INTRODUCTION

     The word Meditate means "to muse over,ponder, to plan in the mind,to purpose, or intend" The Greek word implies "to revolve something in the mind" and is also translated to imagine. Two reasons for biblical mediation are "to ponder over correct knowledge" also referred to as renewing the mind and "to contact God behind His Word" through prayer, praise, and mediation; i.e., musing, pondering, and thinking about Him. 

 

METHODS OF MEDITATION

 

Topical Study

 

For example: Baptism

       You need to ponder over questionsthat you have or that the Scripture raises, such as: Are there qualifiications to be met before baptism? What is the purpose of baptism? When was it practiced? In what time frame? What is its significance?

 

When choosing a topic to ponder over;

         1. Define the word from Greek, Hebrew, or a good bible dictionary. 

         2. Find the root word from which it is delivered.

         3. Consider and ponder over the context of verses that will lead you to study other related subjects, such as remission (Acts 2:38), repentance (Acts 3:28), faith (Mark 16:16), the conscience (1 Pet. 3:21), calling on the Lord (Acts 22:16), etc.

 

Expositional Study; i.e., a verse-by-verse study of a book of the Bible.

• The key is to ponder and think over a book for so long that you become familiar with its content (verses and chapters).

 

World Studies 

• What do certain words mean? What does it mean to believe? What does the word Lord mean? What does the word Jesus mean? What does th word Christ mean? What does the word justify mean, etc.

 

Paragraphical Study

• A paragraph is a unit of thought in writing, usually containing several sentences. When an author changes their subject of emphasis in writing, they usually begin a new paragraph. When meditating through scriptures, look for punctuation such as question marks. Why is the question being asked? How does it relate to the context, etc.? Biblical meditation is not just looking at words, but for God behind the Word.

 

SCRIPTURE LESSON TEXT

          Our text for this lesson enjoins upon Christians that they engage in a form of "meditation"

"Finally, brethen, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things."

(Philippians 4:8)

 

The practice of "meditation" by Christians is not something you might hear frequently discussed. It may be that some Christians are simply not aware that they are commanded to "meditate" or it may be that some believe "meditation" belongs solely to the Eastern religions like Hinduism and Buddhism.

 

Yet Paul clearly teaches us to "meditate on these things", and "meditation" is certainly a Biblical subject:

A. Issac meditated in the field at eventide- Genesis 24:63

B. Joshua was charged by God to meditate "day and night" -Joshua 1:8

C. The "blessed man" in Psalms 1 is one who meditates- Psalm 1:1-2

D. David became wiser than his teacher through meditation- Psalms 199:99

E. Paul commanded Timothy to "meditate on these things" - 1 Timothy 4:15

 

But some questions may come to mind:

A. WHAT does meditation mean for the Christian?

B. WHY should we be concerned about making tim to meditate?

C. HOW should we meditate?

 

MEDITATION IN THE BIBLE

A.What Meditation in the Bible is?

a. To dwell or contemplate on some truth or reality already revealed (i.e., an "objective" form of meditation). Keeping an open line of communication of before, during and after prayer

B. To be more specific, the man "after God's Own heart" is one who meditates on such things as:

a. The Lord Himself - Psalms 63:6

b. His wonderful Works - Psalms 77:12

c. His revealed Word - Psalms 119:15, 23, 48, 97-99,148

C. To put it in the words of the apostle Paul, we are to meditate on "things"

a. Things that are "true, noble, just pure, lovely, of good report"

b. Things that are of any "virtue" and are "praiseworthy"

D. The PURPOSE of such meditation is 

a.To nourish man with his understanding of God and His Revealed Will (not to seek for some previously unrevealed truth)

b. To give man spiritual joy and strength through such nourishment - Psalms 1:1-3; Isaiah 40:28-31

E. Christian meditation dwells on that already revealed in creation or inspired reveleation. Whereas other forms of meditation are seeking some new truth to be revealed.

