With my whole heart have I sought thee
The Psalmist makes personal application of the truth stated in the previous verse. He had previously stated that such seekers are blessed (Psalm 119:2), but now he applies himself to the task. An undivided heart is essential in seeking God. Anything less is idolatry. Jesus said it is the “first and great commandment” (Matthew 22:38) to “love the Lord they God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matthew 22:37).

O let me not wander from thy commandments
The second part of the verse is a plea in prayer to God. There are many such pleas in this Psalm. This cry reveals to us the ground of the Psalmist confidence. He is not trusting in himself nor his own heart for he knows it is deceitful and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). This prayer comes from one who knows he is “kept by the power of God through faith” (1 Peter 1:5).

There is profitable instruction here for the wise man who will heed it. Our hearts are prone to wander. The appropriate response is not to try harder. It is to cry out to God to bind our wandering hearts to Him.

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“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?”
The second stanza begins with the question of how the way shall be purified. This is a question concerning practical holiness. How can a man be clean and walk in a way that is clean? Every child of God is marked by the desire for practical holiness.

But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
~ Romans 6:22

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
~ 2 Corinthians 7:1

For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
~ 1 Thessalonians 4:7

In this case, the young man is specially considered. The Proverbs are full of direct words to the young man and he is peculiarly vulnerable to the folly of youth and the pride of life because of his strength. If a young man be in the way of Christ, it is urgently pressed that he be committed to being clean in the way.
 

“By taking heed thereto according to thy word.”
The question asked is then answered in the text. He is instructed to take heed, which means to hedge about, to guard, to attend to. The young man must take this business seriously. He is called to diligent and passionate action. He must be zealous and persevering in this most important task.

The young man’s heed is to be of the Word of God. This term occurs 24 times in this Psalm and refers to the words that are spoken. It is qualified in this text as the words spoken by God. Jesus highlighted this importance in His answer to Satan:

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
~ Matthew 4:4

A young man is to heed diligently the Word of God and make his way in it. In so doing, he will cleanse his way. Jesus also told us that God’s Word is powerful to cleansing.

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
~ John 17:17

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The first statement is the firm resolve of the Psalmist. He knows that joy and happiness are bound up with the Word of God. His purpose is to keep it.

The last statement is a plea that tempers the first with humility. He is not claiming a perfection and therefore cries to God that he not be forsaken. There is assurance and rest in God’s faithfulness. It is not the Psalmist’s ability to “keep” the statutes that comfort him. It is God’s faithfulness that encourages his heart.

The whole first stanza teaches us that the Word is our life. We are to walk, keep, respect, and learn. It is not all head work, but also for our hearts and hands. We have here an idyllic picture and also the strong desire to so walk. Complete dependence on God is emphasized throughout the whole stanza.

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