Sermon: Ruminate – Part 1
by Chris Cumming
Let us begin today’s sermon by looking at the sermon’s title, “Ruminate.” What
does “ruminate” mean? What does this word have to do with my Salvation Process
and becoming like Christ?
The word, “ruminate” means, “to turn a matter over and over in the mind.” It
means, “to reflect on over and over again.” Other words for “ruminate” are:
--Contemplate
--Meditate
--Ponder
--Mull
--Reflect.
The purpose of today’s sermon is to encourage all of us to contemplate,
meditate, ponder, reflect upon and ruminate the Word of God.
How do we do this? Are there biblical instructions on how to ruminate? Let us
begin in Proverbs 4. I will read the entire chapter, as this is the ruminate
instruction chapter.
Proverbs 4:1-27
1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know
understanding.
2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
3 For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my
commandments, and live.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words
of my mouth.
6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep
thee.
7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting
get understanding.
8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when
thou dost embrace her.
9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she
deliver to thee.
10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be
many.
11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest,
thou shalt not stumble.
13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken
away, unless they cause some to fall.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more
unto the perfect day.
19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before
thee.
26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
Let us now immerse ourselves in these instructions.
Verse 1:
---Hear instruction
---Attend to know understanding
Notice the commentary on this second item:
Attending to know understanding - what would
serve to enlighten, enlarge, improve, and inform their understandings; what
would lead them into the knowledge and understanding of things divine and
spiritual, and which would be worth knowing; and of having their understandings
stored and enriched with. ~John Gill
Verse 2:
---Forsake not the law or doctrine. - The John
Gill states that we are not talking about the law given at Sinai but ultimately
the doctrine of Christ. Clearly this is the meaning for us now. "Forsaking"
means we should not neglect, relinquish, drop, or depart from; but should keep
it, and abide by it. The word, "abide" means, "to continue to be sure or
firm...to endure. Notice Matthew 24:13.
Matthew 24:13
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Verse 4:
---Let thine heart retain my words: keep my
commandments, and live. - Open thy heart to receive my instructions -
receive them with affection; when heard, retain and practice them; and thou
shalt live - the great purpose of thy being brought into the world shall be
accomplished in thee. ~Adam Clarke
The word "retain" means to keep in mind or remember.
Verse 5:
---Get wisdom, get understanding
---forget it not
---neither decline from the words of my mouth
Get wisdom, get understanding - True religion is
essential to thy happiness; never forget its teachings, nor go aside from the
path it prescribes. ~Adam Clarke
Proverbs 3:13
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
Forget it not - when gotten, keep it in
remembrance; be continually meditating on Wisdom, or Christ, his glories and
excellencies; the fulness of grace and truth in him; the blessings of goodness
which come by him; the great use and profit of having and enjoying him;
~John Gill
Neither decline from the words of my mouth. - in
other words, do not forget what I told you. This is especially true as you and
I go through persecutions and all the end time tragedies before us. Notice some
scriptures.
2 Chronicles 34:1-2
1 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem
one and thirty years.
2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the
ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the
left.
Job 23:11 ...Job
speaking about God
My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.
Psalm 44:18
Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way;
Psalm 119:51
The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law.
Psalm 119:157
Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy
testimonies.
When the persecutions and the end time elements come ...Ruminate.
Verse 6 ...speaking of the wisdom and
understanding of verse 5
---Forsake her not; love her
Forsake her not - Wisdom personified is here
represented as a guardian and companion, who, if not forsaken, will continue
faithful; if loved, will continue a protector.
~Adam Clarke
Notice the promise of this verse. Wisdom and understanding will preserve and
keep you.
Verse 7
---Wisdom is the principal thing.
---Therefore get wisdom:
---and with all thy getting get understanding.
Therefore get wisdom - not an interest in
Christ, but a knowledge of it; and make use of all means to obtain a greater
knowledge of him, and of interest in him, which is what the apostle calls
"winning" Christ; by which he means, not getting an interest in him, that he had
already, but gaining a greater degree of knowledge of him, as the context shows,
Philippians 3:8; or, "buy wisdom" (s); that is, without money and without price;
so Christ advises to buy gold and white raiment of him, his grace and
righteousness, Revelation 3:18. ~John Gill
Quoted verses:
Philippians 3:8
...getting a greater degree of knowledge of Christ
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the
knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all
things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Revelation 3:18
...buying gold and white raiment of Christ
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich;
and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy
nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest
see.
