Posts
There is a great difference between Eastern meditation and Biblical meditation.
The simplest way to highlight the difference is to say that Eastern meditation is an inner journey to find the center of one’s being, while Biblical meditation is the concentration of the mind/heart upon an external Revelation.
For Eastern revelation/insight/illumination occurs when the inmost self (which is also the ultimate Self, the one final Reality) is reached by the journey into the soul, while Biblical meditation comes as a result of encounter with God in and through his objective Revelation, of which the Holy Scripture informs us.
Eastern meditation, whether Transcendental Meditation or various forms of New Age meditation, is to be avoided. But Biblical meditation should not be feared. On the contrary, it should be fully embraced as a vital means of knowing God, growing in grace, being transformed into Christlikeness, and fulfilling God’s purposes for our lives.
What Does the Bible Say about Meditation?
Keep this Book of the Torah always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Joshua 1:8
Blessed is the one who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, But their delight is in the Torah of YAHWEH, And on His Torah they meditate day and night. They will be like a tree planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season, And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever they do, they prosper. For YAHWEH knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish. Psa 1:1-6
Make me understand the way of Your precepts, And I will meditate on Your wonders... How I love Your Torah! It is my meditation all the day.''Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your Torah is truth...My eyes anticipate the night watches, So that I may meditate on Your word. Psa 119 (know the Truth and it shall set you free John 8:31-31; Mat 4:4)
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 2Ti 2:15
And raising His eyes to heaven, Jesus said,..."Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. Jhn 17:17
and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2Ti 3:15
They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty--and I will meditate on your wonderful works. Psa 145:5
But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luk 5:16
Jesus and the Apostles memorized lots of OT Scriptures and could pull them to mind and apply them in all circumstances. They meditated deeply to understand their meaning. That treasury of truth enabled them to use God’s Word in an accurate way in whatever situations they encountered.
J.I. Packer says "Meditation is like chewing. It is slow and thorough. Write notes about what you see in this passage. Make connections between the various sections. Ask yourself, “What do these words from God say?” “What do they mean?” Place who you are and what you do next to this passage and ask God to examine you. Continue to write your findings."
Blaise Pascal said “all the troubles of life come upon us because we refuse to sit quietly for a while each day in our room.” He echoes the Psalmist David, “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him” Ps. 62:5
