Exodus 38
Bezaleel builds Altar of Burnt offeringverses 1-7
And he made the altar of burnt offering of shittim wood
five cubits was the length thereof
five cubits the breadth thereof
it was foursquare
three cubits the height thereof
And he made the horns thereof on the four corners of it
the horns thereof were of the same
and he overlaid it with BRASS
And he made all the vessels of the altar
the pots – shovels – basins – flesh hooks – firepans
all the vessels thereof made he of BRASS
And he made for the altar a brazen grate of network under the compass
thereof beneath to the midst of it
And he cast four rings for the four ends of the grate of BRASS
to be places for the staves
And he made the staves of shittim wood
and overlaid them with BRASS
And he put the staves into the rings on the sides of the altar
to bear it withal
he made the altar hollow with boards
Bezaleel built laver of brassverse 8
And he made the laver of BRASS – and the foot of it of BRASS
of the looking glasses of the women assembling
which assembled at the door of the
tabernacle of the congregation
Bezaleel built courtyard for Tabernacleverses 9-12
And he made the court – on the south side southward the
hangings of the court were of – fine twined linen
a hundred cubits – their pillars were twenty
and their brazen sockets twenty
the hooks of the pillars
and their fillets were of silver
And the north side the hangings were an hundred cubits
their pillars were twenty – their sockets of brass twenty
the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver
And for the west side were hangings of fifty cubits – their pillars ten
their sockets ten – the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver
Bezaleel made two curtains to courtyardverses 13-17
And for the east side eastward fifty cubits
the hangings of the one side of the gate were fifteen cubits
their pillars three – their sockets three
And for the other side of the court gate – on this hand and that hand
were hangings of fifteen cubits – their pillars three
their sockets three
All the hangings of the court round about were of
fine twined linen
And the sockets for the pillars were of brass
the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver
and the overlaying of their chapiters of silver
And all the pillars of the court were filleted with silver
Appearance of the curtains describedverses 18-19
And the hangings for the gate of the court was needlework of
blue – purple – scarlet – fine twined linen
and twenty cubits was the length
and the height in the breadth was five cubits
answerable to the hangings of the court
And their pillars were four – and their sockets of brass four
their hooks of silver – and the overlaying of their chapiters
and their fillets of silver
All tent pegs made of brassverse 20
And all the pins of the tabernacle – and of the court round about
were of brass
Inventory of materials used for Tabernacleverses 21-23
This is the SUM of the tabernacle – even of the tabernacle of testimony
as it was counted – according to the commandments of Moses
for the service of the Levites
by the hand of Ithamar – son of Aaron the priest
And Bezaleel – the son of Uri- the son of Hur – of the tribe of Judah
made all that the LORD commanded Moses
And with him was Aholiab – son of Ahisamach – of the tribe of Dan
an engraver – a cunning workman – an embroiderer – in
blue – purple – scarlet – fine linen
Record of all gold used in Tabernacleverse 24
All the GOLD that was occupied for the work in all the
work of the holy place – even the GOLD of the offering
was twenty and nine talents
and seven hundred and thirty shekels
after the shekel of the sanctuary
Record of all silver used in Tabernacleverses 25-28
And the silver of them that were numbered of the congregation
was an hundred talents – and a thousand seven hundred
and threescore and fifteen shekels
after the shekel of the sanctuary
A bekah for every man – that is – half a shekel
after the shekel of the sanctuary
For every one that went to be numbered from twenty years old and upward
for six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred
and fifty men
And of the hundred talents of silver were cast the sockets of the sanctuary
and the sockets of the veil – an hundred sockets of the hundred talents
a talent for a socket
And of the thousand seven hundred seventy and five shekels
he made hooks for the pillars – and overlaid their chapiters
and filleted them
Record of all the brass used in the Tabernacleverses 29-31
And the brass of the offering was seventy talents
and two thousand and four hundred shekels
And therewith he made the sockets to the door of the
tabernacle of the congregation – and the brazen altar
and the brazen grate for it
and all the vessels of the altar
And the sockets of the court round about
and the sockets of the court gate
and all the pins of the tabernacle
and all the pins of the court round about
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 8 And he made the laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass, of the looking glasses of the women assembling, which assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. (4759 “looking glasses” [mar’ah] means vision, mode of revelation, mirror, apparition, or a polished surface that forms images by reflecting light)
DEVOTION: The priests had to be clean when they served the LORD. They had to wash before they offered the sacrifices and after they offered the sacrifices. They had a laver made for that purpose.
