FAITH CAPSULE: Meditation is labor and it gives understanding.

Psalm 119:27-169

Understanding is crucial when seeking God. At a point in time, God took some of His time to look down from “…heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God.” (Psalm14:2) God is serious when it comes to the business of His kingdom; He will not compromise based on lack of one’s understanding. Many speak of the word of God but lack the understanding to bring forth results. However, speaking does not translate to having a knowing edge over confronting challenges of this wicked world. The Psalmist makes it clear, “My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall give understanding.” (Psalm 49:3) It is possible to speak the word of God but when there is no understand in place it becomes powerless. Speaking the word of God that is backed with understanding is rooted in meditation but not in memorization. God was right when He repeated Himself three times (great emphasis) to Joshua after the death of Moses, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8) Of course, meditation is labor and it gives understanding, but when one is lazy one becomes reduced to memorization which only comes from the mouth with no power because it lacks understanding. Indeed and in truth, lack of understand is what will make one to wander and rest in the assembly of dead. Proverbs 21:16, “A man who wanders from the way of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.”This is exactly what happened to the children of Israel. Psalm 106:7, clearly points it out, “Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders; they did not remember the multitude of Your mercies, But rebelled by the sea—the Red Sea.” The children of Israel saw all the wonders that brought them out of the bondage of over four hundred years. The Children of Israel lack understand that could make them remember the mercies of God. In this wicked world, one who is wise will definitely know to observe the things/work of God. It is in the observation that understanding the lovingkindness of God will come to place in one’s life. Psalm 111:10, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; good understandings have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.”  Once there is understanding to fear the word of God and to live accordance to His word, the word of God answers with power.

Prayer for today:  Ask God for the wisdom to understand the way of His precepts; so that you can mediate on His wonderful works.