"I have more understanding than all my teachers,
for your testimonies are my meditation."
Psalm 119:99
Psalm 119 is a psalm of David. By meditating on God's testimony, David had greater understanding than all of the priests and prophets who taught him. Yes, according to Psalm 119:99, you can have greater understanding than seminary graduates, Greek and Hebrew scholars and full time preachers. Great understanding can be yours through meditation on scripture and the prayers that accompany it. In this great psalm, David prayed nineteen prayers to God requesting insight into God's word before he revealed the amazing results of meditation in Psalm 119:99. See Psalm 119:12, 18, 19, 26, 27, 33, 34, 38, 64, 66, 68, 73, 108, 124, 125, 135, 144, 169 and 171. Prayer and meditation should occur simultaneously. We talk to God as we think about God.
The words analyze and memorize never occur in the World English Bible. The word study occurs only once. But the word meditate occurs twenty-three times. And seventeen of those twenty-three occurrences occur in conjunction with prayer. Meditation on God should typically result in conversation with God. In my experience, if I meditate on scripture... and converse with God about His words with praise and requests... the result is greater understanding. His words grow deep roots in my heart. He then brings His words to my mind at opportune times (John 14:26). This is supernatural. It is superior to wrote memorization.
This meditation which scripture speaks of is not meditation on nothing to provide an escape from the anxieties of life. This meditation is on God Himself... on His words... to bring us into conversations with Him and to receive His power to overcome.
Question: Should you meditate on the exact words which God spoke (scripture)? Or, should you meditate on theological concepts (conclusions men have drawn from scripture)? The first would be meditating on God's words. But the second is a meditation on man's words.
Can any of us really say that the conclusions we draw from scripture are inerrant? If we do, then we are essentially claiming to be a prophet or a Pope. Conclusions of man have errors. God's words are inerrant. If we meditate on man deduced theological concepts instead of scripture, we are meditating on error.
Four Step Bible Study
At this time, I will introduce you to a powerful tool to teach you how to meditate on scripture. It is the Four Step Bible Study. In the Four Step Bible Study prayer and meditation are integrated into Group Bible Study. The Bible will be studied one book at a time, from beginning to end, to prayerfully consider each verse in context. A weekly agenda, Leader's Guide, Lists of Endorsed Prayers and other supplementary materials are provided for free. You may use the Four Steps for your daily devotional or for a group Bible study.
Goal
Scripture tells us to pray "without ceasing... at all times... in everything... continually." 1
The Four Step Bible Study moves participants by degrees, in a non-threatening way... to integrate silent prayer and voluntary audible prayer into Group Bible Study. The goal is to learn how to listen prayerfully, read scripture prayerfully and speak prayerfully. Then to live prayerfully... with greater understanding of the scriptures... to walk by the Spirit.
Contextual Bible Study
You may use the Four Steps to prayerfully meditate through any book of the Bible you choose. In the Four Steps, one book of the Bible will be studied from beginning to end. In this way each verse will be received in its proper context. Participants will read a context passage and a focus passage. The focus passage will be the primary text for the meeting. The context passage provides the context for the focus passage. Subchapter 7.5 provides a link to divisions for various books of the Bible. So, context and focus passages for those books have already been arranged for you.
Agenda, Leaders Guide, etc.
The agenda for the Four Step Bible Study is presented in the next subchapter, subchapter 7.1. The Leader's Guide is in 7.2. The use of spiritual gifts in the meeting is explained in 7.3. Click the arrow at the top right of this page to open those pages. Two other subchapters follow to simplify, enrich and deepen the experience. Leaders simply provide attendees with a link to the agenda at the beginning of the meeting. Then you follow the Four Steps together from the agenda in subchapter 7.1. There is no need to print materials or hand outs. Everything is available online, through your phone. Supplementary materials are provided immediately below the Agenda for reference during or after the meeting.
Discussion Questions
Three discussion questions are provided in the agenda to be used in every meeting. These three questions have been carefully selected to bring members into true interaction with God, focus on the intended meaning of the text and to reduce fruitless discussion (1 Timothy 1:3-6). Meditation on scripture becomes a group activity through these questions.
Progressive Steps
Each step has been carefully planned to bring each attendee into a deep experience with God through the scriptures, individually and as a group. Each step builds on previous steps. The steps are structured so that all attendees will not necessarily speak audibly at the meeting, but all will participate silently. In this way the curious and inexperienced may observe and learn without fear of being embarrassed.
Read God's Words to God
A very unique aspect of the Four Step Bible Study is that it integrates one of the intimate reading methods into group Bible study. Reading God's words to God is the Third Path in subchapter 1.1. If the group is unfamiliar with reading scripture to God, I will introduce them to it in this way:
Imagine that your heavenly father wrote a book for you. Imagine also that you are a child, sitting in His lap, reading His book to Him. It's that simple. Come into the intimate presence of your Lord by faith, and then read His words to Him.
Some may think that it is childish to read the scriptures to God. But Jesus said...
"Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 18:3,4).
So, one must become childlike to enter the Kingdom of Heaven (verse 3). And once one has entered the Kingdom of Heaven, greatness is also achieved by being childlike (verse 4). So, if we are to mature to greatness in Christ through reading God's words, we must do it "as little children... like this little child."
Reading to God also pierces a delusion. We tend to act as if God is not present because He is unseen. Reading to God opens our eyes to the unseen.
While reading God's words to God, participants will
- quickly gain a clear understanding of the flow of thought of the scriptures,
- carefully observe every sentence, phrase and word of the passage,
- enjoy fellowship with God and
- be much better prepared to discuss the scripture for a more productive time for all.
Examples of reading to God are provided in the agenda, Leader's Guide and subchapter 7.4. Reading God's words to God is an enjoyable way to interact with God as you meditate on His words.
Daily Devotional
Although the Four Step Bible Study was designed to be used in a group setting, it is a powerful way to experience God in your daily meditations. Actually, the prayerful interaction of the Four Steps was the foundation of my daily meditations before being adapted to a group Bible study setting. If you will use the Four Steps in your personal daily devotional, you will see how it useful it will be for your group study. Your need for devotional books and commentaries will diminish as you spend your time immersed directly in God's undiluted word. As you interact with the Holy Spirit and praise your way through scripture... your time in the Bible will be transformed from duty into joy! Click here to see the Four Step Bible Study, as designed for individual daily devotionals. To see the Four Step Bible Study designed for groups, see below.
Click the Arrow at the Top Right
To see the Four Step Bible Study designed for groups, click the arrow at the top right of this page. I have prayed for you... that our Lord will draw you into the prayer that never ends!
Jim Phillips
Footnote
1) 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18, Ephesians 6:18, Philippians 4:6 and Hebrews 13:15, as presented in subchapter 4.12.