Have you ever caught yourself thinking about something that happened, mulling over what a friend said, or turning the story line of a book or movie over and over in your mind? Believe it or not, you were meditating on those things. Just as God created us to worship, He also created us to meditate.
“It is a distinctively human trait to stop and consider, to chew on something with the teeth of our minds and hearts, to roll some reality around in our thoughts and press it deeply into our feelings, to look from different angles and seek to get a better sense of its significance.”
David Mathis, Habits of Grace
As the Bible Study Academy ladies have been sitting in Psalm 119 during the month of May, the topic of meditation has come up in the reading over and over again. The author of the longest chapter in the Bible understood the importance of meditation and the joy and fulfillment it brought to his life even during times of anxiety, affliction, and sorrow. And the discipline of meditation caused him to fall deeper in love with the Creator.
What Is Biblical Meditation?
God created us to meditate, so of course, the enemy presents us with counterfeit meditation. While this world would have us believe meditation is about emptying our minds and finding answers within ourselves, biblical meditation teaches us to fill our minds with God’s Word and find answers in Him.
When the Bible speaks of meditation, it is describing a discipline we must practice. Yes, it is called a discipline because it is hard, and we have to practice it in order to work those muscles and get better at it. But the effort is worth it! And it isn’t hard because meditation itself is difficult. Rather, it is hard because it takes time, intention, and space, things we don’t like to invest.
With so many distractions at our disposal, it is much simpler to never give ourselves space to simply think. We don’t like to be alone with our thoughts, and this world has made it easy to avoid silence.
Meditation can be compared to savoring a meal. We are presented with the food, we observe it, smell it, chew it slowly, and enjoy the juices, spices, and flavors. The things of this world dull our spiritual taste buds, but the more we practice meditating on God’s Word, the more our tastebuds wake up and savor it—it becomes sweeter than honey, as the Psalmist says.
How Do We Practice It?
In my experience, I cannot meditate on a passage I have only read once. This is one of the reasons we, in the Bible Study Academy, spend an entire month in a book (or passage) of Scripture. We read it and reread it, allowing its words to sink into our minds and give us something to think on.
This doesn’t mean you must spend an entire month in a passage, but you need to take the time to read it more than once, maybe read it in different translations, listen to it in an audio Bible, or read it aloud. Give your brain time to ingest the Word so it has something to chew on. In his book, Habits of Grace, David Mathis says, “Christian meditation begins with our eyes in the Book, or ears open to the word, or a mind stocked with memorized Scripture” (59).
Of course, all of this requires time, so the first step is to schedule it. If you are working through a reading plan on a schedule, you may want to schedule separate time for meditating on God’s Word so you don’t feel rushed. You can choose a passage you read that morning, the passage for your pastor’s upcoming sermon, a portion of the Psalms, or any other passage between the front and back cover of your Bible.
Open your meditation time with prayer. Scripture tells us in Hebrews 4:12 that the Word of God is “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword.” It has the power to change us and shape us, but the Bible also says that the things of the Spirit of God are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14), which means we can’t understand them on our own; we need the help of the Holy Spirit.
Then simply think about what you read. You can journal as you mull it over, you can simply process it mentally, you can jot notes in your Bible. However you find it easiest to process your thoughts, do it. Take the time to wrestle through the hard things, those passages that don’t quite make sense or maybe don’t seem quite right.
Don’t rush it, but also don’t think that when your time is up, you have to be done. Take it with you during your day. Allow you mind to drift to it as you go about your daily tasks. Instead of creating noise in your home with your favorite television show or podcast, delight in the silence and use it to meditate.
As you end you allotted time, close in prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to bring the passage to your mind throughout your day and week. Pray for opportunities to see the teaching in action. Ask that He would make you sensitive to how you can implement or witness the wonder of His Word lived out. You might be surprised how He answers!
A note of caution: the purpose of meditating on Scripture is not to prepare a lesson or find the perfect content for your social media account. This is a separate time from your Bible study time in which you might do word studies or consult outside research. The purpose is your personal growth. It will help you develop a thirst for God’s Word and allow you to fall deeper in love with Him, which in turn will make you want to meditate more. After all, a lover finds it easy to think about, meditate upon, the one he loves.
“He meditated on God’s Word because he loved it, and then loved it the more because he meditated on it.”
Charles Spurgeon
What Are the Results of Biblical Meditation?
While you may not always walk away with all of the right answers, meditating on Scripture will have long-term benefits for your spiritual growth.
Meditating on Scripture:
Results in being able to recall it and speak it in situations when it is needed.
