I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.
- Psalm 143:5
Meditating has been an overworked term for years. Yet, God encouraged meditation. Not to empty our minds, but rather to focus on overcoming our shortcomings.
Our key scripture shows David's exercising his meditation on the works of God. This diligence was as joyful for him as it would be for us to do. David rationalised his way through the depths and layers of God's Word, which gave him a far greater understanding of God's nature. He understood God's wonderful heart and mind, His love for humankind, and His faithfulness to His promises.
Years before that, God told Joshua to meditate on His law. "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night." Joshua 1:8.
Why? It helped him focus on God's written Word, his personal obedience to it, and the success of his leadership and army's battles. Meditating on how to walk with God became more than Joshua's pastime. It was a structure in his life. A foundation.
Psalm 1-3 shows us certain people who were similarly diligent to Joshua. Their success was also attributed to meditating on God's law. "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. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." (v2)
By focussing on what God had instructed them to do, they found they had become like strong, tall, and highly useful trees "planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."
They turned themselves into counsellors of value. They began to fathom how God counsels and how He has already placed answers in His Word so we can both conform to His standards ourselves and counsel others the right way.
Later on, 1 Timothy 4:12-15, shows Paul instructing His protege Timothy to meditate on specific things. "but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all."
Each of the above instances shows us those followers became spiritually richer, more focussed, and more capable. They developed a depth sought by others and became renowned for it. We can too. To meditate means to muse or imagine. Imagine peeling an onion. When you look at scripture, peel one layer off at a time and see what's underneath. How many angles can you see in the verse or passage?
Today's prayer: Dear Lord, my meditation has been short and scrambled most of the time. I want to meditate on your Word, helping me grow in your meditation and not waste valuable time focussing on wrong things.
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez
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