With all the cacophony of noise that surrounds us, everywhere, all day long, I suspect many of us have lost that ability to find quiet moments in our day and to find them for purpose.
I’m blessed to live out of the city, but also where other noises and distractions still happen. Farm equipment, animals, builders, road equipment, logging trucks, and those pesky airliners that moved their approach path over our house some years back.
Even with the relative quiet, I still find the need to make quiet times happen, perhaps only for a few moments, but to do it for purpose.
Looking For The Quiet
When I get on my tractor, to quiet the noise of the engine, I often put on noise-canceling headphones. Whether I also play music is immaterial! What I am aiming for is that quiet within the moments of noise.
In a kidless house, I don’t need to get up earlier to find my solitude, rather, that comes from simply being an early riser and enjoying the quiet. Quietly!
I never understood those who studied with music blaring, or the TV laugh tracks competing for your attention, rather, it’s in the quiet solitude of the moment that I get my best study habits in hand.
Favorite Thoughts
I realize many like to focus their bible reading on favored scriptures of the New Testament, theological writings of the apostles, or even the poetic words of the wisdom books. I, on the other hand, find my quiet moments filled with scriptures that make my mind think. Yes. Thinking can be hard work some times, but refreshing a scriptural principle in my mind with all that’s happened over recent months, either will anchor the thought or give wings to thinking in new directions.
Here’s a favorite Old Testament verse that gets to me every time I find a quiet moment of study and reflection.
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth,
but you shall meditate in it day and night,
that you may observe 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 NKJV)
Think About It
Joshua was not a young man when these words were spoken and his life experiences were varied and many. He had already been to the land of promise as a much younger man, then wandered in the wilderness for 40 years with Moses and the nation of Israel, and now he was at the precipice of life and experience as Moses was leaving the scene.
- He is obviously one of those who leave the captivity of Egypt
- He had fought against Amalek and was successful as long as Moses’ hands were lifted (Ex 17:9)
- God had Moses write this event down as a memorial to rehearse in the ears of Joshua (Ex 17:14)
- Joshua became a minister unto Moses (Ex 24:13) and went to the mountain top with him to receive the three tablets of stone
- Joshua stayed in the tabernacle after Moses had a face to face conversation with God (Ex 33:11)
- Joshua (along with Caleb) was one of the 12 spies that ventured into Canaan (Nu 14) and they both survived while the 10 died of plagues
- Joshua becomes the shepherd to Israel by God’s command (Nu 27)
- Joshua/Caleb – the only 2 men over 20 who survived the wilderness (Nu 32)
Here I am looking at retirement in the nearer future, but Joshua was probably over 60 when it came time to lead. My focus has been pushing through life until I reach that magic age when things can start slowing down, but Joshua is at his peak and ready to carry the nation forward.
Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel,
“Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it.
And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you.
He will be with you,
He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”
(Deuteronomy 31:7-8 NKJV)
What weight must be upon his shoulders? Is it any wonder that Joshua depends upon the Word? He wrote that as you meditate, you become “careful to do everything written in [the book of the Law].” This is so important. When we meditate, we look to the Word to make sure that we are doing everything written on those precious pages.
What Is Your Focus When You Begin to Lead?
What do you think Joshua would do next? Appoint leaders that are friendly to him as a politician might do? Finally, get to fire that ol’ goat who doesn’t ever do what is asked of him? Drain the budget dry to fix those pesky problems that needed to be fixed but were never addressed?
What would you do? What did Joshua do? He turned to the writings that Moses spent so much of his energy and effort developing. The Pentateuch. The 5 Books of Moses. Genesis. Exodus. Leviticus. Numbers. Deuteronomy.
It’s here in the history and law of God
that Joshua finds the focus for his steps forward as a leader.
What was the book of the Law? During his leadership, Moses kept a written record of God’s words and acts and committed this record to the care of the priests (Deuteronomy 31:9).
However, the “Book of the Law” had depth, breadth, height, and substance that fed Joshua internally so that he could lead externally. The Book of the Covenant” (Exodus 24:4, 7), a record of the journeys of the people from Egypt to Canaan (Numbers 33:2), covering a myriad of topics, but especially recorded by Moses for posterity and future success of Israel.
Moses kept adding material to this record until it included everything God wanted in it (v. 24). Probably the entire five Books of Moses (Genesis through Deuteronomy) comprised “the Book of the Law,” the greatest legacy Moses could leave to his successor.
