Biblical Meditation

The Church has bought into an eastern mystical view of meditating on the Bible. If you just read a verse of scripture, you don't need to know what it means - just think about it - write it down several times - say it to yourself over and over - begin to sing it (either aloud or quietly to yourself) - and eventually the true meaning of the text will emerge. In adopting that form of meditating on God's Word we have created an atmosphere where there is no foundational Truth in the Word. For example, if one were to "meditate" on this portion of Psalm 1:1 - "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners..." and my definition of "sinner" were not a Biblical definition (and believe me, there are plenty of non-biblical definitions of sin out there), then I would not arrive at the intended Truth of the Bible. My point is, that no matter how long I meditate on a passage of scripture, if I don't understand what that scripture means, I will come to a wrong conclusion.
Let me give you another example. Many people know the text that Jesus gave Himself for the Church "so that He might present the Church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle..." (Ephesians 5:27). I have heard that phrase taught from the perspective of a modern western perspective - that the Church - the Bride of Christ - will stand before Jesus at the Second Coming in clothing that is pure white (like a modern, western wedding gown) and there will be no smudges on the gown. Now, if that is our understanding of the meaning of that text, no matter how many times we read it, no matter how many times we write it, not matter how many times we repeat it to ourselves - we will not come to the correct understanding of that text.
The phrase, "without spot or wrinkle," is a Hebraic metonymy - a figure of speech from a Hebrew perspective - that describes the skin condition of a bride. Her husband would look at her skin and notice if she had spots - because spots meant she had been spending much time in the sun laboring to earn his love. If her skin had wrinkles, that meant she was a worrier - she had been fretting and did not trust his ability to take care of her.
Now upon reflection, we find that Jesus wants a "bride" a Church that has entered into His rest - those who have done what Jesus said to do in Matthew 11:28-30 - "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." In other words, Jesus wants people who will rest in Him and stop trying to earn their salvation. In addition, Jesus is looking for a "bride" - a Church - without wrinkle. That means He wants us to stop worrying! A Church without wrinkle has followed Jesus' teaching found in Luke 12:25-32 - "And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life's span? ... But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith! ... And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. ... your Father knows that you need these things. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. "
I say all of that just to say this, Biblical Meditation involves INTENSE STUDY followed by REFLECTION. Biblical Meditation is not built on reflection alone. I had a band director in High School who used to say to all his students, "Practice makes perfect.....unless you are practicing wrong." I say the same thing about meditating on the Bible. The way to ensure that you are meditating correctly is study. Biblical Meditation does not come after study - Biblical Meditation includes and begins with study. I encourage you - whatever else you do - STUDY the Bible!