Meditation vs Knowledge of God's Word in Scripture
Meditation and Knowledge of God's Word in Scripture
The concept of meditation in Scripture is closely tied to the understanding and application of God's Word. The Hebrew term "Higgaion" is associated with meditation, implying thought and reflection [1]. In the Psalms, meditation is encouraged as a means to understand and internalize God's Word (Psalm 1:2; Psalm 119:15) [8].
The Bible emphasizes the importance of knowing God's Word, describing it as "living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword" (Hebrews 4:12) [3]. This knowledge is not merely intellectual but involves a deep understanding and personal experience of God's revelation. According to John Chrysostom, the Spirit-inspired Scripture requires a spiritual understanding, which is achieved by comparing spiritual things with spiritual (1 Corinthians 2:13) [6].
The relationship between meditation and knowledge of God's Word is reciprocal. Meditation on Scripture is seen as a means to gain wisdom and understanding. John Gill notes that the righteous "meditateth wisdom" and "utters the wisdom he has been meditating upon" (Psalm 37:29, 49:3) [5, 4]. This meditation is not just a passive reflection but an active engagement with the text, involving prayer and self-dedication (1 Timothy 4:15) [8].
Different Christian traditions emphasize the importance of meditation and knowledge of God's Word. The Puritan tradition, represented by Matthew Henry, highlights the distinction between the letter and the spirit of Scripture, emphasizing the need for a spiritual understanding of God's Word (2 Corinthians 3:6) [7]. Similarly, the Wesleyan tradition, as represented by Adam Clarke, stresses the importance of having the "mind of Christ" through the endowment of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:16) [9].
The biblical basis for meditation and knowledge of God's Word is rooted in the understanding of Scripture as a revelation of God's will and purposes. The Bible is considered the "Word of God" because its writers were guided by the Holy Spirit in communicating God's will to humanity (Easton's Bible Dictionary) [2]. Therefore, meditation on Scripture is seen as a means to gain a deeper understanding of God's character, purposes, and plans.
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Higgaion — (meditation), a word which occurs three times in the book of Psalms-- (Psalms 9:16; 19:14; 92:3) (margin). The word has two meanings, one of a general character, implying thought; reflection, and another, in (Psalms 9:16) and Psal 92:3 Of a technical nature, the precise meaning of which cannot at this distance of time be determined. (Canon Cook says that it probably means an interlude giving musical expression to the feelings suggested by the preceding words.--ED.)”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Word of God — (Heb. 4:12, etc.). The Bible so called because the writers of its several books were God's organs in communicating his will to men. It is his "word," because he speaks to us in its sacred pages. Whatever the inspired writers here declare to be true and binding upon us, God declares to be true and binding. This word is infallible, because written under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and therefore free from all error of fact or doctrine or precept. (See [670]INSPIRATION; [671]BIBLE.) All saving knowledge is obtained from the word of God. In the case of ”
- Hebrews “For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart. -- Hebrews 4:12”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 49:3: My mouth shall speak of wisdom,.... Or "wisdoms" (m); of Christ, who is so called, Pro 1:20. He being as a divine Person the wisdom of God, and the only wise God; and having all the treasures of wisdom in him, as man and Mediator: of him the prophet spake, and of him the apostles and all Gospel ministers speak; of the glories of his Person, of the fulness of his grace, and of his wonderful works; especially of that of redemption and salvation by him, in which there is an abounding of wisdom and prudence. Or the Gospel may be meant, and all the truths of it, in which t”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 37:29: The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom,.... Or "meditateth wisdom" (a); that is, utters the wisdom he has been meditating upon; see Psa 69:3; he meditates and speaks of the wisdom of God, which appears in the works of creation, providence, and grace; and of Christ, who is wisdom itself, and the wisdom of God essentially; and who, as Mediator, has the spirit of wisdom resting on him, the treasures of wisdom hid in him, and is made wisdom to his people: and righteous men meditate upon and speak of the glories of his person, the fulness of his grace, and the works o”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 2:13: also--We not only know by the Holy Ghost, but we also speak the "things freely given to us of God" (Co1 2:12). which the Holy Ghost teacheth--The old manuscripts read "the Spirit" simply, without "Holy." comparing spiritual things with spiritual--expounding the Spirit-inspired Old Testament Scripture, by comparison with the Gospel which Jesus by the same Spirit revealed [GROTIUS]; and conversely illustrating the Gospel mysteries by comparing them with the Old Testament types [CHRYSOSTOM]. So the Greek word is translated, "comparing" (Co2 10:”
- 2 Corinthians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 2 Corinthians 3:6: Here the apostle makes a comparison between the Old Testament and the New, the law of Moses and the gospel of Jesus Christ, and values himself and his fellow-labourers by this, that they were able ministers of the New Testament, that God had made them so, Co2 3:6. This he does in answer to the accusations of false teachers, who magnify greatly the law of Moses. I. He distinguishes between the letter and the spirit even of the New Testament, Co2 3:6. As able ministers of the New Testament, they were ministers not merely of the letter, to read the written word”
- 1 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Timothy 4:15: Meditate--Greek, "Meditate CAREFULLY upon" (Psa 1:2; Psa 119:15; compare "Isaac," Gen 24:63). these things-- (Ti1 4:12-14). As food would not nourish without digestion, which assimilates the food to the substance of the body, so spiritual food, in order to benefit us, needs to be appropriated by prayerful meditation. give thyself wholly to--literally, "BE in these things"; let them engross thee wholly; be wholly absorbed in them. Entire self-dedication, as in other pursuits, so especially in religion, is the secret of proficiency. There are chan”
- 1 Corinthians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Corinthians 2:16: For who hath known the mind of the Lord - Who that is still an animal man can know the mind of God? so as to instruct him, viz. the spiritual man, the same that is spoken of, Co1 2:15. But the words may be better understood thus: How can the animal man know the mind of the Lord? and how can any man communicate that knowledge which he has never acquired, and which is foolishness to him, because it is spiritual, and he is animal? This quotation is made from Isa 40:13. But we have the mind of Christ - He has endowed us with the same disposition, being born again”