Feeds your prayers, fasting, worship, and other spiritual disciplines.
Clarifies God’s will for your life today and in the future.
Helps you stand on truth when the world is spitting lies.
Makes evident your saturation in Scripture to those around you.
“What we take in by the Word we digest by meditation and let out by prayer.”
Thomas Manson
If you would like to learn more about how to study the Bible, I invite you to download my FREE Bible study workbook, 6 Steps to Study the Bible on Your Own at the button below.
If you would like to join a group of like-minded women who are pursuing godliness together, check out the Bible Study Academy by clicking the button below.
Does life ever feel like you’re spinning your wheels, trying to trap waves on the sand, or juggling too many plates? As we chase the things this world has to offer, it often feels like we are “striving after wind.” Nothing is ever enough. Happiness is fleeting. We never arrive.
Even as a child, I remember a feeling of dread for the holidays or a vacation, because as soon as it was over, the excitement of the moment disappeared. I dreaded the low after the high. Solomon understood this better than most, and he explains it to us in the book of Ecclesiastes.
The book of Ecclesiastes is a strange book in the Bible. It spends all twelve chapters telling the reader how pointless life is. But there are a few things to consider as you read the book that will change your perspective a bit and may even lead you to love the book.
Consider the Literary Context
First off, the book of Ecclesiastes was most likely written by Solomon. He is never mentioned by name, but the first line of the book attributes it to, “the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem” (ESV).
Throughout the book, the Preacher references his own wisdom. If we remember the account of Solomon, one of the most notable events of his life was when God offered Solomon anything he wanted, and Solomon asked for wisdom. God granted Solomon’s request, and he became the wisest man who ever lived. Because Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived, and he knew the Lord, though his behavior didn’t always seem to demonstrate this fact, we should listen to what he has to say in the book of Ecclesiastes.
The book of Ecclesiastes is wisdom literature. It is in the same category as Proverbs, Job, and the Psalms. Wisdom literature is based on principles, not promises. It often contains apparent contradictions, and it encourages personal contemplation.
Often wisdom literature teaches us how the world should work: If you do this, then that will happen. But the book of Ecclesiastes takes it a step further as it is pessimism literature, demonstrating that because the world is sinful, there are exceptions to the rules. It essentially asks, “If there is no eternity, then why does it matter what I do and how I live?”
Follow the Quest
In Ecclesiastes, the author is on a quest to discover the meaning of life. Just as the book says, there is nothing new under the sun, and the quest for purpose has been a driving force in every generation. As you read the book of Ecclesiastes, track the Preacher’s progress.
He begins by searching wisdom, then pleasure, then work, etc., and his conclusions for life under the sun are depressing. But he ends his quest finding purpose. After he searches through all of the things of this world, he comes to a satisfactory, even desired, conclusion.
Notice the Dichotomy in Ecclesiastes
As you read Ecclesiastes, take note of some very important phrases. First, you will find many instances of the phrase “under the sun.” This phrase represents life on this earth, living by the world’s “rules.” It is life “under the sun” that is “a striving after wind.” And each time we encounter that little phrase “under the sun,” we are invited to consider if there is an alternative.
What we discover is the phrase “under the sun” is set up in contrast to the phrase “under heaven,” which could also be read as “beyond the sun.” The phrase “under heaven” represents life with an eternal perspective. Chapter 3 of the book is a good example of this as it lays out God’s harmony in creation, presenting a time for every event “under heaven.”
Notice the inconsistencies in an “under the sun” perspective: Work is good and also bad, death is welcomed and also feared, food and wine are enjoyable and also meaningless. Any worldview that is not based on God’s principles and guidelines will be inconsistent, not able to sustain itself when followed to its logical conclusion.
An “under heaven” perspective, however, is very consistent. It follows logic and order. It leads to a reason and purpose not only for joy and work and beauty, but also for suffering and pain in this life. Only the biblical worldview makes sense.
Recognize God’s Sovereignty
A main point of the book of Ecclesiastes is God’s sovereignty. The book repeatedly reminds us that even though this world seems to be topsy turvy, God is still in control. If we choose to live life as if God doesn’t matter, we are “striving after wind.” But if we choose to live life recognizing Who God is and His sovereign plan, we can enjoy the gifts He gives us and look forward to the better gifts in eternity.
Find Freedom
As believers, we experience the privilege of enjoying life. Because God is in control even when things seem to be out of control, we as believers have the freedom to take pleasure in the beauty of God’s creation, in the benefits of our work, and in the fruit of our communities without fearing that our failures will derail His plans. We can trust that God has it all in hand, and we know that we are laying up treasures in heaven that will last far longer than any suffering this world can dish out.