There was a large washbasin with places at the base where there could be the washing of those serving the LORD in the Tabernacle.
This washbasin was made with donated mirrors from the women in the children of Israel. God used things that were common to make the Tabernacle. HE wanted all the people to have a part in the construction of the Tabernacle. HE wanted donations of not only gold and other precious metals. There was a need for the common mirror to be used of the LORD.
HE wants us to be willing to give of our possessions to HIM for the purpose of worship. HE wants us to realize that HE can use just the simple things of the home in HIS service.
Can you imagine the women watching the priests do their duties with the knowledge that they helped make something made of simple things a place of worship for the King of Kings and LORD of LORDS.
We can do the same today. If we allow the LORD, to instruct us in what he can do for HIS place of worship. It is not the big things that the LORD wants from us all the time. There are many little things we can give that will make a difference in the growth of our local church.
Also we know that the LORD wanted HIS priests to be clean before they served HIM. HE wants us to be not just physically clean before we come to worship HIM but also spiritually clean through our prayer life.
CHALLENGE: Are we confessing our sins on a daily basis to the LORD?
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 20 And all the pins of the tabernacle, and of the court round about, were of brass. (3489 “pins” [yathed] means nail, stake, tent pin, tent stake, hanging peg, or a peg driven into the ground to hold a rope supporting a tent)
DEVOTION: When we read of all the details that the LORD included in HIS Word for us to read we could wonder why HE just didn’t give us an overview of the Tabernacle rather than all the details.
This verse deals with just the pegs that were used in the construction of the Tabernacle. It is the little things that can be the most important in the building of things. We see commercials on television about the use of the word “and” such as in the phrase “nuts and bolts.” If we put something together with just the bolts without the nuts on the ends there would be a problem. Whatever we made would fall apart even before it was used for a short time.
Therefore the LORD wanted every little part mentioned to give us the idea that HE knew that every part is important in constructions whether it was big or small. That is true in our life.
We need to make sure we take care of the little details in our growth in the LORD. HE wants us to continually move closer to Christ-likeness each day. It is the little things that make this possible.
CHALLENGE: Did you make sure you did the little things in your life right in the eyes of the LORD today?
: 21 This is the sum of the tabernacle, even of the tabernacle of testimony, as it was counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son to Aaron the priest. (3027 “hand” [yad] means 1 hand. 1a hand (of man). 1b strength, power (fig.). 1c side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.). 1d (various special, technical senses). 1d1 sign, monument. 1d2 part, fractional part, share. 1d3 time, repetition. 1d4 axle-trees, axle. 1d5 stays, support (for laver). 1d6 tenons (in tabernacle). 1d7 a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure). 1d8 wrists. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship].)
DEVOTION: Ithamar had a special role to play in the construction of the tabernacle, in that he received the materials for its construction, and Ithamar was responsible for the accounting of them when they were dispensed and used. This shows how important accountability really is. He was the one who made sure that all the materials were used exactly how the LORD had prescribed for them to be used.
In this day and age, accountability is sometimes a dirty word. People do not want accountability, but want to have individual freedom to do as they ask. Yet especially among Christians we need accountability. There have been some Christian organizations which have closed because of lack of financial accountability by those in leadership. That means that there should be clear communication by those in authority of the resources which have come into the ministry and how they are being spent. This minimizes the tendency of one or two persons to divert the resources into areas that do not serve the ministry.
