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The practice of reflection or contemplation. The word meditation or its verb form, to meditate, is found mainly in the Old Testament. The Hebrew words behind this concept mean "to murmur, "a murmuring," "sighing," or "moaning." This concept is reflected in <Psalm 1:2>, where the "blessed man" meditates on God's law day and night. The psalmist also prayed that the meditation of his heart would be acceptable in God's sight <Ps. 19:14>. Joshua was instructed to meditate on the Book of the Law for the purpose of obeying all that was written in it <Josh. 1:8>.
The Greek word translated as meditate occurs only twice in the New Testament. In <Luke 21:14> Jesus instructed His disciples not "to meditate beforehand" in answering their adversaries when the end of the age comes. The word may be understood in this passage as the idea of preparing a defense for a court appearance. Paul, in <1 Timothy 4:15>, urged Timothy to meditate, or take pains with, the instructions he gives. The idea of meditation is also found in <Philippians 4:8> and <Colossians 3:2>.
Meditation is a lost art for many Christians, but the practice needs to be cultivated again.
(from Nelson's Illustrated
Bible Dictionary)
(Copyright (C) 1986,
Thomas Nelson Publishers)
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