Our topic this morning is a subject that requires personal reflection. See, I have found myself doing this more than ever -- that is meditating. How many of you meditate? How many of you are consistent in your meditation? Don’t fool me now. I don’t know about you, but during my Christian walk, I’ve heard preachers speak about meditation.
·The preacher said we should meditate.
·The preacher said meditation is essential to our dily living.
·The preacher said the person who doesn’t meditate would continuously endure unsolvable afflictions.
I believe at some point or another, we all meditate. What or whom are we meditating to is the question. Church, do we truly comprehend the essence and necessity of meditation? So for a few minutes let’s speak on the subject: The Discipline of Meditation.
Our text “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night,” So exactly what does it mean to mediate? How does one meditate? When should one meditate? These are questions that resonate within my spirit as I embark this path for my life. The meditation that I want to address this morning isn’t transcendental meditation better known as yogi or TM but rather biblical meditation. See meditation denotes concentrated thought and reflection. While yogi is a methodical practice that allows mental activity to settle down to a silent state of awareness where the mind is calm, collected, yet fully expanded and fully awake yogi doesn’t embrace the divinity of the Triune God. Joshua wasn’t referring to Transcendental meditation that encompasses Buddhism and Hinduism. Because TM is in nonconformance to the Word of God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob which was the God whom Joshua worshiped. Remember the Bible tells us to “be not conform to this world.” Christian meditation is rooted in the Bible. My Bible commands us , today, to meditate. We see in our text, Joshua 1:8, God instructs Joshua to command the Israelites to meditate on His word day and night. A command that’s plausible today so we will careful to obey the written Word of God. Yeah! Yeah! Meditate, it’s in the Word. The psalmist says, "his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night" (Psalm 1:2). Actually, the Bible mentions meditate or meditation 20 times. The Hebrew word for meditation is ‘hagah’ pronounced (haw-gaw). It means to ponder, to study. Biblical meditation equates to quiet contemplation, that is, the pondering of spiritual truth, the Word of God.
Additionally, Biblical meditation requires discipline. What is discipline? Discipline is training that corrects and molds the character of a child of God into the image of God. Church, concerted, intensive discipline:
1.Develops reverence for the Word of God (Heb 12:8-10)
2.Produces obedience to the Word of God (Proverbs 19:18)
3.Maintains sound faith in the word of God (Titus 1:3)
Mack Fackler, editor of 500 Questions & Answers from the Bible states, “The discipline of meditation involves first having God’s Word, then reading it, studying it, memorizing it, considering its meaning for you, and acting on it.”
If we, the Saints of God, will continuously endure presumable unsolvable afflictions, we must engage (like Joshua did) in the discipline of meditation. Now you and I both know that there is no problem too hard for God. However, Joshua declared meditation day and night was the solution to the problems they faced. I’m here today to say unless we meditate day and night our problems will overwhelm us. Joshua knew meditation was necessary; but not only was it necessary it was something that had to become habitual, that is day and night. He understood the importance of having God’s Word in his heart so he would be ready for all occasions. We too must hide God’s Word in our heart so that we will be ready for whatever comes our way. We can’t wait to find a Bible; we must be the living Bible.
So, here in our text we see where Joshua practiced the art of meditation. Church you know Joshua. He was the successor of Moses and the one who led the Israelites into the Promised Land where the Israelites faced the giants in their lives. Yeah! Yeah! That Joshua! You know Joshua (the one who had the hands of many in his hands). Church, I’m telling you that Joshua practiced meditation. His status and position did not impede him from engaging in this act. Rather, I believe because of the weight on him, he practiced meditation even the more. Now the Bible doesn’t say that but it does say (read with me: Joshua 1:8 states, “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful”).
We see here where Joshua and God are having a conversation. I choose to believe because Moses was no longer on the scene, Joshua went to the Lord in prayer, in meditation to obtain guidance. And because God hears and answers the prayers of the righteous, God instructed Joshua in how to get the Israelites into the Promised Land. It’s in the text, look at Verse 1 which reads, “The Lord said to Joshua.” Who said, the Lord said unto Joshua. Have you ever had a problem or needed an answer to something that you were going through and need to hear a word from the Lord? It’s in our time of meditation that the Lord will speak directly to you and instruct you in how to do something that will affect you for the rest of your life? There’s a saying that goes somewhat like this:
Little prayer, little power
Some prayer, some power
Great prayer, great power
Church Joshua meditated and he heard the voice of the Lord render explicit instructions in order to resolve his dilemma. But not only his dilemma but those that he loved as well. Look with me, it’s in the text (verses 1-9).
