Retreat Meditation
September 2, 2006 8:00 am
Meditation is essential to understanding and applying Scripture. I think this is why the writer of Psalm 119 resolves no less than six times to meditate on God’s Word. And it is why I decided that we would practice together on the five15 Retreat.
Below is the simple method I led us in, as we worked our way through Isaiah 40 together. You could apply this method to any one verse or any one chapter of God’s Word. I’ve included samples that y’all came up with on the retreat from Isaiah 40.
1. Take 5 minutes or so to read the verses several times through. Write down any words or phrases that seem particularly important to you. For instance:
From verses 1-11, we noticed the words voice, speak, cry, and behold. It seems that God is eager to reveal himself.
In verses 25-31, we saw a stark difference between the words describing God (strength, might, power) and the words describing us (faint, weary, exhausted).
2. Next, ask what these verses reveal truth about God: His character and His actions. Write down at least one sentence that begins with the Word “God.” If you have time, write down as many as you can…
“God is infinite, and His vastness is beyond our comprehension or description.”
“God is completely wise and needs no human counsel.”
“God strengthens the weak; He is compassionate, active, and personal.”
3. Now, write down at least one sentence that begins with the word “I.” If you have time, write down several. The “I” sentence could work in two different ways: things we learn about ourselves in relation to God, or things we resolve to do in response to God’s revelation of Himself. Examples of each include:
“I am like a grasshopper in God’s eyes: small, insignificant, and fleeting. This puts my arrogant assessment of my importance back in the proper place.”
“I will wait on the Lord rather than act out of arrogant self-sufficiency.”
4. Finally, make some gospel connections. The whole Bible points to Jesus, so where do you see the Savior in these verses? It’s not as hard as you might think:
Read verse 3 again. Sound familiar? If not, check out Matthew 3, Mark 1, Luke 3, or John 1. These words are used by John the Baptist right as Jesus comes on the scene to begin his public ministry. Isaiah 40:3 begins a paragraph that ends in verse 5: “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.†This is pointing to us to Jesus!
Verse 11 describes God “tending his flock like a shepherd.” Read about any Good Shepherds lately? Head over to John 10 and check it out. These verses, written some 600 years before Jesus, are speaking of Him, and ultimately fulfilled in Him.
I hope you enjoyed meditating together while we were on the retreat. Enjoy your Moleskine and keep at it!
NOTE: I am indebted to Mike Bullmore for the God-and-I sentence idea. Thanks, Mike!
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