hide Your face 

And consider me Your enemy? (Job 13.24)

But whether we are or he is hiding, the issue is not that activity, but rather hiding something in our heart.

The word is hiding in the heart of the psalmist. How do I make that happen? Hiding in a bush in a game of tag is easy to see. Hiding 20,000 in a Swiss bank account is a little harder, but still able to be done. How do I hide God's word in my heart?  I believe the key is understanding the word 'meditate.' To mull things over, to ponder, to focus one's thoughts on, or to reflect. That's what I hear when the word is used. And that's the way to hide God's word 

Reading the Good Book is fantastic. Memorizing passages helps get the Word very accessible to you, and then meditating on those words, one word, one phrase, one idea at a time is hiding it in your heart. 

How shall a man keep his way pure? Meditate on the Word, one day and one word at a time, and God will continue to speak with you throughout your day and purity is a (super)natural function of this enterprise.  Five times in this one psalm we read this word (119.15, .27, .48, .78, .148) and each time it's the conclusion of the psalmist. Bury the word deep in your soul, and it will have its desired effect. It's not only knowing the Hebrew or Greek; it's not academic; it's personal and restorative. 

The apostle James said, "receive the Word IMPLANTED which is able to save your souls." (James 1.21) It's the meditated word which implants in the heart and can save (restore) our souls to God's original plan. 

Why not try it today? Take a word like Colossians 3.17 or John 20.31 and let it loose in your heart after you memorize it. I wish you success. And purity. And God's life to flow in you. Today.