Hagah: The Noisy Meditation | Sarah E. Fisher [Psalm 1:1-4]
Source: Hebrew Word Lessons
Series: Be Still & Know
Meditation: hagah (verb), to meditate, groan, moan,
growl. (Strong’s 1897); hegeh (masc noun) or hagut
(fem noun) or hagig (masc noun), a rumbling, moan
-ing, a meditation (Strong’s 1899, 1900 & 1901);
higgayon, meditational music. (Strong’s 1902)
Phonetic: haw-gaw; heh-geh; ha-goot; ha-geeg;
1.] Meditation on GOD's Word
The word “meditation” freaks some people out.
It has often been associated with eastern religions
— but it’s very much associated with the Bible. To
meditate, Biblically, is kind of a combination bet-
ween studying Scripture & praying.
The Psalms were written as musical, reflective,
prayerful songs. It is meant to be experienced,
thru song by seeing the words, & uttering them
in melodic form — and then meditating on them.
The very first Psalm talked about meditating on
the law [torah] of GOD:
Psalm 1:1-4 Way of the Righteous & the Wicked
¹ Blessed is the man who does not walk in the
counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path
of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers.
² But his delight is in the Law of the YHWH, & on
HIS law he meditates [yeh-h’geh] day & night.
³ He is like a tree planted by streams of water
—yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does
not wither, & who prospers in all he does.
⁴ Not so the wicked!
For they are like chaff driven off by the wind.
Meditating on Scripture helps us grow, like a well
-watered plant. We will blossom & grow fruit and
that fruit will help feed others.
But we can’t do this well unless we meditate on
the Word of GOD.
Joshua 1:8-9 This Book of the Law must not depart
from your mouth; you are to recite [w-hagita] it
day & night so that you may be careful to do every
-thing written in it. For then you will prosper and
succeed in all you do. ⁹ Have I not commanded
you to be strong & courageous? Do not be afraid;
do not be discouraged, for YHWH your GOD is
with you wherever you go.”
…………………………………………………………………
Meditating on the Word of GOD, day and night, was
quintessential to good living. It would bring success
[not measured by a human definition of success, but
by YHWH’s definition of prosperity & success]
…………………………………………………………………
The greatest success was to walk alongside
GOD & have a solid relationship with HIM.
Meditating on GOD’s Word would bring us as close
to GOD as we could be, while we live our lives here
on Earth.
…………………………………………………………………
All of our meditation should be focused on YHWH,
not on anything related to chaos, evil, violence or
destruction.
…………………………………………………………………
Instead we should utter words of praise to the
CREATOR & MAKER of all things beautiful:
Psalm 77:11-15 [Asaph:] I shall remember the deeds
of YHWH; I will certainly remember YOUR wonders
of old. I will meditate [w-hagiti] on all YOUR works,
& on YOUR deeds with thanksgiving.
YOUR way, GOD, is Holy; what GOD is great like our
GOD? YOU are the GOD WHO works wonders; YOU
have made known YOUR strength among the
peoples. By YOUR power YOU have redeemed YOUR
people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
Meditating on the characteristics of GOD was agood
practise; HE was the Wonder-MAKER & the Redeemer;
meditating on HIS goodness was the best way to live,
filled with hope:
Psalm 143:5-6 [David:] I remember the days of old;
I meditate [hagiti] on all YOUR accomplishments; I
reflect on the work of YOUR hands.
I spread out my hands to YOU; my soul longs for YOU,
like a weary land. Selah.
David was a big practitioner of meditation.
He started his day, meditating to YHWH: Psalm 5:1-3
Listen to my words, YHWH, consider my sighing [my
meditation: hagigi]. Listen to the sound of my cry for
help, my KING & my GOD, for to YOU I pray.
In the morning, YHWH, YOU will hear my voice; in the
morning I will present my prayer to YOU & be on the
watch.
David began his day in meditation & he ended his day
just the same: Psalm 63:6-7 [David:] When I remember
YOU on my bed — I meditate [eh-h’geh] on YOU in the
night watches, for YOU have been my help, and in the
shadow of YOUR wings I sing for joy.
2.] A Noisy Meditation
Unlike eastern meditation, where you close your mind,
close your mouth, clear your mind & focus on a solitary
thought — Biblical meditation has taught us that sound
was an integral part of meditation.
Meditation was not meant to be practiced silently… you
were to express, moan, & use your voice to reflect your
feelings. Hagah was sometimes described as growling
lions and moaning doves:
Isaiah 31:4 | For this is what YHWH says to me:
“As the lion or young lion growls [meditates: yeh-h’geh]
over his prey—against which band of shepherds is called
out & he will not be terrified at their voice nor disturbed
at their noise, so will YHWH of armies come to wage war
on Mount Zion and on its hill.”
