Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
PRINCIPLE: MEDITATE on the WORD
MEDITATE therein (in the word) day and night
DO according to all that is written
THEN you shall make your way prosperous
THEN you shall have good success
We know what it means to DO?
It’s an action, and making God’s principles a part of life.
But what about MEDITATE?
Definition of MEDITATE (Webster)
intransitive verb
1: to engage in contemplation or reflection
2: to engage in mental exercise (as concentration on one's breathing or repetition of a mantra) for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness
transitive verb
1: to focus one's thoughts on : reflect on or ponder over
2: to plan or project in the mind : intend, purpose
What does it mean to meditate? Webster’s dictionary says to ponder, think on, study.
But is that what this scripture really means?
We need to have a different mindset than what we had before Christ.
Jesus even said, Change. (Repent)
Change your mind
Change your heart
Change your actions.
Is this what it’s really all about?
Let’s dig deeper.
Reading this verse from the Hebrew, our word for Meditate comes from the Hebrew root word pronounced ha-gah.
The meaning of the word ha-gah is much deeper than our understanding of the word ‘meditate’.
Ha-gah means to utter, to mutter, to speak, to murmur.
As I am studying the Hebrew and learning the language, I realized something about the actual letters making up this root word Ha-gah. The Hebrew letters making up the word are represented by a meaning for the very letter themselves.
So what does this ha-gah mean? The Hebrew letters represented are Hey, Gimmel, Hey.
I don’t know who Gimmel is, but they were trying to get his attention! HA.
Hagah in Hebrew means literally: to speak, utter, mutter, mummur.
The letter Hey in Hebrew means, Look, to Behold, to reveal or experience.
Gimmel was also used as the symbol for a camel, and the use of this letter in the word represents to chew on, or the moving of the mouth, but almost inaudible.
So from studying the original Hebrew text, the language of the Old Testament, we can now look at this same verse with this understanding.
Speak, utter, mutter, and murmur God’s Word over your life, and do what it says, and then you will have success and be prosperous.
So here we have an even greater understanding. We are to ha-gah, Look, Behold, Chew on and utter God’s Word, and then look and behold the result!
Remember what James 3:10 says? Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
I remember being asked by a friend one early morning how I was doing. My answer was a reluctant and half hearted OK. This spawned the stern correction from my friend. “NOOOO...when I ask you how you are doing, regardless of how you feel, you say, IT IS GOOD! Out of your mouth comes life or death, choose life!”
James states that from the mouth comes blessing and cursing, and this should not be so. Let blessing come from our mouths.
How many times have you muttered and mumbled and grumbled about something eating at you?
We need to turn that muttering, mumbling and talking to ourselves in light of God’s holy word.
These are our same instructions from Joshua 1.8. Speak the promises of God’s Word over your life and you will find a better life as you allow HIM to minister to you through HIS Word, then you will SEE HIS results!
Amen and AMEN!