A. What meditation in the bible is not?

a.The kind practiced by many Eastern religions; like Hinduism, Buddhism, or Transcedental Meditation, where the object is to experience truth,peace, or being, that is "inexpressible"

b. The kind practiced by "Christian mystics" such as Quakers, and others often found among Catholics and Protestants. These meditate in order to "experience" God, or to receive some revelation from God.

c. Both Eastern and "Christian mystical" meditation usually attempt to empty the mind so as to find or receive truth within (i.e., a "subjective" form of meditation)

So there is a very real difference between "Biblical meditation" and that commonly practiced by many religions! Understanding the difference, why is Biblical meditation so important?

 

WHY WE SHOULD MEDITATE 

A. It's a source of Joy and Strength 

a. This we have already seen from such a passages like Psalms 1:1-2; Isaiah 40:28-31

b. These scriptures alone should motivate us to meditate more often

B. It's an important part of our transformation

a. The goalof the Christian is to become more like Christ- Romans 8:29

b. This requires a "transformation" - Romans 12:1-2

C. This is possible only by "renewing the mind" - Romans 12:2

a. This "renewing" is possible only when we "set our minds" on proper things, on things above not on things on the Earth - Colossians 3:1-2

b. Only then, when our minds are "set on things above", will we be successful in completing the "transformation" which includes "putting off the old man" and "putting on the new man" - Colossians 3:1-2 with Colossians 3:5-14

 

MANY CHRISTIANS FALL BECAUSE THEY MEDITATE ON THE WRONG THINGS

A. They "mind the things of the flesh", which leads to "death" and "enmity with God" Romans 8:5-8. Yet even those in the world understand that you cannot be a spiritual person if you "dwell" on carnal things.

B. Recent studies conducted by a Standford University research team have revealed that 'what we watch' does have an effect on our imaginations, our learning patterns, and our behaviors. First we are exposed to new behaviors and characters. Next, we learn or acquire these new behaviors. The last and most crucial step is that we adopt  these behaviors as our own. One of the most critical aspects of human development that we need to understand is the influence of 'repeated viewing' and 'repeated verbalizing' in shaping our future. The information goes in, 'harmelessly,almost unnoticed,' on a daily basis for our reactions. In other words, our value system is being formed without any conscious awareness on our part of what is happening! You are what you watch and think. If a sixty second commercial, by repeated viewing, can sell us a product, then isn't it possible for a sixty minute soap opera or 'smut-com', by repeated viewing, to sell us a life-style?

 

If Christians are going to succeed, they must set their minds (or meditate) on "the things of the Spirit", or on "things above, where Christ is"! Only then can they with God's help "put off the old man" and "put on the new man". 

 

HOW TO MEDITATE

 

REMEMBER, YOUR MIND IS AFFECTED BY EVEN CASUAL CONTEMPLATION!

A. The first step to proper meditation is to be selective in what you watch and read

B. Fill your mind with positive and spiritual thoughts if you really want to:

a."renew the mind"

b. "be transformed"

C. It doesnt have to be restricted to the Bible, as Paul said: "Whatever things..."

a. There are novels, movies, television shows, etc., that fall into the category of possessing "virtue" and being "praiseworthy". Seek the advice and counsel of other Christians as to what is "of good report"

D. So first let your "casual" contemplationbe discriminatory!

 

TO REACH THE HEIGHTS OF SPIRITUAL MEDITATION,HEED THE COUNSEL OF THE PSALMS...

A. Make the Bible your primary focus for meditation - Psalms 1:2

B. Read it contemplatively every day - Psalms 1:2; 119:15

C. Read it with prayer in your heart - Psalms 119:18

D. As you read, occassionally read it aloud to yourself

a. The Hebrew word in Psalms 1:2 means "to mutter"

b. Reading slowly and audibly helps to focus one's mind on the words

 

AS YOU READ, YOU MIGHT ASK YOURSELF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS

A. Is there some truth I should know from this verse?

B. How does this passage affect a previously held conviction?

C. Is there something I should stop doing in light of this verse?

D. Is there a practice I should change?

E. Is there a habit I ought to begin?

 

CONCLUSION

 

In Pslams 19:14, we find David praying: "Let the words of mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in your sight, "O Lord, my strength and my redeemer."

 

What Paul commands us to do in Philippians 4:8 ("meditate on these things") is the means by which we can assure that our meditations will be acceptable in the sight of our Lord!

 

To put it anotherway: "Hold the Word of God in your heart until it has affected every phrase of your life...this is meditation."