Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

Instead of "I have hidden", various translations of this verse other than the NIV (as found at https://biblehub.com/psalms/119-11.htm) express it as "I have treasured", "I have stored up", "I have kept", and "I have laid up". To me, these are preferable, since, instead of suggesting a connotation of secrecy or concealment associated with the English word "hidden", they more clearly convey a sense of "storing" God's word in our hearts (which, from a practical standpoint, means in our memories, thoughts, and consciences).

In my opinion, such "storing" is accomplished through familiarity gained by purposeful and repeated reading, memorization, and study of the Bible, and meditation on it. As a result of such activity, relevant passages that pertain to situations in which we find ourselves involved, or that we encounter, will come readily into our minds, so that they can be put into practical use, and serve as a guide for our thoughts, words, and actions, thus fulfilling the admonition of James that Christians be "doers of the word, and not hearers only." (James 1:22)

February 21 2019 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church

Studies have shown that we must read, hear, or do something 6 times before it is in your head -- so for the Bible to get from our head to our heart, we need to read the Bible each and every day.

Thank you, God, for your word. Help us to be faithful to read it and to keep it in our heart to be used each day. Amen.

The Word of God in the Heart Psalm 119:11

1 A Good Provision ‘Thy Word’
2 A Good Practice ‘have I hid’
3 A Good Place ‘in my heart’
4 A Good Purpose ‘that I might not sin against Thee’

See also the link: https://ebible.com/questions/20006-what-are-some-good-ways-to-memorize-the-bible

February 22 2019 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report