How Do You Meditate?
God affirms the validity of this recorded word and calls it the “Book of the Law.” Joshua is commanded to meditate on it day and night. Imagine, his meditation was not a quiet observatory absent from all the noise, rather, it was his constant companion to keep him centered and focused! Why? He is told to observe and do all this is recorded within this legacy, and then a prosperous way and good success will be his result.
So, how does one meditate?
Much later in time, the psalmist will give us things to mediate upon, mentioning it sixteen times, and urged us to reflect on aspects of God’s character :
- His unfailing love, Ps. 48:9
- His works (77:2; 143:5; 145:5),
- His precepts and ways (119:15)
In fact, the psalmist book begins with the concept that a man’s delight is the Law of the Lord and he mediates in it day and night! (Ps 1:2) This action sustains a man much like a tree planted beside “rivers” of water. That imagery lets me know that the roots have plenty of access to life-giving water! This tree will bring forth fruit at the proper time, he will prosper, and he will not wither!
One writer describes meditation as something best done
with all the faculties of one’s being, namely the senses.
We taste and see that the Lord is good,
we hear his voice,
we touch him with the feelings of our infirmities,
we voice our worship so it is a sweet-smelling savor
and we yearn for the time that we will see Him face to face.
Here’s My Thought Today
If our five senses are to be used, then when we ponder a scripture we should put ourselves into the realm of the scripture and use our senses to observe and meditate. This does not mean you have to be alone or in solitude, or even an ultra-quiet place. But we seek the place on purpose! You need a safe place so you can spend all your senses on the action of Meditation.
Furthermore, I enjoy looking at scripture from multiple viewpoints.
Consider the Rich Young Ruler (Mark 10: 7-22). Use your five senses as you ponder the scripture from the standpoint of the Rich Young Ruler. In verse 21, Jesus “looked at him and loved him,” then immediately challenged him to give up what he apparently loved best: his wealth.
See yourself as others see you every day. Listen to your voice patterns. Touch that wealth that you hold in your hands. Smell the surroundings. Taste the words of Jesus as He commands your actions. Imagine yourself in the role of this rich young ruler. What do you think of yourself? How are you dealing with life? What are your needs? Is there a focus to your life, or are you simply drifting into adulthood with no central mission or vision?
Now, imagine yourself as a bystander hearing the words of Jesus to this man. Actions? Reactions? Thought processes? Mannerisms?
- How did the young man approach, Jesus? Full of self-assurance or Timid?
- How were his words spoken to Jesus? Full of pride or subservient?
- How did Jesus look at this man? Haughtily or with compassion?
- What did you hear from the voice of Jesus? Condemnation or Love?
- How did the young man react to the word of Jesus? Angry or thoughtful?
- What were his immediate thoughts connected to? The sacrifice of wealth?
- How did the young man walk away from Jesus?
Finally, imagine yourself in the shoes of Jesus. Oh, that we could see ourselves as He sees us! He knows our thoughts and intents, our heart and future actions, our past, and our present. There is no hiding our true self from him!
I imagine Jesus yearning to see this man follow him as had his disciples when he called them to be fishers of men. Drop your wealth. Give you the poor. Follow Me. Let’s reach this world!
Study vs Meditation
In my years of yearning for biblical knowledge, I have used Bible Study to dissect the scripture looking for its root of meaning, applicability to daily life, and the storing of the wealth of words so I can maintain who I am supposed to be. (Psalms 119:11)
Meditation, on the other hand, gives me the savor of the Word without looking for all the technical data that in-depth study supplies. I feast on the “feelings” of the moment! In light of what I’m dealing with today, the Word keeps me focused on solutions that often only come from the subconscious savoring of His Words!
In fact, I have an analogy for this process. Bible Study is like preparing to feast on fresh BBQ hot off the grill. You need all your condiments handy, and the tools of the trade to dig in! Meditation is enjoying the BBQ smell and all the future joy that the smell promises!
Bible Study is like preparing to feast on fresh BBQ hot off the grill. You need all your condiments handy, and the tools of the trade to dig in! Meditation is enjoying the BBQ smell and all the future joy that the smell promises! Click To TweetLet the meditation of scripture be a driving force of our time in the Word! This will help you to be prosperous, and find success!