Meditating on God's Word



I will delight myself in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your word.
Psalm 119:16


How precious it is to meditate continually on the truths of God's Word. God, awesome and infinitely wise, commands us in Scripture to meditate on His holy Word. The picture of the righteous and successful man portrayed in Psalm 1 is of one who lovingly and diligently meditates on God's Word, day and night. God's Word is his treasure and unending delight. The result is beautiful. He is "like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper."

Having commissioned Joshua to lead the people of Israel into the promised land, God then commands Joshua as follows: 
 
"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." (Joshua 1:8)

The foundation of true success is God's Word. By meditating on God's Word, we feed upon and digest His Word, and it becomes part of who we are. Ruminating on God's Word, for the Christian, is indispensable for spiritual growth, maturity and success. The Psalmist knew this well - "Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day." Should we not also be able to say the same?

As we ruminate on His Word, we are also meditating on Jesus, the Word and Giver of life. Many are the blessings of the practice of meditating on God's Word. It helps us to "hide" His precious precepts in our hearts, and thereby, keep us from sin. It gives us victory over sin (Psalm119:9-11).
 
Through meditating on His Word, we receive wisdom and understanding (Psalm 119:97,100). Meditation on His Word enables us to be filled by His Spirit (Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 5:18), it gives us comfort during suffering (Psalm 119:52), and strengthens our faith (Psalm 119:24).
I find meditating on the attributes of God wonderfully spiritually edifying.
Consider the holiness of God. His very essence is holiness. "Be holy, for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16). God hates sin utterly. In Habakkuk 1:13, we learn that God is of purer eyes than to behold evil.

In Hebrews 12:14, we are exhorted to "pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord." Meditating on these truths, would you dare to continue in sin? May we be reminded: "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Hebrews 10:31).

Ponder His love. Meditate on God as the habitation of infinite love, for God is love. Indeed, "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Ought we not therefore to walk in love towards all?
 
Consider His mercy, which endures forever. "He delights in mercy" (Micah 7:18). This should encourage us to run to Him as our refuge, knowing that if we repent of our sins, He will in no wise cast us out. What assurance!

Meditate upon His omniscience, His omnipresence, and His power. He is everlasting, He is infinite, self-sufficient, and the Creator and Upholder of the universe. He alone is able to meet our deepest needs. Yet He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness (Joel 2:13).
 
It is joy indeed to meditate on His awesome attributes, His many Biblical titles, and His beautiful promises. Remember, finally, the exhortation in Philippians 4:8:

"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."

May the God bless you indeed, as you continue to meditate on Him and on His Word.

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