Words

The knowledge of God is communicated to man through the means of a language of words. Through the words of the Gospel, God has ordained that we be supplied with faith. Consequently, it makes perfect sense that we rest from our works by having our minds renewed by hearing the words of God. Consider these two examples: David and Joshua.

First, David.

Psalm 1:1-3 (ESV)
1Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.

Do you see the characteristic of the man of God? "His delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night." Notice that God's word is his "delight." Not an obligation. Not a work of the flesh. The flesh does not naturally respond in delight to the law of God! This is a description of the fruit of a man who has been changed by the Gospel. Speaking of fruit, see how fruit is directly related to the man who meditates day and night on the law of God? This is the secret to the life of David.

Now look at Joshua.

Joshua 1:8 (ESV)
8This 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.

Where is the success in the Christian life found? It is only found in meditating on the word of God day and night. But as we saw in the first passage, if meditating on God's law is not a delight, there is a deeper problem. Of course, whenever saints fail to delight in God's law, they are humbled into a renewed declaration of dependence upon the free, sovereign grace of God. Remember, the fruit comes in its season.