“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. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8, ESV)
Just after Moses died, the people of Israel worried about what would happen to them. They were anxious for the future. Moses had been God’s messenger, God’s prophet, God’s mouthpiece. What would Israel do without him? How would God communicate with Israel?
God had that all planned.
At the end of the book of Deuteronomy and in the first chapter of the book of Joshua, we see God’s plan unfold following Moses’ death. First, Joshua was chosen to lead the people. That is also why the sixth book of the Bible is named after Joshua. Joshua would lead the people into settling the promised land. Along with giving Israel a knew and faithful leader in Joshua, God also gave the people scriptures to hold onto. At the end of Moses’ life, God encouraged Moses to write five books of the law. Moses wrote down God’s words to form the first scriptures for the people of Israel. These five books traditionally form what is found in portions of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy… the first five books of the Bible. We don’t know exactly which words of Genesis-Deuteronomy are Moses’ own words, but we do know Moses had a hand in writing them.
Because of our scripture for today, I want you to focus your attention on why God gave these scriptures, this book of the Law, to Israel. Joshua 1:8 informs the Bible reader as to their purpose. These scriptures were meant to be shared with each other. Faithful people were to “meditate” on them “day and night”. These scriptures were meant to be followed, with the faithful being told to “do according to all that is written” in them. The believer was also informed in Joshua 1:8 that “prosperity” and “good success” would come in following God’s word.
Recently a person at church told me they didn’t bother to read the Bible regularly or memorize it, because the person could easily access the scriptures via app, phone, computer, or other device. This young man even reminded me that he could search the whole Bible in a fraction of a second! I informed him that it is a wonderful time to be able to study scripture with the help of computerized Bibles. I cautioned him, however, that knowing how to find something in the Bible via computer and being able to meditate on God’s word were two wholly different things!
Let me explain.
With a computer or app or program, you can do searches of the Bible with ease. My own Bible program that I regularly use to write these meditations can find a word in the Bible in tenths or hundredths of a second! However, the Bible program can’t explain God’s meaning behind that scripture for my life in this moment. That Bible program can’t make decisions for me, keep me faithful, or help me navigate through life’s choices by itself. The Bible program will only help the believer if the Holy Spirit is working through the life of the person reading the Bible and the person is willing to meditate on that scripture for meaning and clarity.
Just last week, an internet outage hit this area. My son called me to say he could not access the internet on his computer or phone. He told me he was “in the dark”. He sounded anxious. He missed an online meeting. He couldn’t access his work as it was all stored online. Without access to the internet, he was disconnected from fellow workers and from the information needed for his job. He was frantic.
I have seen this same sort of fear and worry grip people who lost a phone or who lost access to the internet. They felt strained, disconnected, lost, anxious, and more. Having a computer or app with the Bible on it may bring conveniences with it, like the ability to search the Bible’s words in a fraction of a second. However, that same Bible program or app can never replace a relationship with God. That program cannot lead you in the right direction, challenge your sin, speak to the moment, or bring you connection with God in the same way the Holy Spirit and meditation will do this task. Reading a verse in the Bible won’t make you faithful. Using a Bible without the influence of the Holy Spirit and meditation with God will never amount to much.
Today’s scripture talks about the importance of “meditation” on scripture “day and night”. Meditation is not the same as reading. Meditation involves intentional reflection on a scripture with the intent of finding God’s will in the moment. Charles Stanley saw this as well when he wrote:
“Meditation is the slow and deliberate consideration of Scripture—where you really think about what it means, its significance in the lives of those in the past, and how the Heavenly Father wants to apply it to your life today. When you dwell on specific verses that pertain to your challenges and agree with God, you absorb the truth that sets you free and enjoy the victory. This is important because there are many battles you’ll face in this life, and you need God’s wisdom and might to fight them. Joshua experienced this when combating the impregnable walled city of Jericho (Joshua 6). Jericho fell, not because of Joshua’s strategy or the Israelite’s strength but because of God’s power. Israel obeyed the Lord, and He made the walls fall. The same is true for you with whatever obstacles you face today. Dwell on the Word and understand God’s plan for you. Let go of the unbelief, deception, and fears that thwart your enjoyment of the life He promises to you. Allow Him to fight the battle. Embrace the truth and triumph.” (p. 271, Trusting God with Today).
If you want God to speak to you through scripture, you need to “meditate on it day and night” just as Joshua 1:8 contends. You need to read a verse in the Bible, then ponder its meaning for your present situation. You need to reread or repeat that scripture throughout the day in order to let its meaning sink into your mind, heart, and soul. Then, the Holy Spirit will reveal all kinds of wisdom and direction as you “meditate” on God’s word.
A friend of mine found an ingenious way to meditate on a scripture all day long. He would print out a verse of the Bible each day. Then, he’d copy the scripture down in his calendar, on his desk, and would tape it to his refrigerator at home. Throughout the day, as he sat at his desk or prepared supper, he would run into that scripture. He would reflect on its meaning at that moment. He would attempt to repeat it over and over to let it sink into his subconscious. All the while, he was following closely the scripture for today by “meditating on God’s word day and night”.
