Scriptural MEDITATION and Why It’s Important
When most people hear the word ‘meditation’ they automatically think of TM, aka Transcendental Meditation, but that’s not our topic here. We’re talking about biblical meditation.
Meditation comes straight from the Scriptures. Here’s a good example from the first book of the Bible:
He [Isaac] went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching.
Genesis 24:63
The Hebrew word for ‘meditate’ in this verse means to muse. What was Isaac musing on since there were no scriptural texts at the time? Possibly a word from the LORD since God occasionally spoke to his servants back then, as is done to this day via the Holy Spirit. Or perhaps Isaac mused over his divine calling; or possibly he reflected in awe over God’s creation, including the magnificent starry panorama, which naturally reveals the Creator (Romans 1:20 & Psalm 19:1).
Here are a couple other examples of meditation in the Bible:
1 Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.Psalm 1:1-3
11 I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
12 Praise be to you, Lord;
teach me your decrees.
13 With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth.
14 I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.
15 I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.
16 I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word.Psalm 119:15
The Hebrew word for ‘meditate’ in the latter verse is siyach (SEE-akh) which means “to muse, complain, talk (of).” The idea is that you’re pondering over something, reflecting on it; so much so that you speak of it, both to yourself and others when the opportunity presents itself. The fact that meditate can also mean “to complain” makes sense since, if you’re constantly complaining about something, it’s because you’re focused on it and therefore have been meditating on it.
This reveals that we can meditate on good things or bad things. Hence meditation is only healthy depending on (1) what you’re meditating on and (2) what ideology you combine it with. A person that embraces LIEberalism, for instance, might meditate on something positive and it helps them to some degree, but then they combine it with loony Leftist ideology and so it’s a mixed bag in their life.
Likewise, a Christian could practice meditation and it blesses them to some measure, but then they allow hatred to take root in their heart – ironically through meditation – and it cancels out their positive meditation. The moral is that we all have to guard our hearts from negative things taking root and producing bad fruit (Proverbs 4:23).
Why Is Meditation Important?
Several reasons, but I’m only going to stress one here: When you meditate on something, you’re chewing on it (or stewing over it). The idea/thought in question is thus fed and it will grow in your heart, whatever it might be. Once it’s lodged in your heart through meditation you’ll live accordingly.
Consider, for example, meditating on a certain passage of Scripture or a biblical topic and the corresponding passages. One of the ways faith grows is by exposing yourself to the word of God (Romans 10:17). The specific word may come through reading the Bible yourself or through hearing a sermon, whether in person or via audio/video. The more you chew on a passage or topic – that is, muse over it, speak it – the more faith will grow in that particular area. For instance, if you want faith to receive a healing, then expose yourself to passages about faith & healing.
The only way a believer will practice the word of God or live in light of it, is if the word in question becomes a part of him/her. Otherwise they’ll hear the word or read the word and walk away not remembering it. James addressed this in the Scriptures:
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
James 1:22-25
So when you hear/read the word, the best way to ensure that you’ll practice it – or live in light of it – is by making sure you chew it and swallow it, which occurs via meditation. People who hear God’s word and don’t practice it or live in light of it do so because they never chewed it & swallowed it; they never meditated on it. As such, it never became a part of them. The Lord was in essence getting across this vital point when he quoted from the Old Testament:
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”
Matthew 4:4
Just as we need physical sustenance in order to live, so we need spiritual sustenance to walk in the abundant life we’re called (John 10:10). Christ said “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63 ESV). If you want to be filled with “spirit and life” it’s necessary to learn to chew the word of God you hear/read and swallow it so that it becomes a part of you.
For inspiring details on this topic — including examples of meditating on key passages, like Psalm 23 — check out this audio sermon video which cites all the relevant passages for your convenience:
Related Topics:
Heart – Is it “Desperately Wicked”? (It Depends)
Praise & Worship—What’s the Difference? Why are they Important?
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