Ithamar was personally involved in the accounting for the materials, for it is said that all of them passed through his hand. As he touched and counted them, he must have stood in awe at how the LORD was providing for His tabernacle. It was his hand that no doubt recorded the actual donations themselves so that all would know what had come in.
CHALLENGE: Be careful that you know where and how ministries that you support are using your money. They need to be accountable. This is also true of your local church, which should share its income and expenses with its members. (MW)
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 23 And with him was Aholiab, son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, and a cunning workman, and an embroiderer in blue, and in purple, and in scarlet, and fine linen. (2803 “cunning” [chashab] means to fabricate, to plot, conceive, devise, impute, invent, or think)
DEVOTION: Gold, silver, brass in abundance were used in the building of the Tabernacle. These were the metals that were found in the tabernacle. There were other materials used but we find that the LORD gifted men and women to construct HIS Tabernacle in the wilderness. It is amazing what can be done in a desert.
God calls men and women to serve HIM. HE gives those HE has called special gifts for service. Here we find a couple of men who are good at a group of things. The two men God called to serve as master craftsmen in the construction of HIS Tabernacle were Bezaleel and Aholiab. Two men made a difference.
At the end of the construction there was an accounting of all the materials used in the Tabernacle. They recorded all the gold, silver and brass used to make all the parts of the Tabernacle.
This construction job was done right and all the money was accounted for at the end. God set the example that the children of Israel were to follow while they were in the wilderness.
We have found that there are men and women who are good with their hands at making things or fixing things. There are men and women who are good with their leadership skills and with the computer but not with their hands.
One group we say is mechanically inclined. While the other group we say are intellectually inclined. However, every once in a while, we find individuals who God has blessed with both talents.
Here are two men who can think through a project and do it. Here were two thinking men who could use their gifts for the building of the tabernacle. There are many smart men and women in this world who are naturally good at doing things but they use their talents for evil instead of good. God wants us to use our intellectual abilities for HIS service. God wants us to use our mechanical abilities for HIS service. Some of us have the ability to use our intellectual abilities and our mechanical abilities in HIS service. Let’s us use both if we have them!!! Each of us is to use the abilities that God has given us for HIS glory.
Not everyone has the ability to be good in both areas. If we are mechanically inclined, we shouldn’t laugh at those who are not. If we are intellectually inclined, we shouldn’t laugh at those who are not. There a few who have both talents and should not look down on those who do not. God has gifted each person differently. Jealousy is not something that should be in our lifestyle.
CHALLENGE: Know your limitations. Use your gifts for your service to the LORD.
: 26 A bekah for every ma, that is, half a shekel, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for every one that went to be numbered, from twenty years old and upward, for six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty men. (6485 “numbered” [ paqad] means muster, reckon, observe, to pass in review, inventory, take stock, or be counted.
DEVOTION: The Tabernacle had to be built with what was available to the people. There were items that were collected from the people that they had taken from the people in Egypt. Most of the gold and silver came from the neighbors of the Israelites when they were leaving Egypt.
Here we find that the men of the children of Israel were numbered and each man over twenty had to give a contribution to the expenses of the Tabernacle.
This would mean that every male had a responsibility that they were getting paid for in order for them to pay their fair share toward the building of the Tabernacle.
No one gave more or less when this offering was taken. God wanted both the rich and the poor to know that each should trust the LORD for their income.
It seems to be hard for those who are poor to give an offering to the LORD but if everyone was only required at times to give a small amount for this special offering everyone could feel a part of the finished product.
There was the pride factor which at times is good. Every man had a part in the Tabernacle constructions. The women also had a part in the making of things for the Tabernacle.
