Focused Thinking

One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple. Psalms 27:4 NAS95

It has been several months since I was last able to sit at my computer and write. A lot has happened during this time. I was asked to be a member of leadership within an organization I participate in, and the workload was overwhelming at the start of the club’s fiscal year. I also underwent surgery to replace my shoulder. Along with the volunteer work and the recovery time, I went back to working in Christian publishing for a friend. To say the least, my days have gotten very full. I have now entered a season of time that allows me to slow down a bit and enjoy the hard work of the last few months.

Which brings me to the passage for this musing, “to meditate in His temple.”

I have a hard time with the word “meditate.” Being a child of the fifties and growing up during the sixties I can remember more than once the pastor and evangelists that came to our church preaching against the concept of “meditation,” as it was being used by the “hippies” of the day. I was terrified that if I meditated it would be how the enemy of our souls would get in and destroy my Christian faith. The reason is simple, an “idle mind is the devil's workshop.”

Any sort of meditation was discouraged, and we were sinners if we even thought about doing such evil deeds with our minds. Then I come to this passage. And it is not the only one in the Bible. Fifteen times in the Old Testament people either went to meditate or spoke of meditating. The problem is the word does not appear in the New Testament. If you are in some parts of the church world you know that if it is not in the New Testament then it is bad for you, right?

However, out of the other side of their collective religious mouths, we are told that we should obey the whole counsel of God, including the Old Testament.

A favorite is this Proverbs passage:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 NAS95

We skip the first few verses here all the time. Look at what 1- 4 says:

My son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments; For length of days and years of life And peace they will add to you. Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man. Proverbs 3:1-4 NAS95

Verse one is about remembering and thinking about the commandments, verse three is bind them around your neck, write them on your heart.

One of the most important principles of honest Biblical interpretation is “do not proof text.” Use the passage the verse appears in, and you will stay away from error. You cannot separate following God from meditating on His Word. But my childhood pastor did.

Let’s not leave this all as an Old Testament discussion, what does the New Testament have to say? He is the rub, the verse I am about to use gets used by a lot of people who will tell you that you should not meditate, but if I read this correctly that is what it is telling us to do. Here it is for your consideration:

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8 NAS95 (underline mine)

So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always.

Philippians 4:8 The Passion Translation

(underline mine)

I included the Passion Translation here as well because I like the way it says: “And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always.” Isn’t that really meditating day and night on the things of God?

It is most likely I will not change many minds but let me encourage you to let thoughts of God’s goodness and mercy fill your mind every day in all that you do. You might just be meditating, but I won't tell my childhood pastor.