Scripture Meditation: Part Three
As we consider the various Biblical meanings of meditation we arrive at a fascinating illustration written by the prophet Isaiah.
For thus the Lord said to me, “As a lion or a young lion growls over his prey, and when a band of shepherds is called out against him he is not terrified by their shouting or daunted at their noise, so the Lord of hosts will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its hill. Like birds hovering, so the Lord of hosts will protect Jerusalem; He will protect and deliver it; He will spare and rescue it.” Isaiah 31:4-5
The picture of a ferocious lion or hovering eagle is a metaphor describing how God meditates or growls over us in protection. He’s the Lord of heaven’s armies or Lord of hosts, and He’ll not only protect those He loves, He’ll deliver, spare, and rescue us. Even though that passage points to Jerusalem, it’s symbolic of His people. As the king of the beasts growls and protects his prey, God growls or meditates over us: He is the King who fights for us: He’s the Lord of hosts. This ‘prince of the prophets’ desires for you to understand this aspect of our Lord as he ‘meditates’ over you. He loves you, wants only what’s best for you, and His Spirit will actively rescue you.
On the other hand, another passage by Isaiah uses this type of meditation as well,
We all growl like bears; we moan and moan like doves; we hope for justice, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far from us. Isaiah 59:11
We can’t lose heart in our personal prayer/meditation/intercession (for others), we must learn to growl against the enemy like a bear, and yet moan and groan like a morning dove. We put our faith in God’s justice, He always does what’s right, we put our faith in God’s salvation, He’s our Rescuer and Deliverer, even when it seems far away and out of reach. We continue to growl and protect our loved ones, our families and friends, from the enemy’s onslaught because God does it for us: He’s our example.
Another aspect of meditation means to slowly chew and swallow God’s Word as you read it, listen to it read, and more importantly, do what it says. As the LORD told Joshua,
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it.” Joshua 1:8a
Scripture Meditation means you murmur in delight (Part One), grieve with moans and groans (Part Two), and growl in protection like an animal and it’s prey (Part Three), but there’s also the part about doing it or obeying what it says. God went on to promise Joshua success as he meditated on His Word.
Desire success? Then do what God tells you.
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