How do you meditate on God’s word? How many scriptures have you memorized so that they may be available at a moment’s notice as you share your faith with others? Is there a scripture that is speaking to you today? What is God saying through that scripture?
God had that all planned.
At the end of the book of Deuteronomy and in the first chapter of the book of Joshua, we see God’s plan unfold following Moses’ death. First, Joshua was chosen to lead the people. That is also why the sixth book of the Bible is named after Joshua. Joshua would lead the people into settling the promised land. Along with giving Israel a knew and faithful leader in Joshua, God also gave the people scriptures to hold onto. At the end of Moses’ life, God encouraged Moses to write five books of the law. Moses wrote down God’s words to form the first scriptures for the people of Israel. These five books traditionally form what is found in portions of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy… the first five books of the Bible. We don’t know exactly which words of Genesis-Deuteronomy are Moses’ own words, but we do know Moses had a hand in writing them.
Because of our scripture for today, I want you to focus your attention on why God gave these scriptures, this book of the Law, to Israel. Joshua 1:8 informs the Bible reader as to their purpose. These scriptures were meant to be shared with each other. Faithful people were to “meditate” on them “day and night”. These scriptures were meant to be followed, with the faithful being told to “do according to all that is written” in them. The believer was also informed in Joshua 1:8 that “prosperity” and “good success” would come in following God’s word.
Recently a person at church told me they didn’t bother to read the Bible regularly or memorize it, because the person could easily access the scriptures via app, phone, computer, or other device. This young man even reminded me that he could search the whole Bible in a fraction of a second! I informed him that it is a wonderful time to be able to study scripture with the help of computerized Bibles. I cautioned him, however, that knowing how to find something in the Bible via computer and being able to meditate on God’s word were two wholly different things!
Let me explain.
With a computer or app or program, you can do searches of the Bible with ease. My own Bible program that I regularly use to write these meditations can find a word in the Bible in tenths or hundredths of a second! However, the Bible program can’t explain God’s meaning behind that scripture for my life in this moment. That Bible program can’t make decisions for me, keep me faithful, or help me navigate through life’s choices by itself. The Bible program will only help the believer if the Holy Spirit is working through the life of the person reading the Bible and the person is willing to meditate on that scripture for meaning and clarity.
Just last week, an internet outage hit this area. My son called me to say he could not access the internet on his computer or phone. He told me he was “in the dark”. He sounded anxious. He missed an online meeting. He couldn’t access his work as it was all stored online. Without access to the internet, he was disconnected from fellow workers and from the information needed for his job. He was frantic.
I have seen this same sort of fear and worry grip people who lost a phone or who lost access to the internet. They felt strained, disconnected, lost, anxious, and more. Having a computer or app with the Bible on it may bring conveniences with it, like the ability to search the Bible’s words in a fraction of a second. However, that same Bible program or app can never replace a relationship with God. That program cannot lead you in the right direction, challenge your sin, speak to the moment, or bring you connection with God in the same way the Holy Spirit and meditation will do this task. Reading a verse in the Bible won’t make you faithful. Using a Bible without the influence of the Holy Spirit and meditation with God will never amount to much.
Today’s scripture talks about the importance of “meditation” on scripture “day and night”. Meditation is not the same as reading. Meditation involves intentional reflection on a scripture with the intent of finding God’s will in the moment. Charles Stanley saw this as well when he wrote:
“Meditation is the slow and deliberate consideration of Scripture—where you really think about what it means, its significance in the lives of those in the past, and how the Heavenly Father wants to apply it to your life today. When you dwell on specific verses that pertain to your challenges and agree with God, you absorb the truth that sets you free and enjoy the victory. This is important because there are many battles you’ll face in this life, and you need God’s wisdom and might to fight them. Joshua experienced this when combating the impregnable walled city of Jericho (Joshua 6). Jericho fell, not because of Joshua’s strategy or the Israelite’s strength but because of God’s power. Israel obeyed the Lord, and He made the walls fall. The same is true for you with whatever obstacles you face today. Dwell on the Word and understand God’s plan for you. Let go of the unbelief, deception, and fears that thwart your enjoyment of the life He promises to you. Allow Him to fight the battle. Embrace the truth and triumph.” (p. 271, Trusting God with Today).
If you want God to speak to you through scripture, you need to “meditate on it day and night” just as Joshua 1:8 contends. You need to read a verse in the Bible, then ponder its meaning for your present situation. You need to reread or repeat that scripture throughout the day in order to let its meaning sink into your mind, heart, and soul. Then, the Holy Spirit will reveal all kinds of wisdom and direction as you “meditate” on God’s word.
A friend of mine found an ingenious way to meditate on a scripture all day long. He would print out a verse of the Bible each day. Then, he’d copy the scripture down in his calendar, on his desk, and would tape it to his refrigerator at home. Throughout the day, as he sat at his desk or prepared supper, he would run into that scripture. He would reflect on its meaning at that moment. He would attempt to repeat it over and over to let it sink into his subconscious. All the while, he was following closely the scripture for today by “meditating on God’s word day and night”.
How do you meditate on God’s word? How many scriptures have you memorized so that they may be available at a moment’s notice as you share your faith with others? Is there a scripture that is speaking to you today? What is God saying through that scripture?