The Musing Mind

ISBN 981-04-1620-2

108 pages
Published 1999
By Rev Jedidiah Tham

EXTRACTS From The Book . . . .

• Foreword Dr Gwen R Shaw
• Introduction by Rev. Jedidiah Tham
• Chap 2 - Morning Gazing, Morning Feeding

FOREWORD

By Dr Gwen R Shaw

I have had the privilege of ministering with Jedidiah Tham in Australia. He is a man of prayer and dedication. God has gifted him as an expositor of the Word of God with a keen sense of spiritual revelation.

He has learned to know the Lord in the hours that he spends waiting upon Him. I have seen Jedidiah's light on in the hours of the night when others are sleeping, and I knew that our brother was talking to God and preparing the message that he would bring to God's people.

When men like that speak, we need to listen. When they write books, we need to read them.

I am sure that The Musing Mind will be a great blessing to you, because it comes from one who has been meditating in God's presence.

Dr Gwen R Shaw 
Founder and President
End-Time Handmaidens and Servants.

Introduction

In the latter half of last year, I had a vision that many demonic spirits were invading the minds of the people. The Lord whispered, "Son, meditating upon My Word will be like unto a man wearing the helmet of salvation (Eph 6:17), so that the wicked one touches him not."

"O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You have covered my head in the day of battle."  Psalm 140:7

Truly, meditation on God's Word grants us immunity and preservation.

"Whoever listens to Me will dwell safely, and will be secure without fear of evil."  Proverbs 1:33

After the 1998 May riots in Indonesia, fear and confusion pervaded the minds of His people. Before I ministered there, I saw an innumerable host of angels surrounding the nation of Indonesia and guarding the houses of the believers. I commanded the people to confess the promises of Psalm 91:11,

"For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways."  Ps 91:11

This verse stabilized and edified the faith of His people. Surely, the musing mind is a sound mind.

On the eve of their independence or National Day in Indonesia, the radio announced that the people should stay indoors to avoid possible trouble. The next morning, on 18th August, I girded myself with the words of Psalm 91:10,

"No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling."

I ministered those words in the seminar with the peace of God permeating my soul.

"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trust in You."  Isaiah 26:3

Certainly, the musing mind is a serene mind.

At the beginning of this year, the Spirit of the Lord impressed these words in my heart: "Sound doctrines shall be attacked and shaken in the last days. But if My word is in your heart, none of your steps shall stumble." (see Psalm 37:31).

"Princes also sit and speak against me, but Your servant meditates on Your statutes. Your testimonies also are my delight and my counselors."  Ps 119: 23,24)

Meditation of God's Word shall undergird the foundation of our faith.

"'Do not labour for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.' Then they said to him, 'What shall we do, that we may work the work of God?' Jesus answered and said to them, 'This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.'"  John 6:27-29

God has summoned His people to labour and to stand on the Word of God against the contrary winds of circumstance and adversity. Labour to stand on the Word. This is the labour God has commissioned us to.

Labour for the Word of God to be effective in your life. Be diligent to stand on the Word, by the Word and for the Word. Muse on His Word and be 'amused' by the mystery of His providence and provision.

CHAPTER 2 - Morning Gazing, Morning Feeding

"He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters."  Psalm 23:2

The dawn broke, bringing with it the first stirring of life. In the distance, the gloomy black canopy of darkness was slowly replaced  by a light veil of heavenly blue. The earth was awakened, refreshed by the long night of rest. Hastily, she adorned herself with silvery droplets of the morning dew as the gentle cool breeze began to caress her flowing locks of lavish greens.

It was a perfect morning, and the shepherd knew it. He was awake and ready, long before the first light of the day. Taking his staff and rod, he strolled along the running brook which meandered through the plain where his flock was grazing. It was the perfect time of day for feeding. Experience had told the shepherd that the best time for grazing was in the early hours, when all vegetation was drenched with dew. He took a few steps by the stream and stopped, casting attentive eyes on his flock. A smile of contentment spread across his face as he watched  his sheep grazing knee deep in the dew drenched grass. His father had taught him well. Even as a little boy, he remembered waking up very early each morning, following his father to bring the sheep out for their morning graze. He could recall how he sat under a big tree and watched the flock feeding contentedly. But when the sun rose and its heat was felt, the flock would retire into the shade and ruminate happily throughout the day.

His father had once explained to him, "Son, sheep are by habit early risers. They will rise before dawn and start their feeding. Besides the daily intake of food, they also need water to live. By ensuring that the sheep are out grazing at an early hour, I am also making sure that they receive proper supply of water from the heavy dew on the pasture. Dew is of course a clean and pure source of water, but unfortunately it is only found at the break of day. In order for the sheep to benefit from the dew, it is vital that they feed at this time of the day."

"Also the sheep are most relaxed at this hour. The cool, stillness of the morning allows the flock to graze without any disturbance. It is during this time of the day, when all is quiet and serenity pervades, that the sheep welcome my presence the most..."

A surge of emotion filled the shepherd's heart as he looked nostalgically at the big tree where he used to sit as a little boy. He could remember watching his father from that tree as he carefully examined each and every sheep thoroughly. None of the sheep was agitated by his presence. In fact, the flock would just continue feeding as the shepherd examined them. His father would continue examining his flock until the dewdrops were dried up by the heat of the day. Then fully satisfied, the sheep would lie down. For the rest of the day, they would ruminate, bringing the cud back into their mouths to chew again.

Looking at his flock again, he could sense the contentment in every single sheep. They were now lying down, satisfied by the foliage and refreshed by the clean, pure dew. Nothing pleased the shepherd more than to see his flock satisfied by the morning feed. Indeed, it was the most significant part of the day, not just for the shepherd, but more so for the sheep that followed him.