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The BIBLE & Our Perspective
Meditation - Thinking About the Bible
 

If you aren't serious about being a follower of Jesus, you will not be interested in most of what is found in this section. Meditating on the Word of God - not to be confused with the "mind-emptying meditation" of eastern religions - involves actively thinking about what God says - learning it, understanding it, and applying it to one's life.

You cannot be lazy or merely "religious," if you want to meditate on God's Word. It requires effort - and a willingness to change - to go beyond mere "religion," to the point of being a genuine disciple (follower) of Jesus.

Remember that Jesus (as well as the rest of the Bible) warns us that merely hearing or knowing the Word does not cause a person to belong to God. Rather, it is the one who hears God's Word and does what it says, who belongs to God. Everyone else is still dead in sin - even the "religious church-goers" who do not do what the Bible says.


NOTE THAT CERTAIN FORMS OF "MEDITATION," PRACTICED BY VARIOUS EASTERN RELIGIONS, HAVE BEEN "CHRISTIANIZED" BY A NUMBER OF PEOPLE, IN AN ATTEMPT TO INTRODUCE THEM INTO THE CHURCH. (THEY HAVE BEEN "REDESIGNED," SO THAT THEY DON'T LOOK OBVIOUSLY "EASTERN," AND ARE OFTEN COUCHED IN "SCIENTIFIC-SOUNDING" TERMINOLOGY.) THESE PRACTICES ARE NOT PROMOTED IN THESE ARTICLES, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT THE TYPE OF "MEDITATION" THAT THE BIBLE PROMOTES.


Thinking About "Meditation"

The following is a very comprehensive collection of articles about the whole topic of meditation. It looks at what "meditation" is all about, and considers every Old Testament verse that uses this word. (Instead of the word "meditation," the New Testament uses other words, such as "thinking" about God's Word, or "paying attention" to it.) Also included are helps, study questions, articles and comments related to the issue of meditating on God's Word.

[These articles are interrelated and sometimes make reference to each other. There are also occasional references to articles outside this series of studies.]

Start HERE! - The Foundation for These Studies

This is the starting point; it sets the framework for this study. It contains introductory comments, suggestions for studying and thinking about the Bible, the list of verses used in this series, and how we arrived at this list.

An introduction to these studies about meditation

Contains 3 articles: 1) Opening Comments, 2) What is it? (Brief overview), and 3) A few comments about this group of studies.

Suggestions for studying & thinking about the Bible

(Additional helps for studying the Bible can be found in other sections under the main ("parent") category, The Bible and Our Perspective.)

Verse list for the word "Meditate" (and how we arrived at this list)

PART 1 - The verse list is just a list of the verses used in this study and a short comment about them. PART 2 - How we arrived at this list is technical information that most people will not be interested in. (Feel free to skip it!)

Meditation - The Word Study

Includes a more in-depth look at the definition of "meditation," as well as a comprehensive Bible study of that topic. More extensive passages are found in the next main section.

What is "meditation" all about?

Defining what the Bible means when it refers to "meditation."

Meditation - God's command; the Christian's desire

Scripture verses where meditation is commanded by God, or expressed as an individual's desire.

Meditation - The lifestyle of a Christian

It's described as a "fact of life!"

Meditation... on What?

God-honoring meditation has a specific focus!

Extended Passage Studies

Three passages are examined extensively: Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1 and Psalm 119 (selected verses). They are grouped together here, although they are also referred to in other sections of this study.

Joshua 1:8 - Commanded to meditate

Contains 2 parts: 1) The example of Joshua (also: the importance of context), and 2) Some additional comments about meditation.

Psalm 1 - Meditation as a fact of life

Contains 3 parts: 1) Introduction and overview, 2) An in-depth look at the Psalm, and 3) Summary and application.

Psalm 119 - Thinking about God's Word

Several verses in this psalm contain the word "meditate"; but the entire psalm focuses on the value of God's Word. (You may want to consider an in-depth study of the whole psalm!)

Some Related Articles

These articles do not focus on the word "meditate," but deal with issues that could easily hinder our ability to do so. We are in a war over the control of our minds. This fact must impact everything we do. We cannot win this war if we are going to be lazy or passive in the battle.

Comments about the righteous and the wicked

Comments about various important issues related to the Psalm 1 study.

The war for our minds

Meditation plays an active role in determining the types of influences that will control our minds.

What happens when things don't go right?

Psalm 1 describes the "blessed" person. But what about those times when life doesn't seem so "blessed"?

Concerning spirituality... and spiritual laziness

Be honest... do you really want to be follower of Jesus? We do not have to deny God's role in salvation, or the place of faith (trust). But Scripture constantly reminds us that genuine salvation will result in a changed life - the "fruit of salvation." So if you really want to be a follower of Jesus, it's going to take some effort on your part. There is no place in the kingdom of God for the lazy.


Other Articles

The Student, the Fish, and Agassiz

This is a very good story that illustrates the value of meditation (i.e., carefully studying and thinking about something). This story is based on a real-life event, and several versions of it were published more than a hundred years ago. Being public domain, it can be found at numerous places on the internet - many of which are emphasizing the value of studying (or meditating on) the Bible! [It also illustrates the value of studying the Bible itself, rather than basing your views on what other people say about the Bible!]

A Response to Those Who Get Upset about This Study on "Meditation"

This is a response to a typical e-mail that someone might send, opposing the focus of this study about "Meditation." We live in an age in which even "church-goers" do not accept what the Bible says, or the way it defines issues.


Something to Meditate On!
Psalm 119 Set to Music - available FREE!
Meditate on these 176 verses... let them influence your attitude toward the Bible!
Psalm 119 to music


The Bible reminds us (about the person who loves God)...

His delight is in the law of the LORD,
      And in His law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:2)