Shevat 27
Meditate
“… And he meditates in His Torah day and
night.” (Ps 1:2 ISR)
One of the
definitions found in the Ancient Hebrew Lexicon for the word that is translated
as “meditate” is “A murmuring or soft speech while
in a continual contemplation over something”[1]; I can remember being told years ago that this
type of meditation is common among many Jews.
Would you suppose this is what we are seeing when viewing videos of
people praying at the Western Wall?
The
word, in Hebrew, is hâgâh (Strong’s #1897), and Strong’s translates it as “to murmur (in pleasure or anger); by implication to ponder:
- imagine, meditate, mourn, mutter, roar, speak, study,
talk, utter”. It would appear that regardless of which (or
both) translation we use, there seems to be a vocal utterance connected with
the act of meditation.
I have believed for many years that there is great
value to reading the Scriptures out loud – even if I am reading only to
myself. We are told that “faith (emunah) comes by hearing, and hearing through the
Word of YAHWEH” (Rom 10:17 HRB),
so I perceive that I am making a “double deposit” when I read out loud. However, I am also sure that I am not the
only person with the ability of thinking about something totally different from
what I am reading while I am reading
– it is akin to my mind playing “leap frog”, hoping from one lily pad to
another. And this is where the
discipline comes in …
We are told in the above
definitions that to “meditate” is to “contemplate”, or to “ponder”. Mr. Webster defines contemplate as “To view or consider
with continued attention; to study; to meditate on. This word expresses the
attention of the mind, but sometimes in connection with that of the eyes; as,
to contemplate the heavens. More generally, the act of the mind only is
intended; as, to contemplate the wonders of redemption”[2]. In other words, “meditation” has everything
to do with focus, focus on His Word,
His Torah. Only then is the deposit a “double”
one.
“Do not let this Book of the Torah depart from
your mouth, but you shall meditate on it
day and night, so that you guard to do
according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way
prosperous, and act wisely.” (Jos 1:8 ISR, emphasis mine)
“My meditation on Him
is sweet; I rejoice in יהוה.” (Ps 104:34 ISR)
©2018
1 Copyright © 2006Ancient Hebrew Research Center Ancient
Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible ISBN: 1589397762 Author: Jeff A. Benner
[2] American Dictionary of the English Language,
Daniel Webster, 1828, emphasis mine
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