The first few words of Psalm 39 … “I said, I will take heed to my ways.” Wherein David shows us a principle of life that made him “a man after God’s Own Heart.” (Paul quoting God in Acts 13:22.)

“I said, I will take heed to my ways.”

The opening two words, “I said,” imply that a person will have “to talk himself” (or herself) into living this kind of life, this kind of introspective life. Many will never “say” this … because they would never “do” this.

It takes resolve, decisiveness, determination, a strong will (in a good sense) to “say” (and mean it) such a thing!

Say what?

“I will take heed to my ways.”

The verb “sill take heed” translates “shamar” in Hebrew. It often means “to guard!” And in our King James Bibles it is rendered as “keep” 283 times. And “observe” another 46 times. “Preserve” 21 times and even “beware” 9 times!

Being alert spiritually!

Paul got it … “See then that ye walk CIRCUMSPECTLY, not as fools, but as wise.” Ephesians 5:15

Then, continuing with our Verse today, the noun “ways” is simply spelled “derek,” literally meaning anything from a “road” or a “path,” all the way to a “journey” … then implying “a way of life.”

How many of us are daily making mistakes and not even knowing it? NOT taking heed to our ways, not listening to the Holy Spirit? Not communing with our Saviour as we should?

Maybe we should wake up!

Maybe this is what Jude meant: “Keep yourselves in the love of God.” Jude verse 21, King James Version.

Or the Apostle Paul … “Timothy, take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine.” 1 Timothy 4:16.

This may even be bolder, yet certainly divinely inspired advice … the first part of 2 Corinthians 13:5 … “Examine yourselves.”

David is doing exactly that …

“I said, I will take heed to my ways.”

Again, how about us?

— Dr. Mike Bagwell