Friday, August 2, 2024
Meditate on the Word – Psalm 1:2 Submitted by Kay Crumley
What does the word meditation or meditate mean to you? Some may imagine the meditation of a yogi, sitting in a particular pose with eyes closed and perhaps quietly making sounds of ‘om’ gently vibrating through their lips. That conjures up a vision of quiet thoughtful relaxation. One dictionary definition is to ‘think deeply or focus the mind for a period of time.’
We are called to meditate on the Word of God throughout the Bible. Is that the same kind of meditation described above? Here are some passages to consider.
Psalm 1:2 Instead, his delight is in the LORD’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. Verse 1 instructs us not to hang out with the wicked or sinners, rather (vs 2) find your delight in the Lord’s ways. To do that one must meditate on His instruction day and night, or in our vernacular, 24/7. So, does that mean we sit with eyes closed in a relaxed position deeply thinking about His instructions?
Joshua 1:8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. This passage includes doing things, everything, all the time that is written in the Word. That eliminates the idea that we just sit around in deep thought if we must be out doing those things written in His Word. If we are keeping it on our lips, that suggests that we are also talking about His laws to others. Talking about, thinking about, and doing what is written in the Word will result in our being prosperous and successful. Not necessarily wealthy in worldly understanding but being rightly aligned with the precepts of God’s ways, following His paths.
Psalm 119:97-99 Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. David proclaims his love for the laws of God. He knows and understands them because he thinks about those laws all day long. He has become wise by reciting the testimonies in his mind. We gain wisdom, knowledge, and understanding by meditation on His Word.
That leads me to believe that meditating on the Word of God takes more effort than just sitting around thinking about it. Here is a more comprehensive definition of the Hebrew word for meditation. Rabbi Samson Hirsch the linguist and Hebrew master relates the word hagah meditate to the word for encircling or surround. That is the same idea as eating. You encircle the Word of God, surround it, and ingest it, and once ingested, like eating food, it becomes a part of your body bringing you nourishment and energy. This explanation is much more than just intellectually contemplating about the Word but also taking it into our very being so that His instructions become a part of who we are. Notice the idea of ingesting or eating the teachings of God. We have heard that we are what we eat. That suggests that those who eat healthy, nourishing food will have strong healthy bodies. In the same way, those who spend time wrapping our minds around the Word of God to take it into our very being grow spiritually strong and healthy. His way becomes who we are, what we think, how we react to circumstances, and how we interact with everyone we encounter. His instruction is deeply engrained into our lifestyle.
How do we meditate on His Word all the time and live a life doing the things that written in scripture? We can just sit thinking about it but we must do what is taught in the Word. The life of Jesus was not one of quiet contemplation but of actively sharing the love of God by the way He lived the righteous life. We can only do that by having the Word of God imbedded in our hearts and minds.
Philippians 4 has much to say about how we need to live. Paul was ending his letter to the Philippians and summarized some of his principles in the first 8 verses of Chapter 4. He told them to work together in agreement to the truth. They are encouraged to not worry but pray to God about their concerns and thankfully expect Him to answer their prayers. That is how we need to live every day. Give all our anxieties to God, He is the one in control and has the power to bring change to align with His perfect will.
Verse 8 is the way we can do those things he is teaching them and us. Here if that verse in the Amplified version. Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].
This suggests that meditation is keeping your mind focused on those things that bring honor to God. The noise of the world and all the descension that is newsworthy is not included in that list. Circumstances can alter our focus and attention causing anxiety and fear. "When fear begins to dominate or rule us, then the object of our safety and security has been misplaced. In essence, we have given fear God's rightful place.” - Dr. Jim Thomas
