Intelligent Meditations

There are many lessons for us in the word of God. Often they are stated in such a way that even the most casual reader could not miss them. There are other lessons that take a little digging and meditation.

I realize that our meditation must be governed by the word of God, otherwise it becomes imagination. With this in mind it might be good to consider the difference between intelligent and intellectual.

Intellectual – Guided or developed by or relying on the intellect. (Webster)

I am sure, most can see, this is a very dangerous direction for the Christian to take.

Intelligence – Knowledge of an event, circumstance, etc., received or imparted; news; information. (Webster)

In the case of the Christian we get our information and knowledge from the word of God. Our thoughts and meditations are to be formed and governed by God’s word.

It is so very important for the child of God to see that “intelligent” is very different from “intellectual”. In our secular positions it is often necessary to use our intellectual abilities to accomplish our goals, but we must not bring that pattern of thinking into our meditations. Our meditations should be intelligent, that is they should be guided and formed by the word of God.

There are a number of verses that would help us, I will just mention a few.

Rom 12:1 - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the compassions of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your intelligent service. (JND)

Hosea 14:9 - Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? intelligent, and he shall know them? For the ways of Jehovah are right, and the just shall walk in them; but the transgressors shall fall therein. (JND)

Proverbs 15:14 - The heart of an intelligent man seeketh knowledge; but the mouth of the foolish feedeth on folly. (JND)

It is interesting to note that in the Greek there are nine different words translated as fool and in the Hebrew there are ten. The word for folly, in Proverbs 15:14, is one of them and means, “Willfully turning away”, and here it is turning away from seeking knowledge of whatever the subject might be. Some seem to think that if they do not know the facts about it, they are relieved from responsibility. This is not being intelligent, sad to say it is folly.

See therefore how ye walk carefully, not as unwise but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. For this reason be not foolish, but understanding what is the will of the Lord.

Ephesians 5:15 - 17

There is another word that is often misused and that is “reason”. Like many other words, there are two sides that must be considered, or we risk being unintelligent about it.

Isaiah 1:18 - Come now, let us reason together, saith Jehovah: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

If the Lord is bidding someone to reason, it must be a good and profitable exercise. In this case we can thank the Lord that we have divine guidance how to reason. He tells us in verse 10, Hear the word of Jehovah, rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, people of Gomorrah! We should not use intellectual ability to reason, that is folly. We should always use the word of Go to guide us so we can reason intelligently.

We are also told about those that are without reason.

2 Peter 2:12 - But these, as natural animals without reason, made to be caught and destroyed, speaking injuriously in things they are ignorant of, shall also perish in their own corruption,

There are also those who reason, but without the guidance of the word of God. When the word of god is not used to guide reason, people can come to wrong conclusions and anything can be justified. Here are a few examples.

Matthew 16:8 - And Jesus knowing it, said, “Why reason ye among yourselves, O ye of little faith, because ye have taken no bread?”

Mark 2:8 - And straightway Jesus, knowing in his spirit that they are reasoning thus within themselves, said to them, “Why reason ye these things in your hearts?”

Luke 5:21 - And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason in their minds , saying, Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who is able to forgive sins but God alone?

It is of importance to maintain liberty yet, as we have been saying, that liberty must be governed by the word of God.

We must show real care as we meditate on the word. There should always be a liberty to meditate on the word and have some thoughts of our own. Thoughts that might have been developed through applying God’s word to our individual experiences in life. These experiences differ for everyone, and I can learn from applying the word to your experiences and you can learn from mine. Thoughts that have been an encouragement to us that could also be an encouragement to others.

The psalmist said in Psalm 45:1 - My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

With care then, let us search the word of God, meditate much upon it and if we develop thoughts of our own may they be for the glory of the Lord and the blessing of the Lords people, may they be intelligent thoughts formed by God’s word.

If we find that something in our thoughts is not correct, may we have the grace to be thankful that it was pointed out and then adjust our thoughts.

Hebrews 12:5 - My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord.

dl