Preparing for the Lord's Day
This Sunday we return to the study of Christian meditation as we come to Psalm 119. Psalm 119 is the longest Psalm in the Bible and it provides for us an extended meditation on the Word of God, itself. Six times in this Psalm there is direct teaching on the concept of meditating on God’s word (vv. 15, 23, 27, 48, 78, 148) and many other references to the concept of thinking about or pondering God’s word. Over the next two weeks we will explore how Christian meditation will change how we think, feel, and act. This week we will take up the first two of these topics.
Puritan minister Nathaniel Ranew, once wrote of meditation’s benefits to thinking rightly. "Meditation is to be a chief help to the repository and treasury of truths, to lay and lock up precious and useful truth more sure.” To think rightly in this time we need to give ourselves over to the practice of pondering the truth of God’s word.
In like fashion when we begin to think rightly through meditation on the word of God, it will excite within us right emotion toward God as well. Again, Ranew explains, “The right and genuine meditation is an affectionate thing; as the heads act, the heart glows. The life-vein of warm affections run and disperse themselves through the whole duty.”
To come prepared for the sermon take time this week to read and to meditate upon Psalm 119, Psalm 1, Psalm 77, Colossians 2:3, Revelation 5:12, and this article on the benefits of Christian Meditation.
As we gather to worship the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit this Lord’s day, we will join our hearts in song, singing the Hymn of Praise “To God be the Glory”, the Acclamation of Praise “When I Survey” and the Hymn of Response “My Hope is in the Lord.” Let us come to worship this Sunday prepared to hear God’s Word, to receive it in faith, to love and treasure it in our hearts, and to practice it in our lives that we may continue to glorify and enjoy Him!
Sermon Information:
Text: Psalm 119
Title: Changing Hearts and Minds
Outline:
- Every Christian Must Meditate on God’s Word to Think Rightly
- Every Christian Must Meditate on God’s Word to Feel Rightly