Take Action
Ultimately, the book of Ecclesiastes is an Old Testament Apologetic. While the author takes us on a journey of meaninglessness, he is showing us what life is like if it is true that God does not matter. Anyone who lives his life only for this life, crying out “YOLO” (you only live once) every chance he gets, is living a purposeless, meaningless life that never brings true happiness or fulfillment. Everything in this life is temporary.
By showing us the purposelessness of this life, the author is demonstrating the alternative to living a life that is pleasing to God, seeking to follow His ways, and focusing on an eternity in His presence. He is arguing for a life lived in the fear of the Lord by showing us the unfavorable alternative.
In light of this, we must recognize that it is part of our biblical calling to examine all things in light of eternity. The most loving thing we can do is to call sinners to repentance, not only because it will affect their eternal destiny, which is enough reason in and of itself, but also because without repentance and an acknowledgment of Who God is and the role He plays, their lives here on this earth will be without purpose, fulfillment, and true happiness. They will be “striving after wind” and getting nowhere.
If you would like some guidance on how to study the Bible for yourself so you don’t have to depend on other people to tell you what it means, download my FREE Bible study workbook, 6 Steps to Study the Bible on Your Own, at the button below.
If you would like to join a community of women who are studying the Word and growing closer to the Lord on their own but not alone, check out the Bible Study Academy at the link below.
Updated: This post was originally published on October 30, 2021.
Do you dread reading prophecy in Scripture? Do you worry that it will be “over your head”? So many people have differing opinions about the interpretation of prophetic texts, so how can we know which one is right? Should we even bother to figure it out? Shouldn’t we just watch things play out rather than trying to guess what’s coming?
Prophecy in Scripture can certainly be challenging, and there are many things that will simply be revealed in time. But here are a few tips to help you navigate some of the hurdles you might encounter.
It Is Prophecy, i.e. the Future
One thing to keep in mind is that it is prophecy, which means, at the time the prophet spoke it and wrote it, it hadn’t happened yet. Much of prophecy was given to convince God’s people to repent. The prophecy wouldn’t come to pass if the Israelites would simply turn back to God. Unfortunately, they rarely listened.
It is also important to keep this in mind when we come across the passages where God will punish other nations even as He used them to discipline His people. We often see this as unfair, but those other nations knew about God. They understood that Israel was a nation set apart. They had every opportunity to turn from their wickedness and follow the God of Israel. The prophecy was yet another instance where God gave them that opportunity.
False Prophets Were Also Prophesying
Does prophecy intimidate you? Here are some tips to help you understand prophecy.
It is easy for us to sit back and judge the Israelites when the prophecy seems so clear. How could they not understand what was coming? Yet it is important to remember that, at the same time that God’s chosen prophets were calling the Israelites to repentance, there were false prophets contradicting them. The Jews often chose to follow the “prophets” who were saying what they wanted to hear rather than holding their words up to the character of God.
Scripture tells us that a true prophet proved his authority by speaking the truth about future events (Deut. 18:21-22). So we may think it was difficult to tell the difference between a true prophet and a false prophet. After all, until his prophecy came true, no one could know. However, God gave specific characteristics of a true prophet in Deuteronomy 13:1-11, and one of them was that a prophet never encouraged God’s people to worship another god. This wasn’t limited to golden idols but would also include the god of self, the god of nation, and the god of pleasure. A true prophet would continually point the people to God and God alone.
With Prophecy Comes Hope
Some of the prophecies in Scripture seem to be disastrous. However, even when it is not officially stated, every prophecy comes with hope. Whether hope lies in a future event here on earth or in the triumphant return of Christ, the hardships will pass and His people will be victorious. As you are reading prophecy, look for the hope that is coming.
Prophets Used the Language They Knew
There are many times when reading prophecy that we come across figurative language. Are the locusts in Joel really locusts or is it an army? Are we really looking for a lamb, or is that a metaphor for a person? And what about the book of Revelation? Is it really a beast, a number, and a war? Sometimes it is difficult for us to know, first, if the language is figurative or literal, and second, if it is figurative, what it means. The truth is you can read ALL the commentaries and walk away with no clearer picture than when you started.
Nonetheless, we must always remember that all Scripture is inspired and profitable. While the prophet may have been describing things for which he had no vocabulary or the message he received was full of imagery, his message is still important for us to know. We should still approach the passage prayerfully, read for the purpose of understanding, and do the work of study and discovery. We may not end up with a clear picture, but we will learn and grow through the process.
