In my study of the biblical idea of meditation I’ve come across some pretty good quotes. I list a few here for future reference:
Meditation Defined:
To meditate in God’s word is to discourse with ourselves concerning the great things contained in it, with a close application of mind, a fixedness of thought, till we be suitably affected with those things and experience the savour and power of them in our hearts” (Matthew Henry, Commentary on Psalm 1).
[Meditation is] the steadfast and earnest bending of the mind upon some spiritual and heavenly matter, discoursing thereof with our selves, till we bring the same to some profitable issue, both for the settling of our judgments, and the bettering of our hearts and lives (John Ball, A Treatise on Divine Meditation).
Meditation looks like:
[Of the man who meditates:] He takes a text and carries it with him all day long; and in the night-watches, when sleep forsakes his eyelids, he museth upon the Word of God. In the day of his prosperity he sings psalms out of the Word of God, and in the night of his affliction he comforts himself with promises out of the same book (Charles H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, Psalm 1).
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 (Author Unknown, from Spurgeon’s Treasury of David)
Few do it Well:
How few among us can lay claim to the benediction of the text! Perhaps some of you can claim a sort of negative purity, because you do not walk in the way of the ungodly; but let me ask you – is your delight in the law of God? Do you study God’s Word? Do you make it the man of your right hand – your best companion and hourly guide? If not, this blessing belongs not to you (Charles H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, Psalm 1).
The Ultimate Test of Character:
Meditation doth discriminate and characterize a man; by this he may take a measure of his heart, whether it be good or bad; let me allude to that; “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7. As the meditation is, such is the man. Meditation is the touchstone of a Christian; it shows what metal he is made of. It is a spiritual index; the index shows what is in the book, so meditation shows what is in the heart (Thomas Watson).
Liberating Power:
But yet I must now say that, after all my searching and reading, prayer and assiduous meditation have been my only resort, and by far the most useful means of light and assistance. By these have my thoughts been freed from many an entanglement into which the writings of others had cast me or from which they could not deliver me (John Owen, Preface to Commentary on Hebrews).
No Excuses:
There is none so simple or busy, of so high place, or base condition, of so short memory, or quick capacity, such a babe in Christ, or so strong a Christian, that can exempt himself from this duty, unless he purpose to live unprofitably to others, uncomfortably to himself, and disobedience against God (John Ball, A Treatise on Divine Meditation).
You are already meditating even if you don’t realize it…Even worry is a form of meditation (Tim Keller, on Psalm 1).
Hey there, good on you, great post and love the quotes. All the best! http://carolinebakker.com
Rather “I or human mind” don’t wEE want to read and medit are n God’s word as to what it pertains to Christ and then to us. To make this understanding, loving an learnight comes from God
It is then our goal is to undstand exactly what God says ou right and know what he has hidden for us to learn later. Revelation is a perfect Book hfor this example. Thank ss this is my humble opinion.