One day, while walking through the park, I began to reflect on the beauty of God’s creation. This brought me to the beginning of the Bible with Genesis 1. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” I began to meditate on this verse. Thinking of this verse over in my head and wondering about how it began everything for us, my meditation was brought even further by the remembrance of John 1:1. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” This meditation of God’s Word is important for growth.
But what is ‘meditation’? According to the “Ultimate Bible Dictionary” by Holman, meditation is deep thought or reflection upon some truth or supposition. A righteous person contemplates God or His great spiritual truths. He hopes to please God by meditation. Thus meditation by God’s people is a reverent act of worship. Through it they commune with God and are renewed spiritually. Meditation is an important part of the Christian’s relationship with Christ.
As we meditate, or think about, God and His truth, we are strengthened and grown. We are edified and nourished. We strengthen our relationship with the King of kings and Lord of lords. We love more fully, and we relate to others better. This act of meditating on God’s Word allows us to fully digest the teachings and principles that God has given us for our own benefit and the benefit of others.
In the Strong’s Concordance, there are few different Hebrew and Greek words for “meditate”. I am going to talk about just one Hebrew word, ‘hagah’, and one Greek word, ‘meletao’. Hagah means ‘to murmur; to ponder; imagine; to meditate, moan, growl, utter, speak; reflecting the sighing and low sounds one may make while musing.’ It is like when today we would reflect on something and say, “huh”, “hmmm”, or “aha”. Just thinking about something and making connections in your mind causing one to speak or mumble sometimes. Meletao means ‘to take care of; revolve in the mind.’ It is mulling something over and over in your mind, looking at the idea from different angles and ways.
For the Hebrew word hagah, there are several Old Testament verses that use this form translated to ‘meditate’. One verse is Joshua 1:8.
"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." (ESV)
Here, Joshua was told by the Lord to be strong and courageous multiple times in the surrounding verses. He will need strength and courage to accept his task, to obey the Torah, and to resist being terrified. The most difficult of these three things is most likely the center one, to obey the Torah. This is making the Lord’s instructions integral to who he is and what he does, meditating on them constantly so as to do them. In order to make them integral to everything he is and does, he has to meditate on them. He has to mull them over and think about how he can integrate them into his motives and actions. This is the only way to be prosperous in wisdom and successful in mission.
Throughout the Psalms, this word hagah is mentioned. In Psalm 1:2, it says, “but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. (ESV)” The righteous thinks about the instructions and principles of God continually, and he uses them to guide his steps and decisions. In Psalm 119:97, it says, “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. (ESV)” The psalmist exclaims how much he loves the law because by it he is able to make good decisions, keep hope, and know what do do and where to go. And as a final example, Psalm 77:12 says, “I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. (ESV)” Thinking about all of the things God has done helps us to hold on to His promises. If He has made good on His promises in the past, He will most certainly make good on His future promises. We have a good God who loves us so much. He has done so many wonderous works that we have no need to fear. We can truly be strong and courageous in Christ.
In the Greek, the word ‘meletao‘ is noted in 1 Timothy 4:15. In the KJV, meletao is rendered ‘meditate’, but in the ESV, it is translated ‘practice’. “Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. (ESV)” It is more accurate to say meditate, since this word literally means “revolve in the mind”. The KJV says, “meditate upon these things.” In this portion of the Bible, Paul is writing a letter to Timothy to give him encouragement and instruction. Verse 15 says to “meditate on these things”, but what is he supposed to specifically meditate on? That is found in verses 12-13. “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. (ESV).” Thinking on these things and mulling them over, thinking about how he can integrate these into practice in his life, his motivations, and his actions, this is what he is to meditate on.
For all Christians, we meditate on God’s Word because His “Word is truth (John 17:17).” This is how we are sanctified and prepared to live in righteousness. And John 1 says that Jesus is “the Word, and He became flesh and dwelt among us.” Meditating on Jesus and what He has done for us should cause us to revere and love Him. He gave it all for us. He came to us in humanity, lived a perfect life, died the worst death any human could in this life, and He rose again demonstrating His authority over death. No one else but Jesus has and could do this. You and I could not do near as much as He did. He was perfectly humble and selfless. Meditating on this helps us to grow in our love to Him.
Meditating on God’s Word also prepares us for every good work. If we look at the second letter to Timothy, we see in chapter 3,
"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." - 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)
God’s Word helps us in every needful way. He completes us and equips us perfectly with His Word. In other words, reading and meditating on His Word gives us fuel and information to get through life in this broken world while awaiting Jesus’ glorious return. In Matthew 24:42-44, it tells us to “be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming… For this reason you much be ready as well; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will (NASB).” He is coming soon, and we do not know when He is coming.
Begin with daily meditation on His Word. You can mull over a verse or passage throughout your day if you begin your day with God’s Word. I’ve noticed that in practicing meditation daily, I have more peace and patience throughout my day. In the morning, I read a portion that I have purposed to read for the year. Then something seems to stick out in the reading. That is what I think about throughout the day. Generally, I think about how it fits in the overall plan of God in redemption, but at times it may be something that I need to work on in my own life application. If I am doing something or thinking something that I should not be, I am shown by the Spirit in the Scripture a highlight of what I may be suppressing or turning a blind eye to. The Holy Spirit will highlight for you a needful Scripture if you let Him. If you remain alert to His voice, to His promptings.
Biblical meditation is thinking on the words of Scripture with a receptive heart, trusting the Holy Spirit to work in you through those words. We carefully consider and focus our attention on Him. While reading God’s Word, read it slowly and purposefully to gain insight as to who God is, what He is like, what He likes and dislikes, etc. Our goal of meditating on Scripture is to know God more and deepen our relationship with Him. God is so good and tells us that He wants us to know Him. The entire Bible is His love letter to us, His beloved. He loved us so much that He sent His Son to redeem us. And when Jesus finished His work, He sent His Spirit to continue with us and seal us for the day of redemption – when the culmination of God’s redemptive plan is finished and we are vindicated. The Holy Spirit is with us continually as Christians. He gently whispers to us. We need to learn to listen for Him. Meditating on Scripture guides us in so many ways including learning to hear from God.
Gotta go fill up my cup…..
Coffee with Candee 