Don’t be intimidated by the prophetic passages and books of the Bible. Remember that the Word of God is living and active, and approach it with eagerness to discover Who God is.
If you would like to go deeper in your Bible study, join the Bible Study Academy. You can learn more by clicking the button below.
One thing that really jumped out at me as I have been studying the book of Genesis is the difference between how Sarah treated Hagar’s son and how Rachel treated the sons of Bilhah. Culturally speaking, Ishmael was Sarah’s son and Dan and Naphtali were Rachel’s sons (though the Bible clearly specifies who the mothers truly are), yet while Rachel seems to have accepted the boys as her sons, Sarah completely rejected Ishmael.
We find Sarah’s story in Genesis 16 and 21:8-21. Abraham and Sarah had been married for a long time, and they were both getting old, but they had no children. God had promised Abraham that He would make Abraham a great nation, but with each month that passed, Sarah wasn’t pregnant. She eventually hatched the plan to give her servant Hagar to Abraham so Sarah could have a child through Hagar. Even though her plan worked, Sarah was more miserable than before. Genesis 16:4 tells us that, “when [Hagar] saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress [Sarah].” Sarah went so far as to treat pregnant Hagar so harshly that Hagar fled into the wilderness. The angel of the LORD found Hagar, told her she would have a son, and convinced her to go back to Sarah.
Rachel’s story is a little more complicated because she was Jacob’s second wife. We read all of the details in Genesis 29:9-30:24. Jacob was in love with Rachel, and he worked for her father, Laban, for seven years as a condition to marry her. But on their wedding night, Laban switched Rachel out for Leah, her older sister. A week later, Jacob married Rachel with the requirement that he work for Laban another seven years. Before we know it, Leah started having children, but Rachel was barren. After Leah had four sons, Rachel gave her servant Bilhah to Jacob in desperation, so she could have children through Bilhah. Bilhah had two sons, and this seemed to appease Rachel somewhat. There is no indication in the text that Rachel mistreated Bilhah or rejected her sons.
As I read and reread these passages, studying the book of Genesis, I realized that their situations, though similar, were also very different. From the beginning of her marriage, Rachel had watched her sister bear son after son. Jacob and Rachel had no children, but it clearly wasn’t a problem with Jacob. Rachel had to accept early on that she could not have children.
Sarah, on the other hand, was Abraham’s only wife. For their entire marriage, there was always the question: was Abraham sterile or was Sarah barren? Culturally, the blame always fell on the wife, but I imagine Abraham and Sarah had this conversation periodically throughout their marriage. All doubt was removed the second Hagar announced she was pregnant. The couple’s infertility issues lay squarely on Sarah. This could surely cause Sarah to lash out, as she did, not only at Hagar, but also at Abraham. It also explains her bitter laughter when the three visitors tell Abraham that Sarah will have a child after she has already gone through menopause (Genesis 18:9-15).
While this realization broke my heart for Sarah, it was also sobering to recognize this was pain of her own making. While the suffering she faced in infertility was something God would use for His glory, the suffering she experienced by watching Hagar bear Abraham a son was a natural consequence of her lack of faith. God had already promised to make Abraham and Sarah a great nation, but He wasn’t moving fast enough for Sarah. Perhaps she thought she needed to help the plan along. Perhaps she thought God gave her this scheme to use Hagar. Perhaps she thought the promise was only for Abraham, and not for her, too. As a result, she got ahead of God. It is clear that Abraham developed a relationship with Ishmael, Hagar’s son, which probably strained his marriage with Sarah. And we see that she allowed this pain to take root in her heart and turn in to bitterness. How much sweeter would it have been when she gave birth to Isaac if she had simply trusted that God would do what He promised in His time? How much heartache would she have spared herself, Abraham, Hagar, and the nation of Israel if she had believed God is faithful?
While Rachel’s story is not exactly a romantic fairy tale—after all, Leah and Rachel barter for sex with Jacob over some mandrake fruit (Genesis 30:14-16)—Rachel dealt with her insecurities very early on in her marriage, and she was always especially treasured by Jacob to the detriment of his children. I could write an entire post about Leah’s relationship with Jacob. Suffice it to say, though Jacob always chose Rachel, in the end God chose Leah by placing Judah, her son, in the lineage of Christ.
There are several lessons for us in the account of Sarah. Throughout the entire book of Genesis, God repeatedly says “I will.” The fulfillment of God’s promises is wholly and completely dependent on Him, not us. We don’t need to make our own plans, come up with schemes, or kick down doors. That never works in our favor and is often detrimental not only to us, but also to those around us.
