THE DELIGHTFULLY SWEET & PRACTICAL WORD OF GOD (Part 1)

Bobby Howell

Psalm 119 • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

Psalm 119:97–104

0 ratings

· 8 views

The Delightfully Sweet Word of God provides practical benefits for daily life

Notes

Transcript

Handout

THE DELIGHTFULLY SWEET & PRACTICAL BENEFITS OF BIBLICAL MEDITATION

We are approaching our next section of Psalm 119, covering verses 97-104. We see in this section THE DELIGHTFULLY SWEET & PRACTICAL WORD OF GOD. It is delightfully sweet, like honey, and it is practical, like tools in the box.

Our first sermon will focus on the benefits of Biblical Meditation. I say Biblical to distinguish it from the general, mental image of meditation. When we hear the word meditation we often think about a man or woman sitting on the floor with crossed-legs, thumb and index fingers touching, while humming quietly to themselves.

For example, Mindful describes their version of meditation as,

“How do you learn to meditate? In mindfulness meditation, we’re learning how to pay attention to the breath as it goes in and out, and notice when the mind wanders from this task. This practice of returning to the breath builds the muscles of attention and mindfulness.”—Mindful Staff

(https://www.mindful.org/how-to-meditate/, accessed 16 July 2020)

Or, consider David Gelles’ statement from his NYT article “How to Meditate”,

“Mindfulness meditation isn’t about letting your thoughts wander. But it isn’t about trying to empty your mind, either. Instead, the practice involves paying close attention to the present moment — especially our own thoughts, emotions and sensations — whatever it is that’s happening.”—David Gelles, New York Times

The Yoga Journal even devotes an article to “Everything You Need to Know About Meditation Posture.”

Other examples of meditation are emptying the mind, becoming one with the earth or life force, and so on and so forth.

Biblical meditation cannot be more different. Biblical mediation, as defined helpfully by Don Whitney,

“Meditation [is] deep thinking on the truths and spiritual realities revealed in Scripture for the purposes of understanding, application, and prayer.”—Don Whitney

Biblical meditation is deep thinking about God’s Word for the purpose of understanding, application, and prayer. We will look at this in more detail toward the end of our time this evening, but please keep this in mind as we work through these two verses.

I. BIBLICAL MEDITATION DEPENDS UPON THE POSITION OF ONE’S HEART- 119:97

By position of one’s heart I do not mean where you heart is literally located. What I mean is the position of your heart in relation to God’s Word. Have you ever watched someone working on something they love? Like someone polishing their ‘67 Mustang, or a wood carver crafting a masterpiece, you can see the love they have for their work. That is the position of their heart.

The psalmist’s meditation is based upon an intense and life-altering love for God’s Word. That was the position of his heart. Biblical meditation, that deep thinking for the purpose of understanding, application, and prayer comes from an intense and life-altering love for God’s Word.

The psalmist bursts out, “Oh how I love Your law!” Or, “How sweet are Your words to my taste!”

A. The position of one’s heart should be one of intense love

When we approach the Delightfully Sweet and Practical Word of God from a position of love, we are able to meditate upon it. Far too often believers approach God’s Word is haphazard and careless fashion. We “do our devotions” or “read that verse,” but have we stopped to consider just what exactly we are reading? We are reading God’s Word. We, finite and filthy human beings prior to salvation, are reading God’s Word, the infinite and incomprehensible Creator of literally everything.

The position of our heart should display an intense love for God’s Word. Now, this is not to say that we will feel the same way every time we sit down to read God’s Word. There are times when other issues of life deprive us of the feeling of love. Does this mean that we do not actually love? Of course not! That would be an absurd line of thinking.

With that said, there should be love for the Scriptures. We would think the husband who claims to love his wife, yet never demonstrates this in any capacity (whether in thought, speech, or actions) is lying. Likewise, to claim that we love the Scriptures and yet neglect the reading, meditation, memorizing, and applying of it would also demonstrate a lack of love.

