Reclaiming The Lost Art Of Biblical MeditationSample

Gaining Insight into God’s Will

One of the best biblical illustrations of using meditation to gain insight into God’s Word comes from Asaph, the author of Psalms 77 and 78. We find him in Psalm 77 terribly anxious, so distraught that he couldn’t sleep: “At night I stretched out untiring hands, and I would not be comforted” (verse 2).

How often does fear steal our sleep? Fear is like a skeletal hand that reaches into our chests, squeezing our hearts. This bony hand has many sharp fingers—anxiety, worry, anger, depression, obsession, compulsion, discouragement, jealousy, foreboding, phobia, timidity, mistrust, and that nagging sense of unease.

When Asaph found himself unable to sleep, caught in the clutches of fear and worry, he meditated:

“I remembered you, God. . . . I meditated . . . I thought about the former days, the years of long ago . . . My heart meditated and my spirit asked.” (verses 3–6)

In his meditations he asked himself some questions and pondered the answers:

“Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful?” (verses 7–9)

Then Asaph began answering his own questions by reviewing God’s faithfulness in the past. He wrote in verses 10–12:

“Then I thought, ‘To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand. I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on your mighty deeds.’

As Asaph pondered God’s Word, He meditated on God Himself, and that’s the key. Biblical meditation isn’t just a matter of meditating on Scripture; it’s meditating on the God of Scripture. Beyond the sacred page, we see the Lord. It’s not just the Word Itself, but the Word Himself, the Incarnate Word.

Today’s Tip

Invest in a good study Bible with introductions to each of the sixty-six books, cross-references in the margins, and maps in the back. Don’t be afraid to underline and highlight it. When a verse speaks to you in a memorable way, jot the date beside it as a record of God’s message to your heart.