Note: The phrase here speaking to the
shame of thy nakedness is not speaking about physical nakedness but nakedness
arising from a want of righteousness, which is only covered by the righteousness
of Christ.
And with all thy getting get understanding -
another name for Christ; see Proverbs 8:14; Or, "along with all thy getting" ,
or "above all"; let not Christ be wanting; he is the one thing needful, the good
and better part and portion, which, if missing, all other substance signifies
little: or part with all for this pearl of great price, Wisdom, and prefer it to
all worldly substance ~John Gill
Quoted verse:
Proverbs 8:14
Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
You and I have be constantly been talking about knowledge, understanding and
wisdom. We see this as a process. We immerse ourselves in the Word of God and
get knowledge. From knowledge and the power of God, we get understanding. From
understanding, we are able to take action and invoke that knowledge and
understanding. We call this wisdom. Wisdom is action. Christ is knowledge.
He is understanding. He is wisdom.
Verse 8
--Exalt her [Wisdom].
"Exalt" means, "to raise to a high position." We are to put wisdom in the
highest position in our heart, soul and mind.
Christ is wisdom. Christ is exalted in His person. He is to be exalted by us.
Notice how this works. Christ is exalted because all positive, spiritual
elements are ascribed to Him. He is all Godly principles. When we make these
principles a part of our character, when we trust Him, when we embrace the Word
of God, when we keep His commandments and all biblical direction we exalt Him
still more. The more we ruminate, the more we are exalted up into His position,
which is to say, we become like Him. Notice the promise of this verse.
promise of verse 8:
-wisdom shall promote you and bring you honor.
Verse 10
---Hear
---Receive my sayings
Hear - to harken to, to embrace and not reject.
~John Gill
The promise of verse 10:
-the years of your life will be many.
Verse 12
---When thou goest
promises of verse 12:
-your steps shall not be straitened [attended
with difficulties and obstructions, or subject to dangers]. -when you
run, you will not stumble.
Note: "Running" here is speaking to those
who make haste to keep the commandments of God, that run with alacrity [?-lak'ri-te]
and cheerfulness in their Christian race, and in the way of their duty, shall
not stumble, through the deceitfulness of sin, the snares of the world, and the
temptations of Satan, so as to fall and perish.
Verse 13
---Take fast hold of instruction.
---let her not go.
---keep her.
Take fast hold of instruction - seize it
strongly, and keep the hold; and do this as for life. Learn all thou canst,
retain what thou hast learnt, and keep the reason continually in view - it is
for thy life. ~Adam Clarke
Let her not go - the instruction of wisdom, or
the Gospel of Christ; do not drop it, nor depart from it, nor waver about it;
nor be languid in a profession of it, nor indifferent to it
~John Gill
Keep her - which may be understood either of the
Gospel, Wisdom's instruction, which should be kept as a rich treasure, and not
parted with at any rate; since it is the means of quickening dead sinners; of
showing sensible ones the way of life by Christ; of producing faith in them, by
which they live upon him; and of maintaining and supporting the spiritual life
in them, and of reviving and comforting them under the most drooping and
afflictive circumstances. ~John Gill
promise of verse 13:
-instruction is your life.
Verse 14:
---Enter not into the path of the wicked.
---go not in the way of evil men
Enter not into the path of the wicked - Never
associate with those whose life is irregular and sinful; never accompany them in
any of their acts of transgression. ~Adam Clarke
Go not in the way of evil men - if tempted and
prevailed upon to take a step and make a trial, do not proceed; withdraw at
once, do not go on. Do not envy the ways of wicked men; their seeming pleasure
will end in bitterness: the Arabic version is, "do not imitate" them; do not
follow their example, and do as they do. ~John
Gill
Verse 15:
---Avoid it [the path of the wicked]
---pass not by it.
---turn from it.
---pass away [from it].
Avoid it - As dangerous and pernicious, as
abominable and detestable; or, "flee from it." Make it void; cause it to cease.
~John Gill
Pass not by it - do not come near it; keep at a
distance from it, that you may not be drawn into it; abstain from all appearance
of evil, and everything that may lead to it;
~John Gill
Turn from it - If, through unwatchfulness or unfaithfulness, thou at any time get near or into the way of sin, turn from it with the utmost speed, and humble thyself before thy Maker. ~Adam Clarke
Pass away
[from it] - Speed from it, run for
thy life, and get to the utmost distance; eternally diverging so as never to
come near it whilst thou hast a being. ~Adam
Clarke
Verse 18:
---But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more
unto the perfect day.