In his book, Feelings and Faith, Brian Borgman discusses a connection between meditation and the emotions,

“There is a direct connection between meditation and a burning in our hearts—an emotional stirring. That connection may be negative, dwelling on a hurt or a disappointment and then being fire up with anger or bitterness. But the connection can also be positive, dwelling on truth, God, his Word, his works, and getting fired up with holy emotions. As we meditate, the fire burns.”—Brian Borgman, Feelings and Faith 204-205

There should be an intense love for God’s Word. And as we engage in meditation, that love is only intensified as we learn more about God, as we experience His grace in new areas of our lives, and as we see how God’s Word works out in our daily lives.

B. The position of one’s heart should be one of life-altering love

Not only should the positions of our hearts be of intense love, it should also demonstrate life-altering love. Love changes us. It changes what we think about, what we do, and how we dress. You can always tell when a young man begins dating because he changes.

Our love for God’s Word should be a life-altering love. The psalmist declares, “It is my mediation all the day.”

The psalmist’s life was altered by God’s Word. He lived differently. The same is said of the psalmist in Psalm 1:2-3. He meditated on God’s Word day and night. His life was different. The structure of his day centered around God’s Word. How different would our lives looked if we had this intensely and life-altering love for God’s Word? How different would our church look?

You see, the position of one’s heart is important for biblical meditation. To approach God’s Word in any other manner is to commit injustice.

II. BIBLICAL MEDITATION IS DEEP THINKING WITH THE GOAL OF APPLICATION AND ADORATION- 119:97

Biblical meditation, as opposed to eastern or mindfulness meditation, is not a end in and of itself. It is means to accomplish something specific: adoration and application. This is the purpose for biblical meditation. These are the two purposes we will spend the remainder of our time discussing.

A. THE GOAL OF MEDITATION IS APPLICATION- 119:97

The goal of meditation is application, that is, taking the truth of God’s Word and applying it to our every day. When you purchase Hayne’s Automobile Repair Manuals you do not read them for the sake of gaining knowledge.

You read the Hayne’s Manual in order to work on your vehicle. You want to apply the knowledge in practical ways. When you meditate, you learn about God in order to apply it.

This can be seen in Psalm 1:1, this man’s life was different because he meditated on God’s Word and applying it.

“Therefore, God’s purpose for us in reading the Scripture is not only that we see his glory, and that we savor his glory, but also that we be transformed by this seeing and savoring, so that our visible, audible, touchable lives display the worth and beauty of God.”—John Piper, Reading the Bible Supernaturally: Seeing and Savoring the Glory of God in Scripture 137

Ephesians 2:8-10, our foundational verses for salvation by grace through faith, has another equally important part: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before so that we would walk in them.”

“Let you light shine before men in such a way that they may see you good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”—Matt. 5:16

God saved us, not so that we would simply go to heaven and spend eternity. That is a benefit, but it is not the end goal. It is for us to be conformed into the image of Jesus Christ and to bear much fruit (John 15:1-5). It is about application. We meditate to apply.

B. THE GOAL OF MEDITATION IS ADORATION- 119:103

The other goal is adoration. That is, we worship God. We meditate upon the Scriptures and engage in worship to God.

“God’s greatness does not float over the Bible like a gas. It does not lurk in hidden places separate from the meaning of words and sentences. It is seen and through the meaning of texts.”—John Piper, Reading the Bible Supernaturally: Seeing and Savoring the Glory of God in Scripture 96

The psalmist says, “How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

He adore God’s Word, He loved God and His Word. This is a goal of meditation, to worship God. The more we meditate upon the Word of God, the more we fall in love with God.

We were created to worship (Ex. 20:3; Rev. 21:1-4, 10-22:5). That is the purpose of our existence, to worship and adore our God.

APPLICATION

“Too much clutter in your mind leaves insufficient room for devotion to Christ.”— Charles Swindoll “So, You Want to Be Like Christ?” 39

Related Media

Related Sermons