Psalms 119:9-115 - Supplementary

The way of life: the young.

Our attention is called to—

I. THE WAY OF LIFE ; especially as it presents itself to the young. It is interesting to look forward to a long journey; to anticipate the scenes that will be witnessed, the companionships that will be formed, the memories that will be gathered for years to come, etc. But how much more interesting to look forward to the journey of life still in prospect; to anticipate its joys, it successes, its triumphs; to hope for its friendships and achievements; to guard against its dangers and its mistakes! The uncertainties of the future in the case of the young, the possibilities of failure or of victory, make the earlier years of life to be fraught with the deepest interest.

II. THE SECRET OF SUCCESS . This is twofold.

1. It is found in manly thoughtfulness . How shall a young man make his course sweet and clean and pure? "By taking heed thereto; ' by refusing to treat his life with levity, to let things take their own course, to make his "way" nothing but a "chapter of accidents;" by determining that it shall be a matter of intelligent, deliberate choice; by devoting to that most serious subject his most earnest consideration, and bridging to bear upon it the full faculties of his nature.

2. It is found in Divine guidance—"according to thy Word." And this "Word"

(a) Rejection of some—the resolute refusal to admit to our confidence those who are unworthy of it. I hate "vain thoughts," or "doubters, skeptics, double-minded men" ( Psalms 119:113 ); the peremptory dismissal from friendship of those who are unprincipled ( Psalms 119:115 ).

(b) Admission of others . ( Psalms 119:63 , Psalms 119:74 .) Very few things go so far to decide the way of life as the choice of companions. Associate with the frivolous or the skeptical, and the path of life leads downward to folly, unbelief, ruin; walk with the wise, the earnest, the godly, and that path leads upward to wisdom, virtue, usefulness, heaven.