Modern People Have Lost the Power of Contemplation

It seems that modern people have lost the power of devotional contemplation such as sustained holy men of old in time of affliction or of lonely waiting. The Lord Jesus could go up into a mountain and spend the night in prayer and meditation, drawing from the Father a renewal of strength for the mortal struggle. On a lower plane David was able to use many hours in rapturous contemplation of divine perfection. Many holy men and women found comfort and strength in such direct contact with the Eternal far from the greedy struggle of humanity. It was possible in large measure to overcome discomfort and pain, as when Paul and Silas after cruel beatings were able to sing hymns of praise in the darkness of the inner prison. Many in those days, with little to engage attention or stimulate interest, were able to find joy and peace in the contemplation of spiritual truths.

Now, the power seems almost lost. There is an eager desire for novelty such as ruled in ancient Athens; there is a pursuit of endless inventions to make life easy—an urge for pleasure and amusement continually demanding more, and growing harder to please. With it all it seems that there is a complete failure to find satisfaction even on the ignoble plane that has been chosen. We sometimes hear young people asking how it would be possible for anyone to live without a continual round of dances, plays and pictures. They might find it difficult to live without, these aids, but even with the full use of them it does not seem that life is easy or satisfactory.

To continue reading this Bible article, click here.

Author: Islip Collyer

Keywords: meditate, quietude, silence, quietness, quiet, Contemplation, Introspection, Listening, Reflection, Meditation, Solitude, Loneliness, TV, Television, Watching television, Watching TV, technology

Bible reference(s): Genesis 24:63, Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:2 , Psalms 5:1, Psalms 19:14, Psalms 49:3, Psalms 63:6, Psalm 77:12, Psalms 104:34, Psalm 119:15, Psalm 143:5, Matthew 14:23, Mark 6:46, Luke 5:16, Luke 6:12, John 6:15, Romans 12:2

Source: “Meditation,” The Testimony, Vol. 17, No. 193, January 1947, pp. 3-4.

Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.