“Nevertheless these ye shall not eat of them the chew the cud…”  (Deuteronomy 14)

 

What does it mean to chew the cud?  Some animal will regurgitate their food and re-chew it and re ingest it. This is called chewing the cud.  Christ-ians should “chew the cud” in that after one (1) reads a passage of Scripture it should be brought back to mind again and again and meditated upon so as to get as much nutrients as possible. The chew the cud is more than mere reading of a text and forgetting what you read.  It is more than studying a passage for a period of time and moving on the something else.

To chew the cud is dwell upon a passage, usually one (1) or two (2) and dwelling upon it’s meaning. One (1) should pray as  one (1) thinks upon these things. Christ said to His disciples, “I have meat and drink ye know not of…”  Christ said, Man” shall not live on bread alone, but by every [W]ord that proceedeth out of the [M]outh of God.  Do you notice, Reader, how Christ likens God’s Word with food?  He also says we should hunger and thirst after righteousness which is  another allusion to feeding.

Meditating upon the Word is a form of worship and time spent with God. How good does it feel when someone comes to you and says, “I was just thinking about something you said yesterday?”  It is encouraging is it not?  There is not a better compliment you could give a pastor than telling him that you were thinking about something he said previously. The same is true of God.

A.W. Pink said many times that the Word of God is not for the lazy man. What a true statement.  Reader, We will be rather blunt at this point.  we have heard many say, “I just can’t understand what I read,”  or “I can’t remember what i read.”  The answer is simple…you give up too easy or you do not spend time thinking about nor dwelling on God’s Word!!!  You are far to busy to dwell upon the things of God. You are far too busy sewing to the flesh and not the spirit. You are far to busy feeding the old man and the old nature than feeding to the man and the new nature. You read a line or two (2) of Scripture and out of the draught it goes!!!

Reader, did the last paragraph offend you?  If so that only proves the matter.  If you though I was rough, what must God think?  I grow frustrated when persons who claim to love God, will not spend time with Him in His Word.  What would you think, how would you feel if you wrote everyday to a beloved only to find out they never bother to open a single note?  You would be offended and maybe even heartbroken and possibly angry.  How do you think God feels…what do you think God thinks about your failure to read His love letters? I think the answer is obvious. God is most unpleased.

What do you think the men and women who lost heir earthly lives in making sure God’s Word survived the onslaught of (s)atan and his servants.  Do you know that countless men and women died violently as they sought to insure the Word of god found a home? Yet you rather send time with carnal tripe?  Doth this offend?  Very well and very good. If you do not see fit to spend valuable time upon God’s word and with God, why should He bless you and answer your prayers?  Why? Why? Why?

“For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.                                                                                                                                              (Roman 8:6)
We need not exposit the meaning of this verse from Romans 8. It is obvious in it’s meaning. However, we will apply it to our subject at hand. Meditating on God, God’s Word, God’s Works, and God’s Ways is how you can develop spiritual mindedness. Allow me to ask you a question that will say much to you. What else is worthy of your concentration?  I fully understand that we have to think about many things during the day, that is life in the world, but to set aside time to meditate upon the Scriptures is life in the Word.  When you are driving or lying in bed, you cannot do know better than “think upon these things,”  “chew the cud,”  be like David and meditate night and day upon God and His Person, and His Word, you can not please God more than to actively dwell upon Him.

How do you feel or do you remember how it felt when a girl/boyfriend gave you a note or told you that you were thought about?  We are made in God’s Image; God loves when we think upon Him, upon His Holiness, His Righteousness, His GOoDness, His Grace, His Mercy, His Sovereignty, His Power, His Authority, His Majesty, His Great Love wherewith He loves us, His Anger, His Wrath…think upon His Many Attributes. Pink and Tozer  write on the Attributes or Traits of God.

It has been said we should avoid the topics of politics and religion when we are in the company of family and friends.  G.K.  Chesterton, commenting on that thought said, “What else is there to talk about?” I agree with him.  I am not a person given to small talk, I want to talk about that which will edify (build up) and benefit others and myself.  Sitting with my father-in-law or pastor friends and speaking on Christ and all things God is a spiritual high, it is champagne to the soul. Sitting and reading the Word of God and meditating upon that which we read is the same.

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on [T]hee: because he trusteth in [T]hee.  Is peace an elusive animal to you?  Do you see it out of the corner of your eye just to see it disappear when you turn your head? Peace is a gift the Resurrected and Ascended Christ left us.  It is the will of God that we enJOY inner peace; the peace that passeth all understanding. Reader, Peace will be had by those that meditate upon God and all that is God.

Meditation is a type of fellowship with the Holy Spirit.  When you meditate upon God and His Word, the Spirit is there with you, helping and guiding your thoughts.  He will bring other passages and other glories of God to your mind.  He will help you develop a cross referencing system in your mind.  You can develop a chain reference system; you might be dwelling upon one (1) passage or even one (1) word, or one (1) doctrine and your mind…your spiritual mind (Romans 8:6) will begin to recall other passages to mind.

In Jiu Jitsu and catch wrestling there is something called chain wrestling or grappling. A skilled grappler can move from one (1) hold or lock to another in quick succession. This writer, as he has been trained by good Christ-ian brothers, is able to begin at an opponents neck and move to the shoulder > elbow > wrist > arm > hips > knees > legs > ankles > back to the neck > and then begin working on joints , pressure points, and the face.  This is analogous to Biblical chain referencing.  While chain wrestling is good, it “profiteth thee little” when compared to a chain reference system in your mind.

Reader, I cannot encourage thee enough to meditate upon God and His Word.  Start with a short passage or verse, think upon each word in that verse, dwell upon the meaning of each word and how it fits in with the next word. Think about the meaning of your chosen verse. Try and cross reference your verse with another verse or another thought. Ask yourself how this verse applies to you, and how you can apply it to daily life. Pray while meditating, asking God to illuminate your spiritual mind.

Meditation is a means to developing a spiritual mindedness, to fellowshiping with God, to gaining insight to spiritual matters, to learning and understanding God’s Word.  Meditating is a form of worship. Meditation will help you train your mind as well; it can help you bring emotions and thoughts under control and under the obedience of Christ. Meditating is a kin to fasting from the world.

If my arguments above are not strong enough to cause you to consider meditation, let me give you one (1) more….God wants you to and commands you to period. Meditation is feeding the spiritual nature and denying the carnal.

Godspeed.