Bible Studies
MEDITATING ON THE WORD DAY AND NIGHT
Anyone who names the God of the Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as their Father in heaven, and believes that the Holy Bible is the inerrant Word of God, is a believer. As such we know that we have been given the criteria for good success in all areas of our lives. The Word of God tells us, “This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success. Joshua 1:8 (AMP)
This scripture tells us among other things that we are to meditate on God's word day and night. Anyone who has ever tried to do this knows that it is not easy. Yet as a direct command from God to believers, we know that it is not impossible for He never commands that we do the impossible. Because we desire to be obedient to His Word, we seek to learn how to meditate on it day and night.
Following is a meditation on one of the most well-known and well-loved verses in the Bible. It is being used as a model, not as the format, for anyone who is desirous of learning how to meditate on the Word day and night. This model shows how we can take a short verse, study the meaning of each word, and thereby extract from it more than the obvious surface meaning. Although everything we need to know is plainly stated in the verse as it is written, once we begin doing a word-by-word or phrase study, we begin to find more significance and deeper meanings in the familiar. This practice has been referred to as "reading in between the lines."
It is amazing how much we can glean from a verse of scripture by using this very simple method of study and meditation. We will find that the more time spent thinking about, and pondering over the selected verse, the more insight will be gained as the Holy Spirit begins to teach and reveal more of the Word. Suddenly a familiar verse becomes a source of new insight and knowledge. Scripture verses will begin to take on a new meaning as the Word begins to come alive in our hearts.
The word will actually become engrafted in our lives and thereby become a part of who we are. The more of the written Word taken into our hearts, the more like the living Word, Jesus, we will become. The more of the Word we have in our spirit, the more power there will be behind the Word when it proceeds out of our mouths. Without the power behind the Word, we may appear to be holy while denying the power of the Word.
This method of study and also be compared to the breaking of the Bread into bite-sized pieces thereby making it more practical and accessible at any time. Anyone can do it, for it can be done whenever and wherever. It will not restrict us to a place or a time. We can do it on the move, or when we are just relaxing. We can do it while working, walking, shopping, and waiting for something or someone, just before going to sleep - instead of counting sheep at night. It does not require knowledge of Greek, Hebrew or any other language. It requires no special books or manuals. At times an ordinary dictionary may be helpful when it comes to looking up the exact meaning of certain words.
Following is the model word-study and meditation of a very well known verse:
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him, should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16
For God -
It begins with God.
God is the beginning - He is the Alpha.
Everything that is, begins with God.
Without God there would be nothing.
So loved -
God loved.
Not only did God love, He so loved.
To so love someone or something is much greater than to love. To love is deep. To so love is much deeper. God more than loved, He so loved.
God so loved. To so love someone must be wonderful when our love is reciprocated.
To so love someone must be most painful when the love is not even accepted much more returned.
To so love someone who does not love you back is more than human.
God is not human. God is Spirit. God is love.
the world -
Does this refer to the world itself, or to the people in the world? Or both?
God loves the world. It is His creation.
Does God love the world the way it is today or the way it was when He made it and said that it was good. God’s love has not changed. The world He created is still good, but the people are sinful. Does God love sinful people? Yes. It is the sin in people, which God hates.
The world is full of sinful people. Does this mean that God can love something that is sinful? Yes, because I was sinful and God loved me enough to save me anyway. The world rejects God. How can God love even those who reject him even while they are rejecting him? In the same way Jesus loved even those who were crucifying him even as they were killing him.
that He gave -
God himself gave. God gave because He loved
God gave first. Love is giving. Love gives first. Love is reason to give your best.
Love is more giving than taking. Is love always giving? Can one love without giving?
God is showing us how to love by His example.
Love - another word meaning to give.
His only -
Wow!! Not one of His many Sons, but His only Son.
Oh to love so much that we would give our only...anything. Can I? Would I? Do I want to so love anyone? God so loves me.
begotten son -
God’s Son was begotten of Him.
He begat his own Son.
His Son came from Him.
His Son is a part of Him.
His Son is exactly like him.
He and his Son are one.
The begotten is a part of the one who begat.
The Son and the Father are one.
The Son came out from the Father.
that whosoever -
So that whosoever
Whosoever could be anybody.
Whosoever is me.
Anybody and everybody is whosoever.
Truly God is no respecter of persons.
Whosoever means that God has no favorites.
believeth on him -
Believing that He is, is one thing
Believing who He is another
Believing what He is to us is one thing
Believing on who He is to us is the challenge
Believing that He is our Savior is a must.
shall not -
Will not
will never
absolutely, positively, will not ever
perish -
Die
be destroyed
be ruined
deteriorate
come to an end
cease to be
but have -
instead of (of what? perishing)
we will have something instead of perishing
for it will be given to us by the Giver himself
everlasting life-
unending life
always - time without end
continuous as in non-stop
no separation by time
no death, alive forever, never dying
continual growth and fruitfulness.
Never barren.
As previously stated, this is a model for meditating on the Word day and night. Try it, believing that God is faithful and that once we make the first step toward obedience, He will take us the rest of the way. Trust God. Trust His Word and do what the word says. Meditate on the Word day and night and then you shall make your way prosperous and then you shall have good success. Good success is what we need in every area of our lives including our health, vocation, relationships, prayer life, business, finances and ministry, etc.
Let us pray, not for good success but for the wisdom and understanding to mediate on the Word day and night. That will guarantee our good success.
Father,
I thank you for your Word. Thank you for your instructions on how to make my way prosperous and have good success. Today Father, I repent for the time I spent as a hearer and not a doer of your word. But with the help of your Holy Spirit, and my desire to be pleasing in your sight, I begin today to meditate upon your word. Father I know that you are faithful and full of grace. I know that it is your very nature to give and you always give that which we stand in need of. Right now Father I stand in need of your forgiveness, and more grace. I believe I receive, and with that I give thanks. Thank you Father. It is so.
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