You cannot meditate on the Word without first reading it, and here it mentions that the” book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth” which indicates that it should be verbally spoken.  The effect of meditating on the Word of God and speaking it is so that we may “observe to do according to all that it is written therein” and that will make it possible to “make [our] way prosperous, and then [we] shall have good success.”  The prosperity that this is talking about isn’t financial prosperity necessarily but has in mind the life of the person who first reads it, then observes it, and finally to know that what is written in it shows us how we can prosper and be successful, but not by worldly standards but according to God’s standard.

Neh 8:3 Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.

Most sermons average about 23 minutes or so, and one man said that little sermonettes only produce little Christianettes.  Ezra read from the Book of the Law from early morning until midday which means that Ezra probably read from the Scriptures for at least 4 hours (possibly more).  Israel stood in holy, reverential respect during the reading and the people showed respect for the reading of the Word as it says all “the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law” (Neh 8:3c).

Rom 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Faith comes as a natural result of hearing the Word of Christ and since Jesus is the Word (John 1), the Word must be heard by speaking it in order for people to hear about faith in Christ.  It is assumed that through their “hearing” it was spoken by someone.  We know that Stephen, prior to his death, verbally gave the Bible’s story of redemption and that Paul used the Word to convince many of the Jews in the Synagogue that Jesus was the Messiah and as a result, many came to place their trust in Him.  Paul asks the rhetorical question, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them” (Rom 10:14).  They could not have heard the Word if it had not first been spoken and how could they have ever been saved if they hadn’t heard the word about the One Who came to take their sins away?

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The Word of God has real power and it has the ability to cut to the joints and the marrow, but it cuts in order to heal.  It discerns our very thoughts and intents that are unseen by human eyes.  The Word is powerful and sharp enough to cut down into the innermost thoughts of mankind, and since it’s a two-edged sword, it cuts both ways…both to the one who speaks it and to the one who hears it.

2 Tim 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Scriptures are God-breathed…that is, it is inspired by God Himself, but it must be breathed out by human agents to reprove, correct, train, and equip every believer for “every good work.”  That’s why expository, verse by verse preaching is so powerful.  When the Word of God is read in front of the congregation, it unleashes God’s own power (Rom 1:16), and there is the assurance that His Word will achieve what He sent it out for (Isa 55:11).  The only perfect part of worship services is the reading of the Word for it is perfect.

Psa 119:11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

The psalmist declared that he has stored up God’s Word in his heart or basically memorized it. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by Satan, Jesus always quoted Scripture to rebuff and rebuke the Devil.  The Devil always misquotes Scripture, but if someone memorizes the Word of God in context, they have a storehouse of powerful weapons to defend against temptations and tests and carry them through severe trials and tribulations.  Store it up because you’ll most certainly need it.

Job 23:12 I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth More than my necessary food.

Job was under severe attack from Satan, and since he had already treasured God’s Word, he was better equipped to remain steadfast in his faith and trust in God.   He treasured God’s Word “more than [his] portion of food” since it has the power to bring eternal life.  A meal can only sustain us for a time, but the Word of God abides forever, and for those who believe it, it leads to eternal life.