One of the passages we read this week in the F260 Plan was Proverbs 2:1-5. This was the passage that inspired me to start being intentional about pondering Scripture many years ago.
A few years ago I put some thoughts together from these verses about how to ponder a passage. I have posted them before but it has been many years. So here they are again. Perhaps they will be helpful as you continue to learn how to ponder the Word.
Proverbs 2:1-5
1 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding,
3 and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
“Accept” Read the passage slowly 2-3 times. Write down any thoughts that stand out to you. Accept the words from God as a personal message to you.
“Store up” Choose a verse or phrase in the passage to memorize. The key to effective Scripture memory is repetition. Repeat the verse a dozen or more times throughout the day. Scripture memory is a vital key to spiritual health. Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden (stored up) Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You.”
“Turn your ear” Listen to what God has to say to you through the passage. Ask God to speak to your heart and to give you ears to hear what He has to say to you. Write down what He tells you. A great prayer to pray as you begin to ponder is from Psalm 1119:18, “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in Your law.”
“Apply your heart” How can you apply the passage to your life? How can you put it into practice? What will you DO as a result of reading God’s Word.
“Call out” Ponder the passage out loud with someone else. Talk about it with a friend or spouse. Ask what their thoughts are on the passage – what God is teaching them through this passage?
“Cry aloud” Pray the Scripture out loud. Turn the passage into a prayer to God. Praying Scripture is a great way to dialogue with God. Here are some other thought on how to effectively do this.
“Look for it” Meditate on the passage. Think about it in different ways. Chew on the Word as a cow chews it’s cud. Focus on different words or different verses in the passage and ponder their significance and meaning.
“Search for it” If there are aspects of the passage that you don’t understand, use reference tools to help you… Such as a Bible dictionary, concordance, or commentary. Google is a great tool also – if you don’t understand something just google the question you have. Some of the responses will be helpful and some will not but at least it gives you a starting place to learn more.
I don’t use all of these for every passage I ponder but I often use many of them to help me think through the passage. If I can help you become a better ponderer just let me know.