This is a stated process of what happens when you ruminate. Indeed, this entire
chapter of Proverbs 4 up to this verse 18 has been various admonitions to get
knowledge, understanding and wisdom and to constantly ponder and meditate on
them...to ruminate. The outcome is that you are changed into the image of the
Word of God and Jesus Christ who IS the Word. This verse proves that Salvation
is a process over time. Each element of the Salvation Process is cultivated and
grows into maturity right up to the moment Christ returns. For example, you are
spending your spiritual life invoking the power of the Holy Spirit in the form
of Godly principles including love, joy, peace, honesty, service and
excellence. You get better at it every passing day, month and year. This is
the meaning in this verse 18 and your path shining more and more unto the
perfect day or the return of Christ and your resurrection into spiritual
perfection.
Now notice how the following verses focus on ruminating.
Verse 20:
---Attend to my words
---Incline thine ear unto my sayings.
Attend to my words - Which go before and which
follow after, his doctrines, instructions, cautions, and exhortations.
~John Gill
Incline thine ear unto my sayings - stoop and
bow the ear; listen attentively to what is said, as being of the greatest moment
and importance. ~John Gill
Verse 21:
---Let them [the Words of God], not
depart from thine eyes.
---Keep them in the midst of thine heart.
Let them not depart from thine eyes - Commit
them to writing, frequently read them over; let them be always in sight, as a
rule and directory to steer the course of life by.
~John Gill
Keep them in the midst of thine heart - lay them
up there, and ponder them; often meditate upon them, and do not forget them;
show the most affectionate regard unto them, and look upon them as a most
inestimable [ĭn-ĕs'tə-mə-bəl] treasure, for which no place is so fit a
repository as the heart. ~John Gill
Verse 22: ...promises
---life
---health
For they are life unto those that find them - by
diligent searching for them; and being found, they are the means of spiritual
life, and of maintaining it, and of showing the way, and bringing unto eternal
life. ~John Gill
Notice this associated verse:
John 6:63
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I
speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
And health to all their flesh - the whole man,
soul and body, as they are the means of preserving the body from many diseases,
which intemperance, lust, and luxury, lead unto, and are curbed by these; so of
healing the various diseases of the soul; and, however, of directing to a
panacea for them, to the blood of Christ, which is the true balm of Gilead, and
he the physician of souls. Moreover, the doctrines of the Gospel are the
wholesome words of our Lord Jesus; they are sound, salutary, and healthful, and
serve to keep the soul in good plight, and the body too.
~John Gill
Verse 23:
---Keep thy heart with all diligence
Keep thy heart with all
diligence - “Above all keeping,” guard thy heart. He who knows any thing
of himself, knows how apt his affections are to go astray.
~Adam Clarke
promise of verse 23:
-out of your diligence are the issues of life.
This use of the heart in this verse is a living metaphor. The human heart
serves the entire body. The more health you give to the heart, the better your
entire life will be in all physical areas. This is exactly true of the
spiritual heart. In this heart are all the words of God; all the knowledge and
understanding. The more diligence you give to having a healthy spiritual heart,
the better all aspects and elements of your Salvation Process shall be.
Verse 25:
---Let thine eyes look right on.
---Let thine eyelids look straight before thee
Let thine eyes look right on. - Direct all thine
actions to a right end, and keep thy mind fixed upon that way which leads to it,
and neither look or turn aside to the right - hand or the left.
~John Wesley Explanatory Notes
Let thine eyelids look straight before thee - to
the precepts of the word, to observe them; to the promises of it for
encouragement; to the examples of the saints gone before, as motives to excite
diligence, and to exercise patience, faith, and hope; to the mercy of our Lord
Jesus Christ for eternal life, and to the blessed hope laid up in heaven.
~John Gill
Verse 26:
---Ponder [ruminate] the path of thy
feet.
---let all thy ways be established.
Ponder the path of they feet - Consider well
what path it is, whether right or wrong; or weigh it in the balances of thought.
~John Gill
Let all thy ways be established. - so as to walk
on steadily, constantly, uniformly, and not be easily moved out of the ways of
religion and truth. Or, "let all thy ways be prepared", or "directed", or
"disposed"; according to the rule of the divine word.
~John Gill
Verse 27:
---Turn not to the right hand nor to the left.
---Remove thy foot from evil.
Turn not to the right hand nor to the left. -
Avoid all crooked ways. Be an upright, downright, and straight-forward man.
