Bible Readings:
Joshua 1:1 – 9
Ezekiel 3:1 – 15
Psalm 119: 1- 16
Psalms 1 & 2
Sermon Outline:
Psalm 119:15–16 (NKJV)
15 I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways. 16 I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.
I What is Biblical Meditation?
Psalm 119:15 (NKJV)
15 I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways.
Psalm 119:15 (BHS)
15 בְּפִקֻּדֶ֥יךָ אָשִׂ֑יחָה וְ֝אַבִּ֗יטָה אֹרְחֹתֶֽיךָ׃
8488 I. שִׂיחַ (śîaḥ): v.; ≡ Str 7878; TWOT 2255—1. LN 30.1–30.38 (qal) meditate, muse on, consider, think on, i.e., ponder and so give serious consideration to information, or a situation (Jdg 5:10; 1Ki 18:27; Ps 77:4[EB 3],7[EB 6],13[EB 12]; 119:15, 23, 27, 48, 78, 148; 145:5+), note: in context, this musing can lead to despair and complaint, or wonder and elation; (pilpel) consider (Ps 143:5+); 2. LN 33.69–33.108 (qal) speak, tell, make an utterance of any kind, with an apparent focus that the content spoken has some thought behind it (1Ch 16:9; Job 7:11; 12:8; Ps 55:18[EB 17]; 69:13[EB 12]; 105:2; Pr 6:22+), note: the speech can be mocking, complaining, or praising depending on the context; (pilpel) speak (Isa 53:8+)
Swanson, J. (1997). In Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament) (electronic ed.). Logos Research Systems, Inc.
II What are we to think about?
III How do we meditate?
Joshua 1:8 (NKJV)
8 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 (BHS)
8 לֹֽא־יָמ֡וּשׁ סֵפֶר֩ הַתֹּורָ֨ה הַזֶּ֜ה מִפִּ֗יךָ וְהָגִ֤יתָ בֹּו֙ יֹומָ֣ם וָלַ֔יְלָה לְמַ֨עַן֙ תִּשְׁמֹ֣ר לַעֲשֹׂ֔ות כְּכָל־הַכָּת֖וּב בֹּ֑ו כִּי־אָ֛ז תַּצְלִ֥יחַ אֶת־דְּרָכֶ֖ךָ וְאָ֥ז תַּשְׂכִּֽיל׃
Psalm 1:2 (NKJV)
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.
Psalm 1:2 (BHS)
2 כִּ֤י אִ֥ם בְּתֹורַ֥ת יְהוָ֗ה חֶ֫פְצֹ֥ו וּֽבְתֹורָתֹ֥ו יֶהְגֶּ֗ה יֹומָ֥ם וָלָֽיְלָה׃
Psalm 2:1 (NKJV)
1 Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing?
Psalm 2:1 (BHS)
1 לָ֭מָּה רָגְשׁ֣וּ גֹויִ֑ם וּ֝לְאֻמִּ֗ים יֶהְגּוּ־רִֽיק׃
2047 I. הָגָה (hā·ḡā(h)): v.; ≡ Str 1897; TWOT 467—1. LN 14.74–14.86 (qal) growl, i.e., the sound of a lion (Isa 31:4), see also domain LN 33.476–33.489; 2. LN 30.1–30.38 (qal) meditate, ponder, give serious thought and consideration to selected information, with a possible implication of speaking in low tones reviewing the material (Jos 1:8); 3. LN 33.69–33.108 (qal) speak, utter, i.e., talk in normal tones so others can hear (Job 27:4; Ps 37:30; 71:24); 4. LN 25.135–25.145 (qal) moan, groan, lament, i.e., make soft sounds expressing grief and sorrow (Jer 48:31); 5. LN 30.56–30.74 (qal) plot, plan, i.e., to think and so decide a course of action, with a focus that verbal exchange takes place (Ps 2:1); 6. LN 30.75–30.85 (qal) decide, weigh, i.e., make a judgment about something after a thought process (Pr 15:28); 7. LN 33.69–33.108 (qal) mutter, i.e., to speak in low, hushed tones (Isa 59:3); (hif) mutter (Isa 8:19); note: some parse Isa 59:13 as polel
Swanson, J. (1997). In Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament) (electronic ed.). Logos Research Systems, Inc.
IV I will
James 1:22–25 (NKJV)
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
Meditation is a serious intention of the mind whereby we come to search out the truth, and settle it upon the heart.
Thomas Hooker
Meditation … is a holy exercise of the mind whereby we bring the truths of God to remembrance, and do seriously ponder upon them and apply them to ourselves.” “Meditation is the soul’s retiring of itself so that, by a serious and solemn thinking upon God, the heart may be raised up to heavenly affections.
Thomas Watson
Meditation is a deep and earnest musing upon some point of Christian instruction, to the strengthening up against the flesh, world, and devil, and to the leading us forward toward the Kingdom of Heaven; or, Meditation is a steadfast bending of the mind to some spiritual matter, discovering of it with our selves, till we bring the same to some profitable issue.
Issac Ammbrose