Psalm 1 introduces the book by pronouncing one “blessed” who displays godliness of character and who also “delights” and “meditates” on the Lord’s word. It’s been said that the only way to keep a broken vessel full is to keep the faucet running (2 Corinthians 4:7) and that’s precisely what biblical meditation does. It’s something that’s going on frequently and consistently – “day and night” (Psalm 1:2). This Psalm of six short verses vividly and powerfully depicts two ways. It speaks of the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked, and how the choice one makes determines the difference!
It is possible to so stress godly living, prayer and Bible study that we fail to give appropriate emphasis to meditation. If such does occur in one’s life, a person may be blessed but still miss out on something extremely rich and rewarding. Meditation is deep thinking on the beauty and truth of God and Scripture (His Self-revelation in creation, Scripture and the Person of Jesus) for the purpose of greater love, understanding, application and prayer. We are mulling over in our mind the Person, nature, will, wonder and works of God!
Study, meditation and prayer are three privileges and responsibilities that should be kept together (cf. Joshua 1:6-9; Philippians 4:8). Think of meditation as a rich way for more smoothly shifting from rewarding Bible study to richer prayer and greater godliness. Meditation adds God-centeredness, thoughtfulness and depth to our study and praying. Our “spiritual transmission” needs all three to keep our gears shifting smoothly so we become more like Christ (Romans 8:29).
Whenever I’m personally struggling, or when I encounter preachers and other Christians who are weighed down with the pressures and difficulties of life, I ordinarily have found there is a problem with the matter of meditation. Go back and “meditate” on the definition for meditation given in the second paragraph.
Truly living by every word that comes from God involves meditation (Matthew 4:4). Setting our affection on things above requires meditation too (Colossians 3:1-4). If the word of Christ is to dwell in us “richly with all wisdom” (Colossians 3:16), surely it will entail meditation. Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 4 to “Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress” (vs 15). Note the terms “practice,” “immerse” and “progress” and how each relates well to the concept of meditation. The first term literally means “to fix one’s mind on, to take care to, to meditate” and is translated as “meditate” by the KJV and NKJV.
Training ourselves for greater godliness (1 Timothy 4:7-8) necessitates a greater delight in and practice of meditation. One of the neatest things about it is we can meditate about the beauty and truth of God anytime and anywhere. Never leave home without it!
Mike Vestal