CHALLENGE: The LORD wants everyone to be proud of the work they are doing for the LORD. The LORD wants everyone to be proud of their giving to the LORD. However, HE doesn’t want them to be prideful.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Each man gave a bekahverse 26
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Altar of burnt offeringverses 1-7
Laver of brassverse 8
Court of Tabernacleverses 9-20
Tabernacle of testimonyverse 21
Money given to buildverse 22-31
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD (Jehovah)verse 22
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Bezaleelverses 1, 22
Son of Uri – son of Hur
Tribe of Judah
Tabernacleverse 21
Mosesverses 21, 22
Commandment of Moses
Service of the Levitesverse 21
Ithamarverse 21
Son of Aaron the priest
Aaronverse 21
Aholiabverse 23
Son of Ahisamach
Tribe of Dan
Engraver
Cunning workman
Embroiderer
Goldverse 24
Twenty and nine talents
Seven hundred and thirty shekels
Shekel of the sanctuary
Silververse 25
Hundred talents
1,775 shekel of the sanctuary
Every man a half a shekelverse 26
Twenty years or older
Six hundred thousand and three thousand
and five hundred and fifty menverse 26
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
21–39:1 These verses are an inventory of the tabernacle materials. Verses 25–26 give an insight into the population of Israel at this time. There are 3,000 shekels to a talent; therefore 3,000 times 100 equals 300,000 plus 1,775 equals 301,775. Since each man (from twenty years and older) was valued at a half shekel, the total number of men able to bear arms was over 600,000 (301,775 times 2 equals 603,550), a number very much like a later count of Numbers 1:46 (603,550) or Numbers 26:51 (601,730). Such a tally for the army would more than justify estimates of 2 million for the total population.
“As the Lord commanded Moses” is the emphasis of chapters 39–40. The clause occurs nine times in chapter 39 and seven times in chapter 40. (Kaiser, W. C., Jr. (1990). Exodus. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers (Vol. 2, p. 495). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
Figuring a half shekel as about one-fifth an ounce and a talent as 75 pounds the silver (100 talents and 1,775 shekels) totaled 603,550 half-shekels. This means each of the 603,550 males 20 years of age and older paid exactly a half-shekel as specified for the “census offering” (30:11–16). (See the chart “Biblical Weights and Measures” before the Book of Gen.) Though the tabernacle’s outer covering (of hides of sea cows) may have made the tabernacle look the color of a bedouin’s tent, the richness of the metals signified to Israel the holiness, glory, and majesty of God who dwelt among them. His “house” suggested He was well able to provide lavishly for His own. (Hannah, J. D. (1985). Exodus. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 161). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Ver. 24. All the gold that was occupied for the work, in all the work of the place, &c.] That was expended in making the mercy-seat and cherubim, and the candlestick, which were all of pure gold; besides other things belonging to the ark and shew-bread table; and the plates, with which the ark and many other things were covered or gilded: even the gold of the offering; which the people brought and offered freely; as their bracelets, ear-rings, and jewels of gold, ch. 35:22 was 29 talents, and 730 shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; now as it is clear from ver. 25, 26 that a talent is of the value of 3,000 shekels, which, according to Brerewood, amount to 375 pounds of our money; and reckoning as he does the value of gold to be 12 times that of silver, a talent of gold, with him, is, of our money, 4,500 pounds; so that 29 talents, 730 shekels, are reckoned by him at 131,595 pounds; but according to Dr. Cumberlandn, who is more exact in his calculation, and who reckons a talent of silver at 353 pounds, 11 shillings, and 10 pence halfpenny, and the value of gold to be 14 times that of silver; so that a talent of gold is, with him, 5,067 pounds, 3 shillings, and 10 pence; wherefore this whole sum of gold expended in the tabernacle, according to him, amounted to 148,719 pounds sterling: and, according to Waserus, the amount of the whole is 350,920 Hungarian ducats, which make three tons and a half of gold, and 920 ducats: when one considers the distressed case of the Israelites in Egypt, their late deliverance from thence, and the desert in which they were, it may be wondered how they came by these riches, here and after mentioned; but when it is observed, the riches of their ancestors, particularly what Joseph got in Egypt, which descended to their posterity; the repayment of the labour of the Israelites at their departure, with what they borrowed of the Egyptians, and what they found upon their carcasses when cast up by the Red sea, it will in a good measure be accounted for; to which may be added, that, according to Jeromp, there were, 11 miles from Mount Horeb in the wilderness, fruitful mountains of gold, called Catachrysea. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 1, pp. 535–536). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
Interesting is the estimate of the amount of metal used. Gold occupies the first place: 29 talents and 730 shekels (about $657,975). Silver was given by every male a half of a shekel (the atonement money). The number of men from 20 years and upward was 603,550; so they gave 301,775 shekels of silver. Then there was the brass (copper). Precious metals, like gold and silver, were plentiful in Egypt, which had immense gold mines. (Gaebelein, A. C. (1912). The book of Exodus: A Complete Analysis of Exodus with Annotations (p. 76). New York: “Our Hope” Publication Office)
24. of the holy place] Rather, of the Sanctuary. The gold was employed not only in the Holy Place, but in the Most Holy Place and in the entrance to the Tent (36:38).
