“The psalms everywhere sing of this “meditation” on the Law of God. But above and beyond the Law, the psalmists are carried out of themselves by their experience of God’s mercy, by their realization of His fidelity to His promises: Misericordias Domini in aeternum cantabo! The psalms meditate not only on the goodness and beauty of the Law of God, and on the happiness of a life set in order by that Law, but above all on a supreme and ecstatic happiness which is the pure gift of God’s mercy to the poor, to the Anawin—to those who, because they have no human hope, greatness or support, are therefore shielded and loved with a special power and compassion on the part of God. Meditation on the psalms, inspired by love, is the key to the great mystery of the divine compassion.” (Thomas Merton, “Spiritual Direction and Meditation”)

“Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; but their delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law they meditate day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2

When you read the Psalms, you soon learn how the psalmists speak often of a “meditation” on the Law of God. Whether we want to speak of it as meditation, or as prayer, spending time on the word of G-d every day is something we read about in the scriptures.

“Isaac went out in the evening to meditate in the field” (Genesis 24:63)

Joshua, speaking to the people as they prepare to move into the promised land says: “This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night” (Joshua 1:8)

And even Jesus says: “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.” Matthew 6:6

Thomas Merton goes on to say: “…this penetration of the meaning of the psalms was not just a matter of studying them with the aid of a commentary. It was a question of “savoring” and “absorbing” the meaning of the psalms in the depths of one’s own heart, repeating the words slowly, thoughtfully, prayerfully in the deepest center of one’s being, so that the psalms gradually come to be as intimate and personal as one’s own reflections and feelings.” (Thomas Merton)

Time spent on scripture, whether you are reading it or praying on it, time spent on scripture is time well spent. As we have more down-time every day during this pandemic, spending time with scripture is beneficial in many ways. Mostly, scripture reminds us that G-d never abandons us, never forsakes us, and never forgets about us.

Pastor Dave