Meditation
Isaac “went out to meditate in the field at the eventide,” and the next thing he saw was camels coming (Genesis 24:63). Meditation in Scripture is not emptying the mind. It means turning God’s words and works over, slowly and often aloud. The blessed person of the first psalm is the one who in the LORD’s law “doth he meditate day and night”. Another psalmist does it in bed: “When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.” Psalm 119 comes back to it again and again, calling the law “my meditation all the day.”
39 verses
Genesis
And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.
Joshua
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.
Psalms
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,
My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:
When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.
Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.
I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.
I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.
My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.
My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.
I have remembered thy name, O LORD, in the night, and have kept thy law.
I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.
MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.
I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.
How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.