Meditating on God’s Word

“Keep this Book of the Law 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 NIV)

We need to seek to understand the Bible well because it represents the truth about God and the relationship we need to have with Him. In order to do this we need to meditate on everything we read so that we can get the meaning. A good example of how to do this is the digestive process of ruminants like cows which take in a lot of roughage, then chew it again as cud to help digest it better, as they rest.

In order to understand the Bible, it is important to read it systematically, book by book, and chapter by chapter, so that one can grasp the context in which it was written. Every verse should be understood in the light of the verses before and after; otherwise it can be open to misinterpretation if taken out of context. One should also figure out whether to apply a literal meaning or a figurative one (as in parables). Every Book in the Bible should also be understood in its historical context; the social, political and cultural dimensions.

We should also not forget to pray before reading the bible, for the wisdom to understand what we read and to apply it.

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Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.  Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.

Psalms 85:10-11

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