Mutter the Psalms
The Hebrew word for "meditate" doesn't mean what we've made it mean.
A few years ago, I went to a local trail. At one point, I thought, “Now it’s time to sing.”
I have a very normal singing voice (much though I wish I had an operatic soprano so I could create my own flashmob experience at the big box store … but I digress). Singing in public—even on a mostly empty trail—requires a certain degree of boldness.
On that day, I didn’t meet anyone as I sang my way along the trail, but simply singing in an exposed environment felt like a breakthrough.
Maybe we can experiment with speaking the scriptures aloud? Or singing, even softly?
What happens when we use our vocal cords to proclaim God’s word?
In James Goll’s Lost Art of Intercession, he says: “A friend sent me a lengthy study of lightning in the Bible and suggested that lightning is the anointed Word of God going forth from the mouth of the saints. He believed the Scriptures imply that as we speak the Word of God, it goes forth from our mouth like lightning to intercede and strike the mark, routing our enemies and bringing the judgment of God to situations, laying bare the hearts of men, and fully accomplishing whatever God commanded it to accomplish. I have to agree that this is totally in line with the Bible as I understand it” (36).
The Hebrew word “meditate,” hagah, as in Psalm 1:2, “but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night,” is not a silent meditation, but would rather be better translated “who speaks his law” or “who mutters his law.”
Usually when I read God’s word, I do so silently.
But if my words could go out like lightning … that is an amazing image! I want that!
Lord, I felt voiceless for so many years. For anyone who also feels voiceless, Lord, I take the sword of the Spirit, dipped in the blood of Jesus, and cut off that voicelessness.
Lord, please release our voices to proclaim your goodness. May we be pray-ers and worshippers in spirit and in truth. Thank you, Lord, that you are the great teacher. In Jesus’ name, amen.
To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ,
Amy Joy
P.S. I appreciate the Sons of Korah albums so much, those singers of the Psalms. One of my favorites: Psalm 84.
Other worship albums dedicated to singing the scripture, more for family use, include Sing the Word and Seeds Family Worship.
You are invited! Sign up for the Prayer Refresh, an email series with short prayers to pray as you go about your day. The first five readers all wrote me at different times and said, “This is changing my life.”