Avoid tricks, wiles, and deceptions of this kind.
~Adam Clarke
Remove thy foot from evil. - from walking in
evil ways and along with evil men, and from doing evil things; abstain from all
appearance of evil, keep at a distance from it.
~John Gill
Try to contemplate all that we have covered in these 27 verses of Proverbs 4.
It is simply overwhelming. This is why we must meditate, ponder, mull, reflect
and ruminate each and every meaning expressed here. Interestingly, all that we
have covered today is just the introduction to this concept of ruminating the
Word of God. Let us end the sermon today with some scriptures that sum up our
discussion today.
John 8:12
...we must follow Christ to be like Him
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that
followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
2 Corinthians 3:18
...immersing ourselves in the Word of God changes
us into His image
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are
changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the
Lord.
Philippians 2:15
...we shine as lights in the world
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the
midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the
world;
2 Peter 3:18
...we grow in Salvation Process and from our
immersion in the Word.
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To
him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Let us now recap what we have learned in this Part 1 of the sermon, Ruminate
from Proverbs 4:
--Hear instruction.
--Get knowledge and understanding of things divine and spiritual.
--Do not neglect doctrine.
--receive the Words of God with affection. Retain and practice them.
--Get wisdom. Never go off the path into vain jangling-1 Timothy 1:6.
--Be continually meditating on Wisdom [Christ]. This is especially true as you
go through end time events.
--Never decline from God's way.
--Wisdom is your guardian and companion and will continue as your protector.
--Continually get knowledge of Christ.
--Be willing to give up all things for Christ.
--The definition of spiritual nakedness is "want of righteousness" which is only
possible in Christ
--In the process of Knowledge, Understanding and Wisdom, wisdom is action or the
invoking of the knowledge and understanding.
--Christ is knowledge. Christ is the understanding. Christ is the wisdom.
--Put wisdom in the highest position of your heart, soul and mind.
--Christ is exalted and we exalt Him even more each time we invoke the Spirit of
God.
--The more we ruminate the more we become like Christ.
--Make haste to keep the commandments and words of God. You will not stumble.
--Seize Godly instruction STRONGLY.
--Keep spiritual reason in clear view.
--Avoid the ways, beliefs, doctrines and even the company of people contrary to
truth and the Salvation Process.
--Constantly contemplate Proverbs 4:18 and shine more and more unto the return
of Christ.
--Commit the words and instructions of God to writing, reading and to sight.
--Increase your time in meditation.
--The words of God are the means of spiritual life and bringing you to eternal
life.
--Guard your heart with all diligence.
--Direct all actions to a right end.
--Learn and follow the examples of the saints gone before you; Christ being the
prime example.
--Ponder the path of your feet. Be not easily moved to right or left.
--Do not take even one step toward a known evil.
--Ruminate the Word of God.
So go now and ruminate!!
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
In the sermon I made reference throughout to a number of
things. The links to them follow:
1] The Bible study: The End Time …Preparing for the Shock
Text
MP3
2] The Salvation Process
Definition
3] Godly Calling: Minister’s Notebook: “It’s all About Godly Calling”
here
4] Full Immersion or being fully immersed in the Word of God: 2 Part
Sermon: Full Immersion
Part 1:
here
Part 2
here
5] At minute 26: Appearance of Evil: Minister’s Notebook
here
6] At minute 32: Minister’s Notebook: “Have You Ever Tasted God?”
here
7] At minute 35: The hymn, “There is a Balm in Gilead”
Video 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GtTPhCjbqo The Concordia Choir, Rene
Clausen
Video 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okl2XbTM7xM by Paul Robeson
Video 3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cpQptcPydk by the Canby High School
Concert Choir
Video 4 with lyrics on screen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfFVJZDvVGk
Video 3, I believe, is closest to the way we used to do it.
8] At minute 42: “The Era of Slick Arguments” Minister’s Notebook
here
9] At minute 42: Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing: Sermon: The Dirty
Fleece
here
10] At minute 45: Sermon: “Glory to Glory” regarding 2 Corinthians
3:18
Part 1:
here
Part 2: here
11] At minute 49: Vain Jangling: 1 Timothy 1:6 Survey of the Letters
of Paul series:
here
MP3
12] At minute 51: Sermon: Secret Weapon …a sermon about meditation
here
13] I speak to a Spiritual Diary or otherwise writing out the Word of
God: here
Go to Part II of this sermon: here
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