Many christians think of meditation as something evil, not realizing that meditation is mentioned many times in the bible. The video below takes a look at some of these mentions.
As early as genesis we see meditation mentioned in the bible. In the story of Isaac and Rebecca, special mention is made of Isaac going out to the field at evening to meditate.
This tells us a few things:
- First it suggests that it was a regular habit of his
- It also suggests that meditation should be done in nature or in a quiet place. We gather that because in the evening the workers would have gone from the fields and they would be empty.
Now that we have established biblical precedence for meditation let us see what specific instruction is given.
In Joshua chapter 1 and verse 8 from the New Living Translation it says “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.”
If we look at the King James Version it says “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
Here the bible tells us that we need to CONSTANTLY meditate on the law so that we can follow it and have success.
This is reiterated in Psalm chapter 119 and verse 97. It reads, “Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.”
In Psalms chapter 49 verse 3 we see David suggesting that meditation happens in the heart and that meditation helps us gain understanding of whatever we meditate on. If you recall the previous version advocated meditating on the word of God. So if we meditate on the word of God we may begin to understand the meaning of his word and other biblical concepts.
What else can we meditate on?
In Psalms chapter 77 and verse 2, David further suggests that we meditate on God’s work. By meditating on the work of God we become closer to God and gain more understanding of the nature of God.
Unfortunately meditation is not always a good thing. Whatever we consume we will meditate upon. In Isaiah we see that meditation can amplify the horror and unpleasantness in our lives. This is why it is important to make sure that we meditate on the right things: something positive and uplifting.
We can also meditate on the experiences of those who have gone before us. You don’t have to experience everything to learn from it. Too often we need to experience things for ourselves to believe it. When we do this we are missing out on the wisdom of our ancestors and teachers.
Meditation is not only mentioned in the old testament. In 1 Timothy Chapter 4 verses 14 and 15 we learn that we can strengthen the gifts that we have been blessed with through meditation.
Psalms chapter 5 and verse 1 reminds us that God is aware of our meditation. As we speak, act and meditate we should ensure that we are honoring God.
Phillipians gives us an extensive criteria of things that should occupy our thoughts and be the object of our meditation. These include things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, virtuous and praiseworthy. The New King James Version explains “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”
If you take nothing from this short video, remember this one verse
