Biblical Meditation

I. Only read the Psalm verses from Psalm 119 and 63…the others are quotes and references

II. Understanding biblical meditation

A. Biblical meditation is not…

1. The Eastern religion or mystical practice of emptying the mind of all thoughts and becoming one with the universe.
   • There is nothing wrong with trying to quiet your mind and clear your thoughts for a time.

Sometimes we can get into a series of ruminations and complex and confusing thoughts and we may need to get somewhere and try to think of nothing for several minutes to “reset” our thoughts and calm down.

Sometimes our minds need a rest from inner voice and thoughts just to enjoy the moment.

• The value of an empty mind is small compared to the great value of biblical meditation.

1. It is not being silent and clearing your mind so God will speak to you.
   • Christians are told to seek guidance from God’s word

2 Timothy 2:14-15- Know it, live it, and teach it

2 Timothy 3:15-17 – Study God’s word to be mature

2 Timothy 4:2-4 – When people leave God’s word, they go into error

• There is no instruction for the believers to expect messages from God through feelings, impulses, interpretation of events, or message directed to their hearts.

In fact, the scriptures teach us to be inherently distrustful of the heart (QUOTE)

Proverbs 28:26 – “Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.”

Jeremiah 17:9 – “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”

Proverbs 14:12 – “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death”

As Mark Copeland said in his excellent work on the Holy Spirit, “Don’t let feelings of the human spirit keep you from following the teachings of the Holy Spirit!”

B. Modern definition and usage

1. The modern definition often includes the Eastern practices of chanting and mantras.
2. Most generic definitions define it as thinking deeply or carefully about something.
3. Thesaurus: consider, contemplate, ponder, or reflect.

C. Meditation is used mostly in the Old Testament, especially Psalms, and is translated from two words.

1. One word, according to Holman Bible Dictionary, “has the basic meaning of ‘to be occupied with,’or ‘concerned about.’ Thus meditation is the repetitious going over of a matter in one’s mind because it is the chief concern of life. The constant recollection of God’s past deeds by the hearing of Scripture and repetition of thought produce confidence in God.”
2. The other word means to moan, growl, or utter
   • It is used in Isaiah of the growling of a lion and the moaning of a dove.
   • It is used in Job, Psalms, and Isaiah to utter something.
   • In terms of meditation we could think of one murmuring under his breath as he is considering various options or a course of action or trying to solve a problem.

Proverbs 24:2 says of evil men, “their hearts devise violence, and their lips talk of trouble.” One can imagine the evil may conversing with himself in his heart as he devises evil plots.

Its use in Joshua and Psalms that we will observe is like an inner soliloquy or discussion about God and His will.

D. So combining these definitions we can think of biblical meditation as having an inner conversation about God’s word and its meaning, God’s works and nature, God’s work in our life, how to live lives that harmonize with His will, making sense of the things in our life in the context of His word, and our relationship with Him.

III. Understanding the biblical meditation discipline

A. Background: When Moses died, his servant Joshua was given leadership of God’s people.

1. Joshua 1:1-9
2. He comforts Joshua with the promise of His presence and urges courage and obedience.
3. Consider the specific instruction of Joshua 1:8.

B. “The Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth”

1. The first key to biblical meditation is bringing God’s word into our heart.
2. We must spend time reading God’s word, memorizing sections of it, and rereading the word.
3. In His word, God reveals Himself, His will, and provides insight and direction for our life.
4. Like Joshua, the words of Jesus should not depart from our mouth which means spending much time in the New Testament, not neglecting the wisdom of the Old Testament for its insight.

C. “but you shall meditate on it day and night”

1. Meditate on the commands of God
   • Psalm 119:48 – Love for the commands of God and meditation on the statutes
   • Psalm 119:99 – contemplating God’s word leads to deep understanding
2. Meditate on the works of God
   • Psalm 119:27 – considering the word and works revealed within
   • Psalm 104 praises the glory of God’s greatness, His works of creation, and specific details of the created world that arouses his sense of wonder. In verse 34 he is overcome and declares, “May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.”
   • Psalm 145:5 – “On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate”

Psalm 145 is a declaration of God’s great works in different situations

Each generation can praise the works of God with the prior generations and God’s work in their own lives to the next generation.