Isaiah used this idea of focused meditation—like a lion
growling over its prey—to show when you are hyper-
focused nothing can distract you; fear is nothing when
you are earnestly focused on GOD.
…………………………………………………………………
But we are fearful creatures. It’s hard to be so devoutly
meditative that we block out our worries and fears.
…………………………………………………………………
YHWH gets that. Meditation can sometimes
be a focused prayer asking for YHWH’s help:
Isaiah 38:14 | “Like a swallow, like a crane, so I twitter;
I moan [meditate: eh-h’geh] like a dove; my eyes look
wistfully to the heights; LORD, I am oppressed, be my
security.”
Muttering and moaning were meant to be bi-products
of meditation. Like grumbling lions and moaning doves
—human meditation was expressed orally.
This was sometimes translated as a proclamation, an
utterance, a sound or a sighing. When the mouth or
tongue meditated, it made a sound:
Psalm 37:30-31 [David:] The mouth of the righteous
utters [meditated: yeh-h’geh] wisdom & his tongue
speaks justice. The Law of his GOD is in his heart; his
steps do not slip.
Psalm 35:28 [David:] And my tongue shall proclaim
meditate on [teh-h’geh] YOUR righteousness and
YOUR praise all day long.
When the mouth meditated, it uttered a praiseful
sound—singing and meditational uttering was the
way to praise YHWH:
Psalm 71:22-24 | I will also praise YOU with a harp,
& YOUR truth, my GOD; I will sing praises to YOU
with the lyre, Holy ONE of Israel.
My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to
YOU; and my soul—which YOU have redeemed.
My tongue also will meditate [teh-h’geh] on YOUR
righteousness all day long; for they're put to shame
—for they are humiliated who seek my harm.
3.] An Empty Meditation
Meditational singing & uttering
were beautifully human.
So when humans started worshipping hand-made
idols, it made no sense. How could humans wor-
ship an object that couldn’t #sing or meditate or
even speak?
Psalm 115:4-8 | Their idols are silver and gold, the
work of human hands. They have mouths but they
cannot speak; & they have eyes — but cannot see;
they have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses,
but cannot smell; they have hands, but can't feel;
they have feet, but they cannot walk; they cannot
make a sound [a meditation: yeh-h’gu] with their
throat.
Those who make them will become like them,
everyone who trusts in them.
…………………………………………………………………
Golden idols could not meditate; they could not
utter a word. They were worthless, & those who
worshipped them would become like them…
worthless.
…………………………………………………………………
Their meditations were misguided.
It was a pointless practise; meditating on pagan
gods was like meditating on emptiness:
Psalm 2:1 | Why are the nations restless and the
peoples plotting in vain meditating on emptiness
[yeh-h’gu riq]?
…………………………………………………………………
Plotting in vain (as most translations provide)
was an empty meditation; it had no value or
merit. It wasn’t focused on GOD, and it was
focused on the worthless.
…………………………………………………………………
4.] Misguided Meditations
Meditation was not exclusive to GOD’s righteous
people — those who meditated on violence and
destruction brought about violence & destruction:
Proverbs 24:1-2 | Do not be envious of evil people,
nor desire to be with them — for their minds #plot
[meditate on: yeh-h’geh] violence, and their lips
talk of trouble.
…………………………………………………………………
Mediums and spiritists of the occult mis-used
meditation—by turning the focus on the dead
instead of the living:
…………………………………………………………………
Isaiah 8:19
When they say to you, “Consult the mediums & the
spiritists who whisper — and [do] the meditations
[w-ha-ma-h’gim],” should people not consult their
god/idols? Should they consult the dead on behalf
of the living?
The Adversary (ha-Satan) was the god of death and
his followers (like mediums) focused on death, &
destruction and chaos.
…………………………………………………………………
We should never meditate on the dead, but should
always meditate on YHWH alone, for HE is the GOD
of Life!
…………………………………………………………………
But humans, being human, have a bond with death.
There is an utter fascination because the grave waits
for everyone.
Many reject YHWH’s promise of salvation from death
—& their meditations are on themselves and not on
YHWH. There is a separation between CREATOR and
creation:
…………………………………………………………………
Isaiah 59:2-3 | Your wrongdoings have caused a
separation between you and your GOD, & your
sins have hidden HIS face from you so that HE
does not hear.
…………………………………………………………………
For your hands are defiled with blood, and your
fingers with wrongdoing; your lips have spoken
deceit — your tongue #mutters [meditates on:
teh-h’geh] wickedness…
The people meditated on the wrong things; their
mutterings were wicked. But if they recognized
and owed up to the fact that their #meditations
were misguided, and they turned back to YHWH
— they would benefit from a REDEEMER WHO
would save them:
Isaiah 59:9-14, 19-20 …Therefore justice is far
from us — & righteousness does not reach us;
we hope for light, but there is darkness, for
brightness, but we walk in gloom. We grope
for the wall like people who are blind — we
grope like those who have no eyes.
