Young People's Group

The Challenge to Meditate on These Things (I)

by Mitchell Tan
January 20, 2017

IDENTIFYING “THESE THINGS” IN PAUL’S FIRST PASTORAL EPISTLE

There is a significant phrase that Paul used a number of times in the epistle of 1 Timothy. It is the phrase “these things” which appeared eight times in this letter.

“These things”
1 Timothy 4:15

What are “These things”? It is a reference to the body of truth and principles that had been taught by Paul to Timothy. He specially wrote about “these things” so that his faithful spiritual son might know how to conduct himself in the house of God (1 Timothy 3:15). Timothy was also meant to instruct the brethren in “these things” that he may be nourished by them (1 Timothy 4:6). These were important lessons to be practised and taught to others.

PONDERING THE THINGS WE HAVE LEARNT

“Meditate on these things”
1 Timothy 4:15

The word “meditate” in Greek means “To ponder deeply.” It is to make much effort to dwell on and think through the lessons taught. With reference to meditating, we can learn from the example of the Psalmist. He had written about how he went about meditating on the word of God.

1. MEDITATING ON THE WORD DAY AND NIGHT

“But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.”
Psalm 1:2

“Day and night” is a Hebrew idiomatic phrase that refers to “continuity”. As natural as after day comes night and after night comes day, so a person should naturally and continuously dwell on the word of God. He meditates on it consistently because he has found great delight in His laws. He has discovered many wonderful things about God and His ways. He enjoys pondering on the word of God that he does it “day and night.”

2. MEDITATING ON THE WORD AND BEING STILL

“Be angry, and do not sin.
Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.”
Psalm 4:4

Meditation is more than just thinking with the mind. The Psalmist also challenged his readers to meditate within their heart in the evening. Each day should end with reflecting and pondering on the word of God till the heart is still. David had been running from King Saul and had been struggling with the problem of anger. He was angry that his own father-law was trying to kill him. The challenge for him was to meditate on God till the heart is still before Him.

3. MEDITATING ON THE WORD AND PRAYER

“Give ear to my words, O Lord,
Consider my meditation.
Give heed to the voice of my cry,
My King and my God,
For to You I will pray.”
Psalm 5:1-2

The Psalmist also took what he had meditated on from the Scriptures and turned it into prayer. After pondering on the word in the evening, he prayed to the Lord to consider his meditation in the morning. His prayers were specially thought through words, based on the Scriptures. His meditation also helped him to focus on the Lord as His sovereign King. Young people, let’s also learn to memorise and meditate on the lessons that we have learnt from Scripture. Let’s dwell deeply on “these things” in our mind and heart. Let’s commit to God what we have meditated on in prayer.

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