Speaking Truth

Intro

Testimony

Ephesians 2:10 NASB95

10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

300 Illustrations for Preachers The Importance of a Decimal Place

When Ira Karmiol tried to pay his $278.00 electric bill online, he mistakenly entered an extra digit and paid the Public Service Company of New Mexico $2,787.00. He didn’t notice the error for a few days. When he discovered what had happened, he contacted the company who said they would act on his refund request in three to four weeks.

Details can be important. The promise of Scripture is that every detail of the law will be accomplished through Jesus Christ. He won’t miss a single thing.

—Jim L. Wilson

Joshua 1:8 NASB95

8 “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 success.

I want to focus on the word Meditate

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition) Meditate

med•i•tate \ˈme-də-ˌtāt\ verb

-tat•ed; -tat•ing [Latin meditatus, past participle of meditari, frequentative of medēri to remedy—more at MEDICAL] verb intransitive 1560

1: to engage in contemplation or reflection

2: to engage in mental exercise (as concentration on one’s breathing or repetition of a mantra) for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness verb transitive

1: to focus one’s thoughts on: reflect on or ponder over

2: to plan or project in the mind: INTEND, PURPOSE

When I think of meditation, I think of the word Selah: Think on these things. But, after doing a bit of word study on this word meditate, I found that this is more of an action verb. Rather than just sitting around & thinking, the Lord is actually giving a command to act here.

Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible הגה 1

hgh 1, v., coo, growl, mutter; read in an undertone; speak, proclaim. 25×

Root: הגה 1. Cognates: הֶ֫גֶה; הָגוּת; הִגָּיוֹן

Bible Senses

to utter v., to articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise. Poel: Is 59:13 (1×). Qal: Is 38:14; 59:3; Ps 35:28; 37:30; 38:13; 71:24; Job 27:4; Pr 8:7 (8×)

This root word (hgh) is used 25 times in the Old Testament 4 of which have to do with speaking.

Psalm 37:30 NASB95

30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, And his tongue speaks justice.

Psalm 71:24 NASB95

24 My tongue also will utter Your righteousness all day long; For they are ashamed, for they are humiliated who seek my hurt.

Proverbs 8:7 NASB95

7 “For my mouth will utter truth; And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

Isaiah 59:13 NASB95

13 Transgressing and denying the Lord, And turning away from our God, Speaking oppression and revolt, Conceiving in and uttering from the heart lying words.

What I get from this, is that the Word of God is active, when we speak it. We learn it & speak.

This is the Rom. 12:2 in action.

Romans 12:2 NASB95

2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

What we see is that when we speak God’s Word, we begin to speak life over ourselves, as well as others.

1 Corinthians 2:16 NASB95

16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.

When we are learning & memorizing Scripture, and then speaking it out, I get the sense that we are literally prophesying over ourselves.

When we understand that this verse is literally commanding us to always have God’s Word on our lips, speaking it over and over again, this verse in context makes a lot more sense.

Joshua 1:8–9 NASB95

8 “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 success. 9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

When we have God’s Word on our lips continually James’ command seems more doable.

James 4:7 NASB95

7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

What you are learning here, what is being stuffed in your head, there is a method to seems like madness. The more truth you are pushing into you, the more craziness of this world is being pushed out. You are being transformed into who God sees you, not what we identify as like this world does.