Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; 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. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:8-9)

As the People of Israel were about to enter the promised land, God spoke to Joshua with a challenge and with encouragement to prepare the people for the task at hand. They were to take possession of the land that God had promised to Abraham, Issac and Jacob before their time in bondage in Egypt. Now the task lies before them, and God gives them instructions for their daily life. It starts with the instructions which God had given to Moses that the people were to live for and follow God. He would then bring them the promised land. They needed to know and trust God.

God demonstrated grace to the people during their time from Egypt, then on the way to the promised land. The people had rebelled, questioned, grumbled, and disobeyed God through the trip. Then from time to time they would follow and obey God. God now gave Joshua and the people direction on how they would stay true to God and would be brought into the promised land.

They were to begin by saturating their lives with the Word of God. They were to know what God had accomplished in their history, what He had taught them to do, and the promises which He had given when they followed and obeyed. If they would dwell, meditate upon what God had done, then they would have the faith needed to trust God and obey Him.

As the Psalmist writes about the Word of God in the majestic 119^th Psalm, we also see this emphasis upon meditating on God’s word.

“I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. . . .Though rulers sit together and slander me, your servant will meditate on your decrees. . . .Cause me to understand the way of your precepts, that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds. . . .I reach out for your commands, which I love, that I may meditate on your decrees. . . .May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause; but I will meditate on your precepts. . . .Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. . . .I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. . .. My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises.” (Psalm 119:15,23,27,48,78,97,99,148)

As Jesus prepared to go to the cross, He expressed to His disciples that what is ahead will not be easy, but in the midst, they were to have His peace. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) The disciples would then witness the cross and the resurrection. They would see the torment and peace as Jesus suffered then gave up His spirit and died. (see John 19:30) The power of God would then be experienced as Jesus rose from the dead and in their presence seeing Him alive. Now they were to go to the world with the Good News, yet there would be much trouble to face. So how did they stay strong as they took this message of hope to a sin-filled world?

It would come through the power of the Holy Spirit and their minds meditating upon what God and Jesus has said and done. Paul says it this way, “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)

In the training of Timothy, Paul wanted him to understand the importance of God’s Word in his life as a follower of Jesus Christ. He says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

As followers of Jesus Christ, it is important for us to live life daily walking with Jesus who is the Living Word of God. (See John 1:1, 14) It is also important for us to meditate on the written Word of God, the Bible, in order for us to know and follow Jesus the Living Word of God.

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block