David's Meditation Produces Psalms
You meditate whether you realize it or not. You think about things repeatedly until they become a part of you. How you think determines if you will survive or thrive in all the attacks/messes.
David meditates, and psalms spring forth. We learn a lot about how to act when in such desperate need. David faced death, needed help, and felt discouraged. What did he do? He meditated, and Psalm 23 results from one of those meditations.
What does it mean to meditate?
The Bible teaches meditation as a practice focused on God, His Word, and His character rather than emptying one’s mind or seeking relaxation. Here’s how the Bible instructs on meditation.
The word “meditate” in Hebrew meant to moan, growl, utter, speak, muse, ponder, imagine, devise, speak, or proclaim. The Bible actually translates the Hebrew word for “meditate” as these things.
Consider using only the Old Testament word for meditate and what it means.
Chewing the cud
Moan, growl, utter, and speak would refer to having the Word of God in our mouths. The Word doesn’t depart from our mouths, or we keep the truth in our mouths. That is what we talk about. That is what we are saying to ourselves.
These low muttering sounds are like chewing the cud, murmuring, pondering, and imagining—it is the idea of repeating it over and over in your mind.
Cows and other animals chew the cud. They first graze and eat until they are full. Then, they lie down in the shade, regurgitate their food, and chew it over and over to eat all the nutrients in their body.
Rechewing their food makes it an integral part of their body, and that is how we internalize the truths of God.
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. Joshua 1:8.
Blessed is the man That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; And in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That bringeth forth his fruit in his season; His leaf also shall not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Psalm 1:1–3.
Greek Word
The word “meditate” in the New Testament refers to working with something definite in mind. It means to take care, to endeavor, to take pains with. The word means to fix one’s mind on something, cultivate, or conspire. It means to imagine learning by exercise, repetition, and practice.
We fix our minds on truth, cultivate that truth, repeat it, and practice it.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Philippians 4:8.
Too often, we turn everything into something about us. David did the opposite. He was in need, scared, hurting, and at the door of death, but he turned his thoughts to his Shepherd.
We must turn our thoughts to truth. Take the truth and think on it, talk about it, and do the process over and over.