the gold of the offering] The gold of the wave offering.
talents … the shekel of the sanctuary] The Shekel was the common standard of weight and value with the Hebrews: and is probably to be estimated at 220 English grains (just over half an ounce avoirdupois) and its value in silver as 2s. 7d.—The Shekel of the Sanctuary (or, the Holy Shekel) would seem to denote no more than an exact Shekel, “after the king’s weight” (2 S. 14:26), “current money with the merchant” (Gen. 23:16).
In the reign of Joash, a collection similar to that here mentioned, apparently at the same rate of capitation, was made for the repairs of the Temple (2 Chr. 24:9). The tax of later times, called didrachma (Matt. 17:27), was not, like this and that of Joash, a collection for a special occasion, but a yearly tax, for the support of the Temple, of a whole shekel.—See also 30:13.
The Talent contained 3000 shekels, as may be gathered from vv. 25, 26. According to the computation here adopted, the Hebrew Talent was 94 2/7 lbs. avoirdupois. The Greek (Æginetan) Talent, from which the LXX. and most succeeding versions have taken the name talent, was 82¼ lbs. The original Hebrew word kikkār would denote a circular mass, and nearly the same word, kerker, was in use amongst the Egyptians for a mass of metal cast in the form of a massive ring with its weight stamped upon it. (Barnes, A. (1879). Notes on the Old Testament: Exodus to Ruth. (F. C. Cook & J. M. Fuller, Eds.) (pp. 100–101). London: John Murray.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
Heaven is a place on Earth (Why Everything You Do Matters To God) by Michael E. Wittmer
Since nothing else is permanent, people who wish to make their lives count for eternity will concentrate their energies on evangelism. (p. 18)
The English term “worldview,” a translation of the German word Weltanschauung, has been variously described as ‘perceptual frameworks,” “ways of seeing, the “set of presuppositions … which we hold … about the bsic make-up of the world,” and “the conceptual framework of one’s basic belief about things.” (p. 21)
It is important to discover our ultimate beliefs, for these give rise to our worldview, which in turn serves as the lens through which we see the world. (p. 27)
Job’s friends attempted to say the right words to make things better, but they were operating from within his old worldview, the one that assumed that God always rewards the righteous and punishes evildoers. (p. 32)
Job never received an answer to his complaints or a reason for his trial, but his face-to-face encounter with the living God convinced him that his life was still in good hands. (p. 33)
Acts 13
Saul adopts a Christian name, Paul, and travels to Galatia with the message of the Gospel.
INSIGHT
Chapter 13 records a remarkable fulfillment of prophecy that is easily missed. In chapter 1, Jesus commissions the disciples to be witnesses for Him and proclaims that they will take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Now the Holy Spirit sets Paul and Barnabas apart to begin traveling to the ends of the earth, taking the message with them. You and I can extend that prophetic fulfillment, too, as we accept the Great Commission as our personal commission and help to take the message of salvation to the ends of the world. (Quiet Walk)
THE INCARNATION
The word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.