We stumble at midday as in the twilight; among
those who are healthy — we are like the dead.
…………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………
All of us growl like bears, and moan sadly
[moaningly moan: hagoh neh-h’geh] like
doves; we hope for justice — but there is
none; for salvation, but it is far from us.
…………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………
For our wrongful acts have multiplied before YOU,
& our sins have testified against us; for our wrong
-ful acts are with us, & we know our wrongdoings:
offending and denying YHWH, and turning away
from our GOD, speaking oppression and revolt,
conceiving & uttering [horow w-hogow] #lying
words from the heart.
Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands
far away; for truth has stumbled in the street, &
uprightness cannot enter…
…So they will fear the name of YHWH from the
west & HIS glory from the rising of the sun, for
HE will come like a rushing stream — which the
wind of YHWH drives.
”A Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those in
Jacob who turn from wrongdoing,” declares YHWH.
Those who were against GOD were also against
HIS followers. David’s enemies were described
as plotters (meditators) against David:
Psalm 38:12-15 | [David:] Those who seek my life
lay snares for me; and those who seek to injure
me have threatened destruction, and they plot
[meditate: yeh-h’gu] deception all day long.
But I, like a person who is deaf, do not hear; and
I am like a person who cannot speak, who does
not open his mouth.
Yes, I am like a person who does not hear, and in
whose mouth are no arguments. For I wait for
YOU, YHWH; YOU will answer, LORD my GOD.
Those who meditate on bringing destruction
against YHWH and HIS people do not deserve
a replied utterance — which was why David
stayed silent.
YESHUA (JESUS) stayed silent
when HIS enemies accused HIM.
The religious elite plotted/meditated on YESHUA’s
destruction, and had HIM arrested. During HIS trial
YESHUA stayed, primarily, silent:
Matthew 26:59-63a
Now the chief priests and the entire Council kept
trying to obtain false testimony against JESUS, so
that they might put HIM to death.
They did not find any, even though
many false witnesses came forward.
But later on two came forward, and said,
“This man stated, ‘I am able to destroy the Temple
of GOD and to rebuild it in three days.’”
The High Priest stood up and said to HIM,
“Do YOU offer no answer for what these men are
testifying against YOU?” But JESUS kept silent . . .
YESHUA knew these people wanted to destroy HIM;
it was their focus and meditation… the death and
destruction of the only truly innocent ONE on the
planet. The High Priest did not deserve a reply.
But when he point-blank asked YESHUA if HE
was the MESSIAH, YESHUA broke HIS #silence:
Matthew 26:63b-68
And the High Priest said to HIM,
“I place YOU under oath by the living GOD — to tell
us whether YOU are the MESSIAH, the SON of GOD”
JESUS said to him, “You have said it yourself. But I
tell you, from now on you will see the SON of MAN
sitting at the right hand of power, & coming on the
clouds of Heaven.”
Then the High Priest tore his robes and said,
“HE has blasphemed! What further need do we
have of witnesses? See, you have now heard the
blasphemy; what do you think?”
They answered, “HE deserves death!”
They spit in HIS face & beat HIM with their fists; &
others slapped HIM, & said, “Prophesy to us, YOU
MESSIAH; who is the one who hit YOU?”
At this, YESHUA returned to HIS silence. Who hit
HIM? Ha-Satan (the Adversary) hit HIM, because
the people bore the image of Satan that day.
Their hearts were not open to hearing the truth
because their meditation is on death/destruction.
They were deeply #immersed in the practices of
GOD’s Opponent & their mouths #reflected their
own misguided meditations.
Proverbs 15:28 The heart of the righteous ponders
[meditates: yeh-h’geh] how to answer — but mouth
of the wicked pours out evil things.
5. YHWH Meditates & Moans
Those with righteous hearts would be willing to
listen & contemplate, because they were YHWH’s
image bearers.
YHWH constantly contemplated and meditated
on HIS righteous people and HE always listened
to them when they called.
But when humanity turned away from YHWH, it
broke HIS heart. HE would moan & meditate for
HIS lost people:
Jeremiah 48:29-31
[YHWH:] “We have heard of the pride of Moab—
he is very proud— of his haughtiness, his pride,
his arrogance, and his self-exaltation.
“I know his fury,” declares YHWH, “But it is futile;
his idle boasts have accomplished nothing. Thus
I will wail for Moab, for all of Moab I will cry out;
I will moan [yeh-h’geh] for the men of Kir-heres.”
We're the object of YHWH’s meditation-moaning
--HIS #focus is squarely on us because HE deeply
cares for HIS people.
…………………………………………………………………
The enigmatic fourth friend of Job emphasised
the audible #meditation of YHWH towards HIS
people:
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Job 37:1-5
[Elihu:] “At this also my heart trembles, & leaps
from its place. Listen closely to the thunder of
HIS [YHWH’s] voice, & the rumbling [meditation:
w-hegeh] that goes out from HIS mouth.
