Speak, Meditate, and Obey
Introduction
In this weeks Bible study we examine Joshua 1:8. In this verse God is instructing Joshua in the things he needs to do as he assumes leadership of the people and they prepare to take the land they have been promised.
Comparison
ESV
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
NASB
This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.
NIV
Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
NLT
Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
Notable Differences
Notice how the NLT moves more into interpretation by changing the wording of the first sentence of this verse. It is also interesting how the NLT renders the last part of the verse saying “in all you do” instead of the more ambiguous wording of the other translations.
Observation
1) Book of the Law=Deuteronomy?
2) You/your refers to the Jews
3) Why meditate?-to do all that is in them
4) Meditate/prosperous/mouth – Word studies
5) Doing all that is in it leads to success and prosperity
6) All-not just some
7) Day & night=all the time
8) Mouth – speak
9) Meditate – think
10) Do – obey
Deep Dive/Context
Context
The context of a verse is something that you cannot overlook as it can have great impacts on how the verse applies to our lives. In this chapter Joshua is assuming leadership of the Israelites after the passing of Moses. He is receiving these commands from God in regards to their conquest of the Land of Canaan which they had been promised.
Word Studies
There are several words in this passage that stick out. We’ll take a look at four of them, mouth, meditate, prosperous, and success.
Mouth
First off lets look at the word translated in the ESV as mouth. The Hebrew word here is peh. This word appears 474 times in the OT and is translated as mouth 273 times. This does not always refer to a persons mouth, in some instances it is referring to the mouth of a cave or a bag. In this passage peh is referring to a persons mouth and indicating that Joshua should speak of the Book of the Law.
Meditate
The word translated here as meditate is hagah. Hagah is defined as coo, mutter, growl. Which gives an interesting image of what exactly is meant here by meditate. This word is only used 25 times in the OT and only five of those are translated as meditate.
Prosperous
Tsalech is the word that is here translated prosperous. This word is used 65 times and translated prosperous 25 of those times. Tsalech is also translated as victorious, successful, triumph, thrive, and useful.
Success
Lastly let look at success. Though tsalech can be translated as success here the word used is shekol. Thus showing why it is important to go back to the original language when doing word studies as you could find yourself comparing apples to oranges if you only look at the English translation. Shekol has a variety of translations in its 60 appearances in the OT including success, prosper, prudent, instruct, consider, and wise.
Application
So what does all this mean for us in our daily lives? The meaning in this particular verse comes forward to modern times fairly easily. Though we are not leading a people or conquering a land we can still take heed of the commandments given. First “do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth.” We should be sharing the Word with those around us. We are not all called to preach but that doesn’t mean you can’t bring the Word into conversation naturally, and you should as you feel led to do so. Second, “meditate on it day and night.” This is our daily study and memory. When we meditate on the Scriptures we “[hide the] word in our heart, that we might not sin against you (Psalm 119:11, ESV).” By doing this we come to the last part of being “prosperous and successful.” The success we have may not look like much in worldly standards but heavenly standards are so much more important. The Bible tells us to “but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:20-12, ESV).”
