Meditation: Remember / Recall (Joshua 1:8: Deuteronomy 17:18-20; Psalm 1:2)

JOSHUA 1:8 says that, "This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do all that is written therein, for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success"

SUCCESS

Joshua was the "commander-in-chief" of Israel, not just giving the orders, but participating in their fulfillment. Success for him was navigating a few million people to possession of their inheritance through dispossessing the nations already living there, and insuring that godly instruction still pervaded among the people to secure their long-term habitation in the land God had given them.

OUTLOUD

Israel was instructed, that when they chose a king over themselves, that ruler was to write a copy of the law and have it constantly with him. He was to read it out loud all the days of his life [as historical Israel had no conception of reading, other than "out loud"] so that he would learn to fear (YHWH), his creator; source, and covenant God, so that he would guard all the words written, in his heart, and do them. Then, he would prolong his days and the people he served, and his reign under (Elohim), the covenant God (Deut.17:18 - 20).

DEPART

The scripture says that the book of the law would not "depart" out of his mouth, of which one of the meanings of "depart", is, "to leave it's proper place", meaning that the proper place for God's word is in our mouth; spoken through our lips.

VERBAL UTTERANCE

 It is the "book of the law", or scroll of the sacred text, that was to be written out, for constant verbal utterance. Though we often think of strictly the first five books of the bible as the law, a very similar passage of scripture, relating not just to a ruler, but to all who are God's [Elohim's] covenant people, in Psalm 1:2, refers to any individual who embraces this principle of success.

TORAH

In Psalm 1:2, it says they delight (hepso), [ they find pleasure; they desire; it makes them happy], in the law of (YHWH), the creator; author of life; and sustainer of their life. The "law" is not just the first five books of the scriptures, but is the (torah), literally meaning, the "directory", from the root word (jarah), meaning "to point the way", or "direct". The word of our Father gives us guidance; direction; pointing the way that we should go, and it's constant meditation conforms our behavior to the desired result of more intimate relationship, fulfilling His will in and through our lives.

PROSPEROUS RESULTS

In both passages, the constant meditation process, produces success or prosperous results; the fulfillment of purpose, in those who engage in and cultivate the Word in their lives. It is constant meditation, for both passages use the instructive phrase, "day and night". If it is not day, then it is night, leaving no room for assumption that this is anything other than a constant; continual; vigilante process of immersing oneself in the Word of God, and the Word of God saturating our thoughts; focus; and attention.

MEDITATION

Meditation is not the typical stereo type of some cross-legged individual, sitting in abject silence, seeking some inner tranquility. Scriptural meditation is a very active process of transformation that takes place from the constant, repetitive rehearsal of God's word. What is distinctive, is that the word refers to something that is very reflective. There is a consistent thought of remembrance, or calling to mind, what God has spoken; what He has declared; what He has done.

PSALM 63:6, "...I remember you upon my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches", or, "...I recalled You on my couch, in the night watches I dwelled on You" (Robert Alter)

PSALM 77:11-12, "...I will remember the works of (YHWH): surely I will remember Your works of old. I will meditate also of all Your work, and talk of Your doings"

RECALLING

This is one of the first aspects of "meditation", which is the recalling to memory, or bringing back to the surface, what God, our Father, has done; what He has said; who He is; what He's like, and reflecting on that truth.

You are God's Best and God's Best is Yours