It was just a small word. A preposition actually. A word that shows the relationship between two words. I might have missed it completely except it caught my attention because it wasn’t the word I was expecting. It might not even be the most accurate translation, but it provided an “ah-hah” moment for me.
Because it was so unexpected, I looked up quite a few other versions, and they all used the word “on,” but the version I was reading on this particular day was the New King James Version, and it said “in,” and that made all the difference to me.
Here is the verse:
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe 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” (Joshua 1:8).
Why did the word “in” have such an impact on me?
Because “in” places you in a very different position than “on” does. “In” means you are immersed; you are surrounded; there is nowhere you can look that you don’t see it and feel it.
“On” allows you some distance. You can remain separate. You can remain removed if you want.
I know that’s not what the verse implies. The verse commands us to think about God's words and what they mean, so that we will know God’s will, can be obedient, and, consequently, successful in whatever way God deems. And I am sure that if we spend “day and night” thinking about God’s Word—his commands, his promises—then we will be totally immersed.
But on this particular day, it took one little word to bring that message home.
If that is the power that just one word out of the 807,000+ words in the Bible can have, just image the power of all of them.
Because it was so unexpected, I looked up quite a few other versions, and they all used the word “on,” but the version I was reading on this particular day was the New King James Version, and it said “in,” and that made all the difference to me.
Here is the verse:
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe 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” (Joshua 1:8).
Why did the word “in” have such an impact on me?
Because “in” places you in a very different position than “on” does. “In” means you are immersed; you are surrounded; there is nowhere you can look that you don’t see it and feel it.
“On” allows you some distance. You can remain separate. You can remain removed if you want.
I know that’s not what the verse implies. The verse commands us to think about God's words and what they mean, so that we will know God’s will, can be obedient, and, consequently, successful in whatever way God deems. And I am sure that if we spend “day and night” thinking about God’s Word—his commands, his promises—then we will be totally immersed.
But on this particular day, it took one little word to bring that message home.
If that is the power that just one word out of the 807,000+ words in the Bible can have, just image the power of all of them.
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