The term meditation (or to meditate) is very common today, which may cause us to wonder: why talk about something already so popular? But as with many things, popularity does not equal understanding. Sometimes, we must step back and re-examine what we think we know.
Today, meditation is often understood as repeating or speaking positive affirmations with the expectation that they will come to pass. While speaking can sometimes precede meditation (especially when Scripture reading is vocalized), speaking itself is not meditation, and we must examine what the word truly means.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines meditation as engaging in contemplation and reflection, while the Cambridge dictionary defines it as thinking seriously about something for a long time. From this, we see that meditation is first a mental exercise — the thoughtful engagement of our minds.
In light of this, we must ask: What was God communicating to Joshua in Joshua 1:8?
Joshua 1:8 (KJV)
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.
What exactly was the Book of the Law, and why was Joshua instructed to meditate on it?
The Book of the Law refers to God’s commands given to the Israelites through Moses — the Ten Commandments and the broader body of instructions that distinguished Israel as God’s covenant people. Obedience to these commands positioned them to experience God’s promised blessings.
In Joshua 1:8, we see God personalizing the covenant principles expressed in Deuteronomy 28 to Joshua as leader of Israel.
A key detail often missed in modern interpretations of meditation is the phrase:
“…that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein…”
God’s expectation was that Joshua would engage in daily, thoughtful contemplation of the Law, with the goal of producing obedience. Joshua was not only to read (as seen in the instruction that the Book of the Law should not depart from his mouth), but to continually think about what it required of him (meditate on it day and night).
Through deliberate and consistent reading and reflection on the Law, Joshua would recognize his obligations. These obligations are not to be spoken out, but fulfilled (acted out). In fulfilling these obligations, he would experience the promised blessings — prosperity and good success.
The Apostle James reinforces this same principle:
James 1:22–25 (NIV)
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says… But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it — not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it — they will be blessed in what they do.
The one who is blessed is the doer of the Word — the one who looks intently, recognizes the spiritual obligations revealed in God’s Word, and acts in obedience. In the same way Joshua meditated on the Law, recognized God’s expectations, and obeyed, resulting in blessing.
As we commit ourselves to daily looking into (reading) God’s Word — the perfect law that gives freedom — we must engage in true meditation: thoughtful reflection on what we have read.
In doing so, we discover precious promises given to us as God’s children. At the same time, we recognize the Spirit-empowered responsibilities connected to those promises — responsibilities that either condition or flow from them.
We then respond in obedience, knowing that God’s blessing follows obedience to His instruction.
Note: The Spirit-empowered obligations or responsibilities revealed in God’s Word, more often than not, are not fulfilled by speaking (except where speaking is explicitly declared as the obligation); just as Joshua doing what the book of the Law demands (in Joshua 1:8) would not be accomplished by speaking or reciting the Law — or by declaring the promised prosperity or success consequent upon his obedience — but by actually doing it.