Church not only did Joshua practice meditation but his entire family did as well. It’s in the Word. Joshua 24:15 states, “But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." My mom use to say, if you’re in my house you are going to church. Sometimes, we give our children too much control over the matters of their lives. Matters that will help them as they journey life’s pathway. We must be active and not stand by and watch our children fall into the hands of the enemy.
The word ‘meditate’ in this context of our scripture is used in the active sense. It is something that an individual does; meditation isn’t inactive. It’s like having a car to transport you back and forth. But unless you or someone drives the car, you will never get to and from your destination. Meditation is like aged cheese or aged wine. To ‘meditate’ means to devise and to muse. The longer one ponders on the Word (the aged wine or cheese) for understanding, the sweeter the application of the Word. Meditation births wisdom and wisdom births the proper application of the Word of God. In mediation, the individual intentionally does more than sit in the car, that is read the Word of God. The individual does more than look at the age cheese. At some point, you have to drive the car and eat the cheese. When one meditates, then the individual engages forces to bring about a resulted end. The resulted end comes when the individual begins to:
§Develop that which was read
§Formulate, that is, put together that which was read
§Consider, that is, to take in account that which was read
§Ponder, that is, will reflect on and believe that which was read
I believe that Joshua reflected on God’s Word and thus he had to go in prayer for its proper application in order to get the Israelites to the Promised Land. Fackler also states, “Biblical meditation includes prayer and this kind of meditation immerses us in God’s Word so that it informs and motivates us through all the troubles and opportunities life presents.”
The Israelites had troubles; they had giants in the Promised Land to conquer. Church, we will never know what’s up the road ahead of us. But if we are disciplined in our time with God, as Joshua was, we too can conquer the giants in our lives. We will never conquer the giants in our lives:
·Giants of oppression
·Giants of depression
·Giants of envy
·Giants of jealousy
·Giants of rage
·Giants of rebellion
·Giants of mistreatment
·Giants of resentment
·Giants of frustration
·Giants of confusion
If we do not adhere to the Word of God.
Meditation isn’t a fling; meditation is an order, a command from the Lord.
·Psalm 1:2, “But his delight (the blessed) is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.” It’s in meditation that we seek guidance for our life in God’s Word (the way God devises).
·Psalm 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.”
·Psalm 39:3, “My heart grew hot within me, and as I meditated, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue.” There are times that we are so upset that we speak before thinking. Here in this scripture, we see the necessity to meditate before speaking. Once it’s said, you can’t take it back.
·Psalm 49:3, “My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the utterance from my heart will give understanding.” Wisdom mandates meditation on the Word of God.
Yet there are times in our lives when we don’t know what to pray for. But oh praise God. Even in those times, we can still meditate and turn over to God the unsettledness within. Then the Spirit of God will intervene on our behalf. Church, I’m telling you that it’s to our benefit to meditate on God and on the Word of God.
·Psalm 143:4-5, “My spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed. I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.”
I’m telling you that we serve an awesome God. In our lowest times, He is right there with us. Oh yes, Jesus, promised that He would be with us until the end of time. So go ahead and pray, go ahead and meditate; go ahead and ponder on the goodness of Jesus and all that He has done for you and for me.
I believe Jesus was do disciplined in his time with the Father that even facing death, Jesus couldn’t intercede on your and my behalf in prayer to God.
Jesus was so discipline in His quiet time with God, that while Jesus hung on that old rugged cross, He spent his last minutes on earth, meditating to the Father. Jesus did what many of us need to learn how to do. Jesus remember the days of long ago; afterall, Jesus came from the Father. Thus Jesus could reflect on the works that He and His father had done. We too must reflect, look back on what the Lord has already done for us; if He did it then, He will do it again. Instead of arguing and becoming disgruntle, meditate. Don’t allow the enemy to intervene instead let the mind of Christ be in you.
See Church, satan thought He had Jesus, but the:
·Giants of oppression and depression couldn’t overtake Christ, Christ meditated
·Giants of envy, jealousy, and rage couldn’t embrace Christ, Christ meditated
·Giants of mistreatment, resentment, and rebellion stop Jesus, Christ meditated
·Giants of frustration and confusion was all around Jesus, but Christ meditated
Jesus meditated and the Father revealed the plans to my Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. See Church, Jesus meditated and that’s why He was able to endure the suffering on the cross. Oh yes, He hung, bleed, and died on that cross but He got up and took back the keys from the enemy. Christ rose, He ascended to the Father. Now I’m so glad to say that He now sits at the right hand of the Father looking down on us. Jesus sees our every step, our every need, our every tear shed, Jesus sees all. If we are to endure life’s sufferings, we too must be discipline, obedient and meditate day and night (pray without ceasing).
