“Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked [following their advice and example], nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit [down to rest] in the seat of scoffers (ridiculers).  But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law [His precepts and teachings] he [habitually] meditates day and night.  And he will be like a tree firmly planted [and fed] by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season; its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers [and comes to maturity].” (Psalm 1:1-3 AMP).

 I have been coming to a better understanding of what it means to meditate on the Word of God and why it is so important.  The word “law” in this scripture is translated from the Hebrew word Torah, which we generally assume refers to the first five books of the Bible and the Law of Moses.  But I looked up the word Torah and found that it refers to much more.  One definition is “a set of instructions, from a father to his children.”  I also found that the word Torah contains a sub root “or” which means light, and is derived from the verb root “Yarah” meaning to throw, shoot, cast, flow, or point.  Torah is the instruction and teaching of God that points us in the way we should go, much like an archer points and arrow, and lights our way.  I believe the law is the entire Word or God, not just the first five books containing the Law of Moses.  2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (NKJV).

So, meditating on God’s Word, according to Psalm 1:3, will cause us to be prosperous in whatever we do.  How do you suppose that works?  What happens when we meditate on something negative?  We usually produce worry, fear, anxiety, anger.  Have you ever had moments in your life that were hurtful to you and every time you think back on them you feel hurt and angry all over again?  Thinking on those memories feeds those negative emotions and keeps them alive in us.  But what happens when we think on good memories?  It usually feeds whatever emotions were associated with them like joy or love.  What do you suppose we are feeding when we think on God’s Word? 

First, we need to understand that we are triune beings.  We are a spirit that has a soul and lives in a body.  Our soul is made up of our mind, will, and emotions.  Our body is the vessel, or “home” we live in.  Our spirit is our innermost being.  Our spirit is what communicates with God (who is also Spirit).  When we walk by our flesh, we are walking in ways that may seem good or right to us but contain no wisdom from God.  “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12 NKJV).  But when we walk by the spirit we are walking in the light of truth.  Our ways are made straight because our thoughts are established by the wisdom that flows through our spirit.  Meditating on God’s Word feeds our spirit wisdom and revelation and points us in the way that we should go.  As long as we walk in the way God points us, we will prosper in all that we do.  That is a promise we have from Him, to prosper in all of our ways.  “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.  For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8 NKJV).  Day and night doesn’t just refer to daytime and nighttime, it also refers to times of light and times of darkness.  In other words, in times when we have understanding (enlightenment) and know where we are headed, and in times of obscurity and uncertainty when we don’t know what is next, we are to meditate on His Word.

Proverbs 20:27 NKJV says, “The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the inner depths of his heart.”  The Hebrew word used for spirit here is the same Hebrew word used for breath in Genesis 2:7: “God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life”.  So, our spirit is the breath of life God breathed into us.  The Passion Translation of Proverbs 20:27 puts it like this, “The spirit God breathed into man is like a living lamp, a shining light searching into the innermost chamber of our being.”  Psalm 119:105 calls God’s Word a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.  If our spirit is the lamp (or conscience) of the Lord and His Word is a light to our path, then we need to make sure to have His Word in our spirit.  The Word feeds and nourishes our spirit and when we consume it, we are filled with the knowledge and wisdom in all things concerning the will of God.  We aren’t meant to just read it, we are meant to think on it, to imagine it, to see God speaking it directly to us, to remember it, to speak it out loud, to make it personal to us, to own it and claim it as our own.  Each time we bring our mind back to scripture in some way we are nourishing our spirit with Truth and Light. 

Proverbs 8:22-36 tells us that wisdom was established from everlasting, from the beginning, before there was ever an earth.  Wisdom was there when God prepared the heavens and established the clouds and marked out the foundations of the earth.  “Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him, rejoicing in His inhabited world, and my delight was with the sons of men.” (Prov. 8:30-31 NKJV).  Wisdom is the Word, wisdom is Jesus (John 1:1), and His delight is with us; He loves to be with us.  Jesus tells us in John 6:35 that He is the bread of life, He is the food for our spirit.  Everything that Jesus was when He walked the earth, the Word is for us today.  Just as powerful, just as insightful, just as revealing of the Father’s will, just as instructive, just as discerning.  Proverbs 4:20-22 tells us that the Word is life to all who find it and health to all their flesh.  Feeding on the Word of God is essential for our walk with Him.  It will ensure that even in the darkest times on the earth we will remain strong, fruitful, blessed, and prosperous.

“What delight comes to the one who follows God’s ways!  He won’t walk in the step with the wicked, nor share the sinner’s way, nor be found sitting in the scorner’s seat.  His passion is to remain true to the Word of ‘I AM,’ meditating day and night on the true revelation of light.  He will be standing firm like a flourishing tree planted by God’s design, deeply rooted by the brooks of bliss, bearing fruit in every season of life.  He is never dry, never fainting, ever blessed, ever prosperous.” (Psalm 1:1-3 TPT).