By Jason Tsaddiq
POINTS TO PONDER Introduction
As I considered what to call these little snippets of ponderable truths, these ideas came to mind: “Bible Bites”; “Tiny Truths”; and “Verse Vittles.” None of those titles gave enough weight to the concept of meditating, thinking deeply upon, mentally digesting, and estimating the worth of. Then “Points to Ponder” struck. Pound, pond, and ponder all come from the same root word. Pound is a weight. Pond is an enclosed area, usually of water. Ponder is the verb form that means to give weight to, to think deeply of a particular idea or concept.
As a Christian ponders Bible truths, he is giving weight to an enclosed, exclusive area – truth. What else is worth pondering?! “For in His law doth he meditate day and night.” (Psalm 1:2) Strongs declares that this word meditate by implication means to ponder. According to Psalm 1:1, the blessed man delights and meditates in His law.
Who doesn’t want to be blessed? Let’s ponder.
(Sources include eSword/Strongs and various online dictionaries.)
Points to Ponder #1
Psalm 34:10b “. . .But they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.”
What does seek mean?
Seek: to resort to, to seek, specifically to worship.
What does worship mean?
Worship: “active response to the character, words, and action of God, initiated by His revelation and enabled by His redemption, whereby the mind is transformed (e.g. belief, repentance), the heart is renewed, (e.g. love, trust) and actions are surrendered (e.g. obedience, service), all in accordance with His will and in order to declare His infinite worthiness.” (theopedia.com)
Ponder: Active response. Character, words, and action of God. Initiated by His revelation. Enabled by His redemption. Mind transformed. Heart renewed. Actions surrendered. In accordance with His will. His infinite worthiness.
Points to Ponder #2
Psalm 34: 22b “. . .and none of them that trust in Him shall be desolate.”
What does trust mean?
To seek refuge, to flee to for protection, to confide in, to have hope in.
What does desolate mean?
To be guilty, to be punished, to perish, to be destroyed. (Strongs)
Ponder: None (not a solitary, single one!)
of them that trust (to seek refuge, to have confidence in)
in Him (the Almighty Creator, Jehovah-Jireh, Abba Father)
shall be (a definitive word)
desolate (guilty, destroyed)
Points to Ponder #3
I John 5:4 “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”
What does born of God mean?
Filial devotion, moral resemblance, glorious heirship. (studylight.org)
What does overcometh mean?
Defeat, beat, conquer, trounce, thrash, rout, vanquish, overwhelm, overpower, get the better of, triumph over, prevail over, win over/against, outdo, outclass, worst, crush, get the better of, control, get/bring under control, master, conquer, defeat. (google dictionary)
What does the world mean?
“The sum total of outward things, considered as apart from God – the world and God we make to be antagonists to one another. . . And the world conquers me when it succeeds in hindering me from seeing, loving, holding communion with and serving my Father, God. . . the one victory over the world is to bend it to serve me in the highest things – the attainment of a clearer vision of the Divine nature, the attainment of a deeper love to God Himself, and of a more glad consecration and service to Him.” (biblehub.com)
Ponder: Born of God. Filial devotion. Moral resemblance. Glorious heirship. Defeat/conquer/trounce/crush. Hinders me from seeing my Father, God. Hinders me from loving my Father, God. Hinders me from holding communion with my Father, God. Hinders me from serving my Father, God.
Do I even want to conquer the world?
