MEDITATING ON THE WORD OF GOD

Meditating on the Word of God

Josh 1:8
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth;
but thou shalt meditate therein day and night,
that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein:
for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous,
and then thou shalt have good success.

1 Tim 4:15
Meditate upon these things;
give thyself wholly to them;
that thy profiting may appear to all.

BIBLICAL MEDITATION = The act of deeply thinking about, praying about, and pondering a Biblical teaching or verse, perhaps recalling it to mind and pondering upon it, and applying the lesson to one’s own life. The meditation of a righteous person contemplates God or Biblical spiritual truths.

1 Tim 4:15-16
15: Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
16: Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine;
continue in them:
for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

BIBLICAL MEDITATION, encourages you to fill your mind with the Word of God and the teachings of Jesus Christ, and to recall these truths throughout the day in prayer and submission to the Holy Spirit. By doing this you will be allowing the Holy Spirit to cause you to grow to maturity and usefulness in your Christian life.
John 14:26
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name,
he shall teach you all things,
and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Josh 1:8-9
8: This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth;
but thou shalt meditate therein day and night,
that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein:
for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
9: Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed:
for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Psa 1:1-2
1: Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,
nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2: But his delight is in the law of the LORD;
and in his law doth he meditate day and night.


BIBLE VERSES RELATING TO BIBLICAL MEDITATION
Psa 19:12-14
12: Who can understand his errors?
cleanse thou me from secret faults.
13: Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me:
then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
14: Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight,
O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Psa 63:1-8
A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.
1: O God, thou art my God;
early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee,
my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
2: To see thy power and thy glory, such as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
3: Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
4: Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.
5: My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness;
and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:
6: When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.
7: Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
8: My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.

Psa 77:11-14
14: I will remember the works of the LORD:
surely I will remember thy wonders of old.
12: I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.
13: Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary:
who is so great a God as our God?
14: Thou art the God that doest wonders:
thou hast declared thy strength among the people.

Psa 119:9-16
9: Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?
by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
10: With my whole heart have I sought thee:
O let me not wander from thy commandments.
11: Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
12: Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.
13: With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
14: I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
15: I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
16: I will delight myself in thy statutes:
I will not forget thy word.

BIBLICAL MEDITATION AND WORSHIP
Thus meditation by God’s people is a reverent act of worship. Through it they commune with God and are thereby spiritually renewed and uplifted .

Psa 104:33-35
33: I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live:
I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
34: My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.
35: Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more.
Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.

Most references to meditation occur in the Old Testament, especially in the Psalms. The Hebrew words for meditation primarily were derived from the Hebrew word "hagah", which literally means "to utter in a low sound." The word is used to denote the growling of a lion (Isa. 31:4) as well as many instances of "meditate" Therefore it has been suggested that, in ancient Hebrew meditation, Scripture frequently was recited in a low murmur as one pondered its meaning and personal application.

Isa 31:4a
For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me,
Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey...

In Psa 19:14, an intensified form of "hagah" ,is "Higgaion", and is defined in Strong's dictionary this way:
"a murmuring sound, i.e. a musical notation (prob. similar to the modern affettuoso, to indicate solemnity of movement); by impl. a machination:--device, meditation, solemn sound.

Psa 1:1-2
1: Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,
nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2: But his delight is in the law of the LORD;
and in his law doth he meditate{H=hagah} day and night.

Psa 143:5-8
5: I remember the days of old; I meditate{H=hagah} on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.
6: I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
7: Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth:
hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
8: Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust:
cause me to know the way wherein I should walk;
for I lift up my soul unto thee.

The second root word (siyach) has the basic meaning of "to be occupied with," or "concerned about." or "to ponder" or "to converse with thyself". Thus meditation is the repetitious going over and 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.

Job 7:11
Therefore I will not refrain my mouth;
I will speak in the anguish of my spirit;
I will complain{H=siyach} in the bitterness of my soul.

Psa 77:6
I call to remembrance my song in the night:
I commune{H=siyach} with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.

Psa 77:11-12
11: I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.
12: I will meditate{H=siyach} also of all thy work,
and talk of thy doings.



INTENSELY SEEK THE TREASURES OF THE WORD
Prov 2:1-5
1: My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
2: So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
3: Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
4: If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
5: Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

DELIGHT YOURSELF IN THE TREASURES OF THE WORD

Psa 119:47-48
47: And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.
48: My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved;
and I will meditate in thy statutes.

LET THE WORD TAKE UP RESIDENCE IN YOUR HEART

Col 3:16-17
16: Let the word of Christ dwell (G=to occupy a house) in you richly in all wisdom;
teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17: And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

APPLY THE TEACHINGS OF THE WORD TO YOUR LIFE

1 Tim 4:15-16
15: Meditate upon these things;
give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
16: Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them:
for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

PRAY FOR UNDERSTANDING AS YOU STUDY THE WORD

Psa 119:73-80
73: Thy hands have made me and fashioned me:
give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.
74: They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.
75: I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
76: Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.
77: Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live:
for thy law is my delight.
78: Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause:
but I will meditate in thy precepts.
79: Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.
80: Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.

MEDITATE ON THE WORD CONTINUALLY THROUGHOUT YOUR DAY

(Psa 119:97-104
97: O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
98: Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies:
for they are ever with me.
99: I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
100: I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.
101: I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.
102: I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.
103: How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104: Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

MEDITATE ON THE WORD IN TIMES OF PERSECUTION

Psa 143:1-11 A Psalm of David.
1: Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications:
in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.
2: And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
3: For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground;
he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.
4: Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.
5: I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works;
I muse on the work of thy hands.
6: I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
7: Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth:
hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
8: Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust:
cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.
9: Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.
10: Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God:
thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
11: Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's sake:
for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.

BIBLICAL MEDITATION IN THE NEW TESTAMENT: BIBLICAL MEDITATION AND CHRISTIAN SERVICE

Paul advised Timothy to meditate on the matters about which Paul had written Him (1 Tim. 4:15). The greek word, melatao, means "to revolve things around in your mind". In this passage, meditation on spiritual principles is linked to action in Christian service. Meditation is an important part of the Christian’s relationship with Christ.

1Ti 4:8-16
8: For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things,
having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
9: This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
10: For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God,
who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
11: These things command and teach.
12: Let no man despise thy youth;
but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
13: Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
14: Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy,
with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
15: Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them;
that thy profiting may appear to all.
16: Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them:
for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
God Bless you as you ponder these things.
In Christ
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Craig and Zelma