What does the Bible say about meditation?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Meditation can be understood and practiced in different ways for different purposes. Meditation, in a biblical sense, means reflecting on and thinking about the truths of God’s Word. It means allowing quiet and time to reflect for God’s Word to transform how we think, speak, feel, and act. The Bible instructs us in many places to meditate on His Word. Doing so allows us to learn who God is and what He has done. It allows the Holy Spirit to shape our hearts, minds, and perspectives on what is true and good instead of letting our thoughts do so. Paul instructed the Corinthians to "take every thought captive to obey Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5). When we are directing our thoughts to repeatedly consider God's Word, regularly remember His work, consistently revere His character, and trustingly await His active presence, then we are meditating in a biblical way.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Two Hebrew words are often translated in the Old Testament into English as "meditate": haga and siah. Both have a sense of pondering, musing over, murmuring under one's breath, and muttering in prayer. One of these words is even used for the low growling sound a lion makes as he eats his prey—the idea of delighting in a delicious meal, savoring mouthfuls, as the lion is mentally absorbed in the experience of consuming this life-giving food (Isaiah 31:4).
• When Joshua was commissioned as Moses' replacement as leader of the people to take them into the Promised Land, the Lord commanded Joshua to meditate on God’s Word: "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it" (Joshua 1:8). God commanded that Joshua think about and ponder His Word, communing with God in prayer to discover what these words meant for him and how it should affect the way he thinks, feels, and acts.
• Meditating on the Book of the Law would help Joshua learn who God is and what He had done so that his fears could be allayed and he would have the courage to obey God's call on his life (Joshua 1:6–9).
• People can meditate on God's characteristics like His majesty or His steadfast love (Psalm 107:43).
• The psalmist of Psalm 119 composed a poem extolling the blessing of God's Word and the instructions therein. He wrote, "I will meditate on your precepts" (Psalm 119:15, 78), "on your statutes" (Psalm 119:23, 48), and "on your promise" (Psalm 119:148). He also included, "I will meditate on your wondrous works" (Psalm 119:27).
• Psalm 143:5 declares, "I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands." So it is not just God's Word or His instruction upon which people should ruminate; people should also meditate on God's actions throughout history and within their own lives.
• David professed in Psalm 145 that one generation would commend God's works and "declare [His] mighty acts" to another, implying the passing down of history so that succeeding generations would know what God has done (Psalm 145:4). He then said, "On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate" (Psalm 145:5).
• Waiting in God's presence is not a call to invite any spirit to commune with one's mind but must be done with the directed intent to seek the Lord and Him only. Isaiah 8:19 explains, "when [non-believers] say to you, 'Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,' should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living?" We commune directly with God and seek no other.
• Isaiah also wrote, "O LORD, we wait for you; your name and remembrance are the desire of our soul. My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks you" (Isaiah 26:8–9). The practice of quieting one's mind (Psalm 131:2) and silently waiting for God can only be done when His glory ("your name and remembrance") are the desire of our soul.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Paul wrote to the Roman church, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2). Meditating on God’s Word renews our mind and helps us discern God's will.
• Paul commanded the Philippians, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things" (Philippians 4:8). Because everything good comes from God (James 1:17), meditating on what is good would turn the people’s attention back to God and His trustworthy character.
• Paul instructed the Corinthians to "take every thought captive to obey Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5). When we are directing our thoughts to repeatedly consider God's Word, regularly remember His work, consistently revere His character, and trustingly await His active presence, then we are meditating in a biblical way.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

The Bible instructs its readers to meditate on God's Word, His actions, and His character, but sometimes people need to experience God's presence directly and intimately. David wrote in Psalm 62:1, "For God alone my soul waits in silence." In Psalm 63:6 he talks about satisfaction of his soul in connection to times "when I remember you [God] upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night." Jeremiah declared, "The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD" (Lamentations 3:25–26). Romans 8:26 says, "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." As we wait on the Lord’s presence, meditating on His Word helps prepare our hearts to listen.

UNDERSTAND

• Biblical meditation involves reflecting on God’s Word, character, and actions.
• Meditation helps us focus our minds on God’s truth and goodness.
• Meditation includes quietly waiting for and listening to God.

REFLECT

• How often do you set aside time to meditate on God’s Word? What impact has your meditation on Scripture had on your thoughts and emotions?
• What specific truths or characteristics of God do you often focus on in your meditation, and why?
• How does quieting your mind to wait for God’s presence affect your relationship with Him?

ENGAGE

• In some religions, people are taught to empty their minds during meditation, other times people are taught to focus on a mantra or saying. Sometimes these religious practices are said to be for the purpose of finding inner peace, or connecting with the universe, or communicating with other spirits, possibly even spirits of people who have passed away. The Bible does not condone these types of meditation practices. How does biblical meditation differ from secular meditation practices? Why are these differences important?
• How can meditating on God’s Word together deepen our understanding of God’s character?
• How can we encourage one another to take thoughts captive and focus on God’s truth as a regular practice?