You might be asking why the Bible is full of stories of barren women. After all, God promised to make Abraham a great nation, yet he was married to a woman who would give him one son in their old age. Not quite the same as the number of stars in the sky and grains of sand as he was told. When Sarah laughed at the prophecy of the visitors in Genesis 18, they asked a very important question in response: “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” God chose to use barren women, even one who had already gone through menopause and was ninety years old, to demonstrate that no, nothing is too hard for Him. There was no question in anyone’s mind about the birth of Isaac being a miracle. It was why Abraham could “rise early in the morning” eager to obey God when God commanded him to sacrifice Isaac, the promised child of the father of the Israelites.
While the story of Sarah tugs at our heartstrings, especially as women, God teaches these lessons again and again throughout the book of Genesis and beyond. We see it in Isaac’s life, Jacob’s story, and Joseph’s drama (and oh, what a drama it is!). God’s plans will not be thwarted by our interference. He will fulfill His promises because of Who He is. Nothing is too hard for the Lord!
Are you trusting Him in your life, or are you trying to take the lead, hoping He backs you up?
When discussing the role of women in the church, there are some terms that need defining. Not only do these terms need to be defined, but we need to recognize that they are on a sliding scale. This means that not all of those who would classify themselves with the same title believe the same thing. The two main terms associated with this topic are egalitarian and complementarian. So let’s begin there.
The term egalitarian means “asserting, resulting from, or characterized by belief in the equality of all people, especially in political, economic, or social life” (dictionary.com). When we look at this word in the context of this discussion, an egalitarian believes there are no differences in role or authority between men and women in the church. Therefore, a woman is just as capable and has just as much right as a man to be a pastor, deacon, elder, or janitor. It is important to note that an egalitarian believes that men and women are different in biology, but they are equal in role and authority in the church and possibly in the home.
The other main term associated with this discussion is complementarian. This term revolves around the idea that men and women were created to complement one another. They are equal in importance, dignity, and worth (value), but they have distinct roles and levels of authority in different situations, roles that work in tandem with one another. So for the purposes of this discussion of the role of women in the church, a complementarian believes there are specific roles in the church that only a man can fill according to the Scriptures. While there are roles that are traditionally filled by women, a complementarian would not argue that, biblically, men are banned from any position in the church (though they may argue for the prudence of it).
The positions regarding the role of women in the church are on a sliding scale.
However, we must recognize that this is a sliding scale. Some complementarians, on the “softer” side, would limit the number of positions forbidden to women, while “stronger” complementarians may ban women from any position with any level of authority even over children. If you slide too far to the stronger edge of complementarianism, you’ll land in the territory of patriarchal tyranny where men rule and women obey. While I don’t believe the patriarchy itself is a negative thing as our society tries to convey, patriarchal tyranny creates a controlling and abusive atmosphere. There is pretty solid biblical evidence against this position of abusive patriarchalism, so complementarians must be careful not to cross that line.
Likewise, if an egalitarian slides too close to the permissive edge, he will land squarely in “Christian” feminism (an oxymoron in my opinion) where gender is seen as a social construct and nothing is off limits to women or men, including blurring the gender lines. This is an idea clearly contrary to Scripture (see Genesis 1:27). So the egalitarian must watch that he does not cross into that sinful territory.
While a discussion of the biblical merits of both “Christian” feminism and patriarchal tyranny is probably superfluous, the debate between egalitarian and complementarian ideas rages on. As we approach this discussion in upcoming posts, there are a few things to keep in mind:
1. This discussion in Scripture is limited to the church. Nowhere does Scripture elicit a debate about the role of women in politics, business, education, etc. If you are delving into that territory, you are wading into tyrannical waters. In fact, I believe I can make a pretty clear case for women in those arenas with Scriptural support. One only needs to look at the Proverbs 31 woman to begin the discussion.
2. The conflict is only about the authority a woman has over men, not children or other women, in the church. Scripture encourages women to teach other women and to teach children, though it is important to decide when a boy becomes a man if you fall into the complementarian camp.
3. Scripture addresses the topic of the submission of women in only two arenas: the home and the church. It does not teach that all women are to submit to all men. It does not teach that all women are subject to all men in the church. And it is important to point out that Scripture clearly teaches that we are all to submit to one another, the husband and wife and the priesthood of believers. We must tread lightly so we do not take this further than Scripture does.
Note: We will not be broaching the subject of the wife’s submission to her husband because each home can look different while adhering to God’s standards, so we will limit our discussion to the church arena where Scripture gives guidelines for all believers to follow.