Under the whole Heaven HE lets it loose, and HIS
lightning travels to the ends of the Earth. After it,
a voice roars; HE thunders with HIS majestic voice
and HE does not restrain the lightning--when HIS
voice is heard.
GOD thunders wondrously with HIS voice, doing
great things -- which we do not comprehend.”
The meditations of YHWH are to be a reminder
to us of what meditation is all about… focused,
audible, contemplative prayer, & it brings with
it wondrous beauty and awe.
6.] The Meditation of My Heart:
I will be Redeemed & Live!
When it all comes down to it, a deep meditation of
Scripture highlights the focus of redemption. From
the moment we messed up in the Garden—YHWH
put a plan into place to save us, redeem us, & bring
us home to HIM.
Eve & Adam, by their actions, had to leave Eden—
but that’s not what GOD wanted… & so HE made a
plan to conquer the human curse of death in order
for us to be able to return to HIS Garden Kingdom.
Psalm 49 celebrated the Good News — and
understanding, of YHWH’s redemptive plan:
Psalm 49:1-15 [Sons of Korah:] Hear this all peoples;
listen, all inhabitants of the world, both low & high,
rich & poor together.
My mouth will speak wisdom, & the meditation of
my heart [w-hagut libbi] will be understanding. I'll
incline my ear to a proverb; I will express my riddle
on the harp.
Why should I fear in days of adversity—when the
injustice of those who betray me surrounds me—
those who trust in their wealth, and boast in the
abundance of their riches?
No one can by any means redeem another or give
GOD a ransom for him—for the redemption of his
soul is priceless, and he should cease imagining
forever—that he might live on eternally, that he
might not undergo decay.
For he sees that even wise people die; the foolish
and the stupid alike perish & leave their wealth to
others.
Their inner thought is that their houses are forever
—and their dwelling places to all generations; they
have named their lands after their own names.
But man in his splendour will not endure; he is like
“𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵”. This is the way of those
who are foolish, & of those after them who approve
their words.
…………………………………………………………………
Selah: Like sheep they sink down to Sheol; death
will be their Shepherd; and the upright will rule
over them in the morning, & their form shall be
for Sheol to consume so they have no lofty home.
…………………………………………………………………
But GOD'll redeem my soul from the power of
Sheol, for HE will receive me. Selah Those who
put their trust in death, will die… they will sink
into the grave [Sheol]; but those who put their
trust in YHWH, the GOD of Life, will rise up and
be redeemed.
Sheol cannot hold them down.
They'll be received by YHWH, back in the Kingdom
where they belong. YESHUA’s death paid for our
entrance fee back into YHWH’s Garden Kingdom.
…………………………………………………………………
HIS resurrection meant that death was conquered
& all the children of GOD could follow in YESHUA’s
footsteps & return home to YHWH.
…………………………………………………………………
The Apostle Paul preached the Good News
of #salvation across the known world after
YESHUA’s death.
HE taught prayer & meditation should be though
about & practised: Philippians 4:8-9 Finally, fellow
believers, whatever is true/honourable/right/ or
pure/lovely/commendable, if there is anything of
excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think
about these things.
As for the things you have learned & received &
heard & seen in me, practice these things, & the
GOD of peace will be with you.
…………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………
Who is true, honourable, right, pure, lovely and
commendable? YHWH! So when we meditate on
these things our focus is in the right place.
…………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱, 𝗴𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗲, 𝗺𝗼𝗮𝗻 & 𝘀𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗺… Meditating
𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴.
Don’t be afraid to get noisy… YHWH wants to hear
from you! We should meditate as David meditated:
Psalm 19:14 [David:] May the words of my mouth &
the meditation of my heart [w-heg’yown libbi] be
acceptable in YOUR sight, YHWH my ROCK and my
REDEEMER.
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Comment:
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Joyful Sparrow | July 31, 2022 @6:23AM
What a powerful reminder. It is all too easy
to allow our thoughts to #dwell on cultural
chaos & noise, unceasingly swirling around
us―tugging at our minds and desiring to
swallow up our hearts.
“LORD help us fix our thoughts on YOU; to
choose to gently marinate in YOUR Word.
Transform our minds as we meditate and
𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳
𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁.”
Published by Hebrew Word Lessons:
Sarah Fisher is an admirer of old books, and
old languages, old stone carvings, old photos
and pretty much everything old.
She is the administrator of the website
www.booklives.ca & is a library technician
at the University of Prince Edward Island.
Sarah has a Master of Arts degree in Early
Medieval Studies from the University of
York in England.
Her recent love of learning the Hebrew
language from pictographic proto-
Canaanite to the adopted Aramaic script
has led her to create this blog.
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