MEDITATION IN THE BIBLE
Throughout the Bible, God repeatedly calls his people to simply rest, even at times of great turmoil. In the book of Exodus, for example, as we read of God leading his people to freedom. Moses says these words to the people of God:
“Fear not, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD.. The LORD shall fight for you and you shall be at peace”
(Ex. 14:13-4)
Jesus famously calls all those who are weary and heavy laden to come to Him and find His peace (Matt. 11:28).
In fact, perhaps the only thing that we are encouraged to strive for in life, is REST (see Heb. 4:11).
David, the great warrior King, found his strength from resting in God. He writes of God:
“He leads me beside still waters, He restores my soul” (Ps. 23:2-3)
Of himself, David writes:
“Surely I have quieted myself like a weaned child with his mother”
And God calls us, through one of David’s Psalms, to “Be still and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10).
God calls us again to rest through the prophet Isaiah:
“Those that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength” (Is. 40:31) and it is from this place of rest that we are able to “mount up with wings as eagles”.
God calls us to rest in the face of adversity; to trust Him to come through for us when our natural response is to fight or flee. Resting is often an act of faith. A declaration that we believe that God is indeed the one who fights for us and that His call to us is to quietly trust in Him.