The Joy of Biblical Meditation

(Psalm 1:1-2) tells us: “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.” Like the psalmist I, too, find that there is great delight in meditating on Scripture. In our fast-pace society I fear that biblical meditation is becoming a lost art and I pray that this devotion will help all of us realize that we are missing out on one of the most precious forms of Bible reading.

In biblical meditation, we decide to read a verse or verses of Scripture and allow our minds to think, analyze, and ponder the rich full meaning in the verse(s) we have chosen. I love what the psalmist shares in (Psalm  119:148) when he declares: “My eyes are awake through the night watches, that I may meditate on Your word.” Meditation on the Scriptures should be an exciting and exhilarating endeavor since we are allowing our minds to truly plumb the depths of a portion of Scripture.

I find in my own personal life that meditating on the Psalms has brought wonderful peace, joy, and comfort to my heart. And perhaps my favorite Psalm to meditate on is (Psalm 119). These 176 verses in (Psalm 119) have provided me with an endless opportunity to rejoice and delight in the word. Several times the psalmist here speaks about the privilege of mediating on the Scriptures. Let’s examine a few of these verses.

(Psalm 119:27): “Make me understand the way of Your precepts; So, shall I meditate on Your wonderful works.” Notice here that the psalmist is asking God to give him understanding of His precepts. And with this understanding comes the sheer joy of meditating on the wonderful works of the Lord. It’s as if the more we understand the nature of God’s word the more we will rejoice in the works of our Savior.

(Psalm 119:48): “My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on Your statutes.” As one reads (Psalm 119) it’s hard not to come away with the realization that the psalmist has a love affair with the word of God. I find that the more we spend time contemplating Scripture the more we fall in love with God’s commandments and the greater desire we have to want to obey them.

(Psalm  119:148): “My eyes are awake through the night watches, that I may meditate on Your word.” I believe that the more we spend time meditating on the word, the deeper our love affair with Jesus becomes. I don’t know about you but I eagerly anticipate getting up early in the morning to read the Bible, pray, and to write these devotions. Reading and mediating on the Scriptures is like going on a great treasure hunt with finding nuggets of pure joy as the prize. And the more you mediate on the Scriptures the greater the rewards in terms of finding wisdom, peace, joy, and help in times of trouble.

In closing I would like to leave you with three verses from (Psalm 119) to meditate on. Please read each verse below and just take a few minutes to ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate the words to your heart.

(Psalm 119:72): “The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver.”

(Psalm 119:129): “Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore, my soul keeps them.”

(Psalm 119:162): “I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure.”