God is mighty in His works and love for His people

1. Meditation during the day
   • Psalm 119:97 – it is my meditation all the day
   • Throughout the day, events, news, things we see in nature can prompt spiritual consideration.
2. Meditation during the night
   • Psalm 119:148 – contemplating it at night
   • Psalm 63:1-8 – pursuing God in the temple and meditating on his bed at night
   • What a joy to fall asleep with the thoughts of God’s love and care as your last thoughts.

D. “so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it”

1. Psalm 119:15 – meditate on the precepts and fix attention on the ways of God.
2. Psalm 19:14 – after praising the law of God he prays that his meditation is acceptable to God
3. Thinking about God’s word is of no value if we do not follow it, James 1:22-25.

E. “For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

1. Obvious in the spiritual blessings that come from serving God though such a person would enjoy many physical blessings from God’s care.
2. Psalm 1 reveals the character of the blessed person who meditates on God’s word and follows it
3. David could have confidence in the face of enemies that God would deliver him
   • Psalm 119:23 – as evil people plotted
   • Psalm 119:78 – as he has been wronged by the evil
4. Meditation helped him through trying times
   • Psalm 77 – Meditating in the Day of Trouble (3, 6, 12)

Considers the great works of God and that he is only man

Realizes that even when he can’t discern God’s love and care, it is still there.

• Psalm 143 – spirit faints but remembers different times and God’s general goodness
• It is meditation in difficult times that helps us seek meaning in suffering or gain spiritual strength through the trials we face (James 1)

IV. Practicing the spiritual discipline of biblical meditation

A. “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth”

1. Develop a daily Bible reading plan and schedule time to read God’s word.
2. Don’t just open up to a random passage, choose sections of the Bible that allow you to know more about God, enlighten you about His will, or you need to learn in order to teach others.
3. For even greater encouragement, memorize passages of scripture so you can think about them when your Bible is not handy or you physically cannot read the Word.
4. Sometimes people feel that they keep reading God’s word but don’t get much out of it or remember it. This is where meditation is very helpful.

B. “but you shall meditate on it day and night,”

1. The book Spiritual Disciplines defines meditation as “deep thinking on the truths and spiritual realities revealed in Scripture, or upon life from a scriptural perspective, for the purposes of understanding, application, and prayer.”
2. Close the Bible and have an inner conversation about what you read.
   • Interpretive: what did the passage mean? Who was addressed? What was taught?
   • Reflective: (examples)

Does this passage address something I have been struggling with? If so, how?

Did I read a command that I haven’t been following or that I want to improve in my obedience? How could I do this (specifically)?

What did I learn about the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit through this passage?

Was there a promise that provided comfort or a warning to consider? What does it mean?

• To deepen the meditation, write down your thoughts (or type them or record them).

You will have a resource for reference in the future.

Sometimes you want to revisit meditations and expand your thoughts or consider how later understanding provides some insight to prior meditations that were confused and concerned.

You can write many observations on the same passage and have a resource to prompt future times of meditation. It is interesting to see your spiritual maturity develop in time.

1. The Puritan Thomas Watson said, “the reason we come away so cold from reading the word is because we do not warm ourselves at the fire of meditation.”
2. Often before going to do a mindless task like washing the car, mowing the grass, or cleaning the garage, I’ll read a passage of scripture and chew on it while I am doing the task.

C. “so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it.”

1. A product of the period of meditation is thinking about God’s commands, being aware of them, trying to appreciate why God commanded something, and facing one’s challenges to obeying the command.
2. As we meditate on God’s commands, we need to think about what specific steps we can take to fulfill the command and pray for God’s strength to do His will.

D. This whole process does not have to take a long time though the more time spent in study and meditation would be very beneficial. But a daily habit of 15-20 minutes of reading God’s word, contemplating the reading, and writing thoughts related to some impression from the passage on how it reflects God’s glory, provides insight about one’s life and hope for eternity, and direction will significantly improve one’s walk with God and deepen his or her spiritual life.

E. Remember: “For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

1. Hebrews 6:7-8 – fruitful from soaking in the blessing of God’s word, not producing evil fruit.
2. Psalm 19:7-11