Christian Living II – Lecture 16 – Meditation and Listening

Christian Living II – Lecture 16 – Meditation and Listening

“The Old Testament definition for the word meditation is “to mutter” or “to muse.” This suggests a silent inner study of some spiritual matter.” Page 103

In what way is Christian meditation different from Eastern meditation?

In Eastern Meditation the focus is on a passive state of mind and the aim is to "empty" your mind.

To the Christian meditation is an active process of evaluating, investigating, (enquiry) and pondering, involving your whole mind and being, while allowing the Holy Spirit and Scriptures to lead you.

Our definition of meditation:

“Meditation is a very careful exploration of a particular spiritual theme.”Page112

Christian meditation is to ponder in a disciplined way. Beware that Satan does not plant his thoughts in your mind. Also beware of negative thoughts during this time. Consider everything that is true, pure, noble, right, beautiful and praiseworthy. When you meditate on a certain portion of Scripture you must ask yourself among other things, what this portion means to you.

Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Here, the Hebrew word for “meditate” (hagah) means “to mutter upon.” Page 103

“Another Hebrew expression translated “meditate” is ‘sicah’, which means “to bow down.” The psalmist used this word when declaring, “Psalms 119:15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.” The thought is that we render special “mental attention” by bowing down in respect of God’s Word.” Page 103-104

The Value of Meditation:

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Psalms 104:34 My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.

Psalms 94:19 In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.

PRACTICAL THEMES UPON WHICH TO FOCUS OUR MEDITATION:

i. Focus on God Himself: Page 106

a. Think about the Being and nature of the Triune God, His creation and great deeds and His character.

b. Earlier in our lectures we have learned to wait in prayer.

i. Don’t conflate meditation with waiting.

ii. Waiting in prayer’s purpose is focusing love entirely on God.

iii. “Waiting is an act of loving while meditation is an act of thinking.” Page 106

ii. Focus on God’s Word: Page 106-107

a. Psalms 1:1-2 1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

b. Guzik – “In His law he meditates day and night: The righteous man ponders the word of God. He does not just hear it and forget it; he thinks about it. Christians should meditate on God’s word!

i. Guzik – “In eastern meditation, the goal is to empty the mind. This is dangerous, because an empty mind may present an open invitation to deception or a demonic spirit. But in Christian meditation, the goal is to fill your mind with the word of God. This can be done by carefully thinking about each word and phrase, applying it to one’s self, and praying it back to the Lord.”

ii. “Meditation chews the cud, and gets the sweetness and nutritive virtue of the Word into the heart and life: this is the way the godly bring forth much fruit.” (Ashwood, cited by Spurgeon)

iii. Many lack because they only read and do not meditate. “It is not only reading that does us good; but the soul inwardly feeding on it, and digesting it. A preacher once told me that he had read the Bible through twenty times on his knees and had never found the doctrine of election there. Very likely not. It is a most uncomfortable position in which to read. If he had sat in an easy chair he would have been better able to understand it.” (Spurgeon)

iv. Guzik “The righteous man only has God’s word on his mind two times a day: day and night. That about covers it all!”

iii. Focus on God’s Works:

a. Psalms 77:12 I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.

iv. Focus on Past Victories:

a. Psalms 143:5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.

b. “In times of distress and discouragement much spiritual relief can be found in looking at the many blessings God has given us in previous days.” Page 108

v. Focus on Positive Thoughts:

a. Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

b. Anything worthy of praise is worthy of meditation.

LISTENING:

“To listen in prayer is to mentally absorb divine instructions from God concerning specific matters for that day.” Page 112

Ecclesiastes 5:2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

“Jesus listened to the cry of the blind man in the crowded noisy street. He listened to the story of Mary Magdalene when she came uninvited to a dinner party. He listened to the plea of the lepers when no one else would go near them. Jesus also listened to Nicodemus, who came to talk to Him late one night. Our Lord even listened to the thief hanging next to Him when He was dying on the cross.” Hope MacDonald – ‘Discovering how to pray.’ Page 112-113

The difficulty lies in quieting our hearts for the specific purpose of receiving the day’s guidance.

Listening for God’s voice shows that you have confidence that God desires to communicate with you.

The price of silence:

i. The price of silence is first a death of self.

ii. The price of silence is devotion of time.

a. “These were men like Aaron who were eloquent preachers, men like Korah who were natural leaders, but only one man that recognized that he couldn’t lead unless God first spoke to him and then spoke through him. Day after day for 40 years, dwelling upon what God had said, Moses listened and so spoke. Small wonder that through Moses came more of the Bible than any other man.” John Anthony Hanne Page 115

b. Much time given to the practice of listening.

The worth of silence:

i. Hearing God!

But we hear even the whispers of God.

ii. Re-tuning our hearts.

• It is to listen to the inner voice of the Holy Spirit.

• During this period you ask; "Lord, what do You expect me to do?

What is Your will for me for today?"

• To receive and ask for guidance from the Word of God.

• To deliberately ask God to reveal His will and strategies or plans

to you.

• In waiting on the Lord the emphasis is on loving God. During

meditation we want to learn more from God. During the period of

listening we want to hear what God wants to say to us.

• You can ask the Lord specific questions, perhaps some difficult

questions that you do not have the answers to. Be sensitive to

the Holy Spirit.

• Be careful not to say immediately: "The Lord said this and that to

me."