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 Meditation


BACKGROUND
The word "meditate" first appears in the Bible in Genesis 24:63 "He [Isaac] went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching".  The word meditate continues to appear throughout the Bible, appearing approximately 16 times.

We have probably heard the word "meditate" many times in our lives, but what does this word really mean?  To meditate can be defined as:  to think on, to ponder, to muse.  Synonyms for the word include: consider, contemplate, reflect, study, think deeply, recollect, ponder.

BIBLICAL MEDITATION
In the modern world we hear a lot about meditation, transcendental mediation, the chanting of mantras, yoga, and the like.  However we should be aware that biblical meditation is very different from any other form of meditation.  With eastern forms of meditation, the goal is to empty the mind and detach oneself from the world.  Biblical meditation attempts to fill the mind with truth, according to God's Word - thinking, pondering on Him and His works. The only emptying of mind with biblical meditation is that of ignoring the distractions and harmful influences of the world.  Unlike eastern philosophies, biblical meditation does not leave the mind vacant and easily accessible for the "squatters" of the devil to move in!
 

WHY MEDITATE?
Why should we meditate?  Fundamentally, because God tells us to!   In Joshua 1:8 we read the Lord's commandment and promise to Joshua: "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; 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".   Consider then what must happen if we don't meditate on God's Word?  Presumably we become disobedient to the Lord and his commandments, careless, detached, ignorant of His ways, rebellious, poor, unsuccessful and ultimately condemned.  Not a pretty picture!

When we meditate (think, ponder, muse, reflect) on God's Word, we focus our thoughts and attention solely on Him and His works: "I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all Your works and consider all Your mighty deeds" (Psalm 77:11-12), and by doing this we open ourselves up to His instruction, through the Holy Spirit. "Let me understand the teaching of Your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders" (Psalm 119:27).  We receive encouragement from Him and the enabling grace and courage we need to decide to change and become new creations in Christ Jesus.  "Set you hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things" (Colossians 3:1).

The Lord never tells us to do something without a very good reason.  I.R. Jensen puts it very well: "An unread Bible is like food that is refused, an unopened love letter, a buried sword, a road map unstudied, a gold mine not worked".  We should not read the Bible simply for the purpose of collecting information about God however.  Many books in the Bible lose their meaning for us because we get tied up in the "story" of an ancient culture and miss the message hidden within its words.  We need to move beyond mere information-gathering to seeing and understanding what God wants to share with us personally through His Word.  Just think - the Lord God Almighty chooses to communicate with us!  Through His Word He reveals Himself to us.  It is His "users-manual", for teaching us how to live our lives, in accordance with His wishes. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16).  We also need to remember just who we are before Him, (i.e. sinners) and that we need reconciliation with Him.  Through the bible God reveals His plan of salvation for us.

"The words of the Lord are seeds sown in our hearts by the Sower.  They have to fall into our hearts to grow.  Meditation and prayer must water them and obedience keep them in the light.  Thus they will bear fruit for the Lord's gathering".   [G MacDonald]

HOW TO MEDITATE
Okay, so we recognise the need for meditation on His Word.  But how do we go about this?  One biblical scholar puts it neatly:  "Biblical meditation involves the whole process of reading and observing a portion of Scripture to seek both its meaning and application".  Try thinking of the Lord as right there with you, talking to you, showing you His mind and will.  Perhaps these ten points may be helpful:

(1)   Read the verse(s) over slowly and reverently several times.
(2)   Study it (maybe with the aid of a concordance, commentary, dictionary).
(3)   What does the verse say?  Try writing it out in your own words.
(4)   What does the verse mean?  Read it like it's written to you personally.
(5)   Is there a fresh revelation about God the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit?
(6)   Is there a good example to follow, or a bad example to avoid?
(7)   Is there a command to obey or a warning to heed?
(8)   Is there a fresh insight into the subtle devices and goals of Satan?
(9)   Does the verse illustrate a sin to shun or perhaps confront?
(10) How does the verse apply to your life or situation today?

Having reflected on the meaning of a particular scripture, we need to do three things to sucessfully apply it in our daily lives:
 
(1)  Recognise and confess our sins, in relation to what we've learnt.
(2) Receive in faith whatever we have discovered.  (Heed the warning of Hebrews 4:2: "... the message they heard was of no value to them because those who heard did not combine it with faith".)
(3)  Be obedient to act upon whatever the Lord has shown us.

PROBLEMS
Major hindrances in meditating on God's Word today is that it requires time, work, commitment, dedication, discipline - things which in today's society, alas, are not popular.  The Devil just loves to keep us from the things of God.  He uses all kinds of devices to keep us from meditating on God's Word:  the hussle and bustle of our daily lives, the noise and distraction of the world, our insecurities, fears, laziness and procrastination.   In Psalm 119, we read how the Psalmist prays to God many times for understanding - obviously we are not the first to feel inadequate when it comes to Bible study!  However, with God's enabling grace, all things are possible.  We need to recognise the hand of Satan in our "can't do it/won't do it" deceptions.  We must, as Paul says in 2 Timothy 2:15, "Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the Word of truth".  We must overcome our natural inclinations and the lies of the Devil and make a commitment to meditate on God's Word.

CONCLUSION
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts higher than your thoughts"  (Isaiah 55:8-9).  By meditation on His Word we bring our thoughts and lives into line with God's ways.  We study the bible to learn His truth so that we do not act in a manner contrary to His Will.   Many find it useful to set aside a specific time and place for their daily meditations.  In this way we can come apart, be quiet and listen for God without distraction or interruption.  Mother Teresa said "Spend one hour a day in adoration of the Lord and you'll be all right".

The Word of God is "a lamp to my feet and a light for my path" (Psalm 119:105) because "all Your words are true; all Your righteous laws are eternal" (Psalm 119:160) and when we apply ourselves to it, we receive this promise "If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed; And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31-32).



REFERENCES
Jensen, I.R: How to profit from reading the Bible
Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary

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