Our Sermons

Bible Passage: Psalm 119:97-104, 129-133
Pastor: Pastor Schlicht
Sermon Date:  December 9, 2020

Our theme for today is Meditatio or Meditation. For some, meditation may seem like something we should avoid in Lutheran Christianity. I think that’s because of Eastern religions and their strong connection to meditation practices which has formed most people’s perception of meditation.  We associate it with techniques like deep breathing, specific postures, and the emptying of the mind.  

But meditation or Meditatio as Luther explains is much different. First of all, as we will see in Psalm 119, meditation, biblically speaking, is never done apart from the Word of God. Biblical meditation is not about vacating yourself or emptying your mind. It is just the opposite. You are filling yourself up with the Word of God and then digesting or chewing on it. Martin Luther wrote, “You should meditate by actually repeating and comparing literal words of the book, reading and rereading them with diligent attention and reflection, so that you may see what the Holy Spirit means by them.” Meditation is simply thinking about God’s Word deeply. It’s a process of tacitly jumping back and forth between the words and your own life and experience. You repeat the words, and you wrestle with the words, and you don’t let them go, just like Jacob at the Jabbok, until the Lord blesses you.

We actually get that sense from the word for meditation that is used here in Psalm 119. When the psalmist says he “meditates” on God’s laws he uses a word that describes viewing something from multiple angles. Almost like looking at a free-standing sculpture at an art exhibit. You walk around it and view it from all sides to understand the skill of the artist and the meaning of the piece. There are many techniques for meditation on God’s Word. I’ll just share one that we use in our Bible Immersion Groups. Regardless of the section of Scripture that is assigned these six questions work well every single time: 

1. What stood out to you from this section?
2. Was there anything that surprised or confused you?
3. What did this section reveal or emphasize about God?
4. Where did you see sin and its effects?
5. Where do you see God’s love? (Christ)
6. How does this inform the way we think or live?

This is just one way, out of a thousand that you could approach mediation. Meditating is not only enjoyable, but it is simple. Anyone can start and God promises great blessing and joy for all who meditate on his Word!

But this is where I realize that something is wrong with us. Because although we want to meditate on God’s Word we often neglect it. There was once a pastor who was invited over to a couple’s house for dinner. They had a nice meal with great food and good conversation, but at one point during dinner, the pastor took one of the fine silver butter knives and slipped it into his pocket beneath the table. Now the wife saw him do this, but she didn’t say anything for fear of embarrassing him. Well once dinner was finished they went into the living room and talked for a bit, the pastor gave a short devotion and then he left. After the door closed, the wife said to her husband, “I can’t believe it! Pastor stole one of our knives!” So this couple kept coming to church, but they were so angry at the pastor. But, of course, they never said anything or confronted him about it. And it began to bother them so much that they finally decided to have the pastor over for dinner again and then ask him about it. So, about one year since their first dinner, the pastor came over again and sat down at the table. The wife couldn’t hold it in for a moment and said, “Pastor, you stole a knife from us! We know you did, don’t deny it!” And the pastor said I didn’t steal it. I put it in the Bible on your coffee table.

I’m afraid that story may hit too close to home for many Christians because there are a lot of Bibles that serve more for decoration than mediation. The excess information—good or bad, the abundance of distraction, and the daily demands of life all gang up to keep us from taking time to meditate on God’s Word. Even in a time of mandated social-distancing where we are forced to stay at home, even when people feel bored, it is still difficult to meditate on God’s Word. I think meditation for many Christians becomes a burden because they aren’t doing it as much as they’d like to, or at all, and yet they know it is an integral part of the Christian life. I struggle with this too. Yes, a pastor’s confession, I do not meditate as much as I’d like either. I can talk about the kids running around, or the constant stream of calls and emails, the counseling, the sermons, etc. But in the end, it is a matter of priority, not time. We need to be ruthless. What have you placed over meditation in your life?

Thankfully, for the times we have failed to meditate on God’s Word, the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. For the times we were too busy for God, he wasn’t too busy for us. He gave us his undivided attention in sinless perfection for 33 years on this earth. And when the time came, he decided to give that record to us. Through faith, we are credited with Jesus’ righteousness. Jesus, the Word made flesh, came at Christmas and his mother could do nothing but ponder the love of God in her heart. May we do the same. May we open up the Bible and ponder, meditate, on the Words which all point to our Savior Jesus. Words that are living and which sustain and nourish our faith. Words that are true, which never change. Words that will bless and benefit each one of us. 

Benefits of Meditation from Psalm 119: 97–104, 129–133

1. It allows you to think critically and discern between right and wrong. (vv. 98-102, 104, 133)
2. The more you do it, the more you will love it! It is a process. Through meditation, the Holy Spirit will grow your love for the Word along with your understanding. Be encouraged to start, to begin again if you’ve stopped, or to continue in the Word if you already have a practice of meditation. (vv. 97, 103, 130-132) 

Amen.