Vain Meditations
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? Psalm 2:1 (KJV)
Did you know that the word imagine here is the Hebrew word hagah, which also means to meditate? It is the same word translated in Psalm 1:2 as meditate.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. Psalm 1:2 (KJV)
So, let’s look at a few more verses from Psalm 2 and change imagine to meditate in verse 1 and see how it reads.
Why do the heathen rage, and the people meditate a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Psalm 2:1-4 (KJV) emphasis mine
This speaks of nations and peoples who choose to be the enemies of God, similar to the way many are doing today. They didn’t get to that point simply by a single thought or stray idea. They got to that point by meditating on vain things. Vain is the Hebrew word riyq which means empty or worthless. In other words, by meditating and pondering meaningless, worthless concepts and ideas, people can be turned away from God. They can be deceived into believing a lie and enticed by satan into rebelling against the Lord and His Anointed (Jesus).
There have even been men and women of God who chose to ponder and think on wrong things and, as a result, they got into error and even led others astray. It is so important to use extreme caution regarding what we choose to meditate upon. By meditate, I mean to think on consistently and repetitively, mulling it over in your mind. The enemy will make numerous attempts to send wicked and wrong thoughts to us, but we choose which thoughts we reject, and which ones we accept and meditate upon.
The things that we keep thinking about will eventually translate into actions we take. If someone constantly thinks on the love of God and giving to others, he or she will eventually begin to demonstrate the love of God to the people they encounter. Likewise, if a person consistently thinks on committing adultery with someone, eventually they usually end up doing that very thing if the other person is willing.
That’s where the Word of God comes in. If we want to live the way God intended for us to live, we have to meditate on worthwhile, godly things instead of vain, worthless things. The most worthwhile thing to ponder is the Bible.
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Joshua 1:8 (KJV)
Consider how The Voice renders this verse:
Let the words from the book of the law be always on your lips. Meditate on them day and night so that you may be careful to live by all that is written in it. If you do, as you make your way through this world, you will prosper and always find success. Joshua 1:8 (The Voice, VOICE)
If we will keep the Word of God first place in our lives and spend time reading and thinking on it, we will stay on the right path and we will find the success God has for us. This is also the key for changing the world for the better- getting people saved and training them in the Word of God so they will choose to meditate on the right things, thus ensuring their success as well.