John 1:14
The doctrine of the Incarnation does not teach, neither does it involve the idea, that a change took place in the personality of the Son of God. There was a change in the form in which He appeared, there was a change in the state in which He manifested Himself, but there was no change in His personality. He is the same Person always. In the womb of the virgin Mary and lying as a helpless babe in the manger, He is still the second person in the holy Trinity.
We must never so state the doctrine of the Incarnation as to give the impression that we say that the Son of God was changed into a man. That is why that phrase about God becoming man is misleading. We see this in John 1:14: “The word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” That very phrase “was made” has often caused people to think that the Son of God was changed into a man. This is partly due to the fact that it is not really the best translation. Instead of saying, “The Word was made flesh,” what we really mean is that He became flesh or that He took on flesh. The idea of making gives the impression of being changed into, but that is wrong.
In other words, the way in which the Scripture generally puts it is this: In Romans 8:3 we are told that He came “in the likeness of sinful flesh.” That is better. Or take it as it is put in 1 John 4:2: “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God.” Jesus Christ has not been changed into a man; it is this eternal Person who has come in the flesh. That is the right way to put it.
A Thought to Ponder: We must never so state the doctrine of the Incarnation as to give the impression that we say that the Son of God was changed into a man.
(From God the Father, God the Son, p. 257, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Back in my sermon-making days I approached some Sunday mornings feeling like a lowly worm. During the week before, I had not been the best husband, father, or friend. I felt that before God could use me again I had to establish a track record of right living. So I vowed to get through the sermon as best I could and try to live better the coming week.
That was not the right approach. In Galatians 3 it’s said that God continually supplies us with His Spirit and works powerfully through us as a free gift—not because we’ve done anything or deserve it.
Abraham’s life demonstrates this. At times he failed as a husband. For example, he twice put Sarah’s life in jeopardy by lying to save his own skin (Genesis 12:10-20; 20:1-18). Yet his faith “was credited to him as righteousness” (Galatians 3:6). Abraham put himself in God’s hands despite his failures, and God used him to bring salvation to the world through his lineage.
There’s no justification for behaving badly. Jesus has asked us to follow Him in obedience, and He supplies the means to do so. A hard, unrepentant heart will always hinder His purposes for us, but His ability to use us doesn’t depend on a lengthy pattern of good behavior. It’s based solely on God’s willingness to work through us as we are: saved and growing by grace. You don’t have to work for His grace—it’s free.
By David H. Roper (Our Daily Bread)
Meditation
“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)
This well-known verse contains the first use of the Hebrew verb for “meditate” (hagah) in the Bible and, significantly, it is a command to meditate on the Scriptures. Such meditation is not mere quietness or daydreaming but is thoughtfulness with a purpose—to obey “all that is written therein.”
Meditation for its own sake, without being centered on God’s Word, is often useless or even harmful. Witness the Western proliferation of Eastern “meditation cults” (T.M., etc.), which lead their devotees into pantheism and occultism. Isaiah 8:19 warns against “wizards that peep, and that mutter [same word as ‘meditate’].” “Why do…the people imagine [same word] a vain thing?” (Psalm 2:1).
The blessed man is the one whose “delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night” (Psalm 1:2). That is, only if we are continually guided by the Holy Scriptures will we be happy and successful.
In the New Testament, the Greek word for “meditate” (melatao) is used only twice. Once it is translated “imagine” (Acts 4:25) and is in a quotation of Psalm 2:1, as above. The last time it is used, however, its emphasis reverts back to the context of its first usage, as in our text above. Paul commands us: “Give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine….Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all” (1 Timothy 4:13, 15). Modern meditationists say that the goal of meditation is to clear our minds of “things,” but God wants us to meditate on “these things”—the life-giving, life-directing doctrines of His Word.
(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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