He That Hath an Ear

“He That Hath an Ear”

Is a Blog devoted to exploring God’s written Word with an ear to Hear what the Spirit says.

Memorization or Meditation

This is my second post. In ending my last post, I said we would look deeper into circumcision and its fulfillment in our lives. However, before we do, I would like to spend a few moments discussing memorizing in contrast to meditating on the scriptures.

The words memorizing or memorize do not appear in the scriptures from Genesis to Revelation. However, the concept of recalling or remembering Gods teachings, commands, principles, statues E.T. have many admonishments throughout scriptures for us. Think on them day and night, place them on our wrist, as frontlets before our eyes and bind them in our heart. Deuteronomy 6:7, Matthew 5:19 and many, many others, encourage us to keep God’s law and commands at the center of our lives.

Scripture also tells us to meditate on them (God’s word in all its facets) continuously, Joshua 1:8, Psalms 1:2.

There are several words used in Hebrew that are translated into English as teach. The primary one used for teaching God’s laws or commands is lāmaḏ (לָמַד): generally, means “to learn” or “to teach,” and it signifies the process of acquiring knowledge and skills through instruction or experience. It also carries the idea of being trained or becoming skilled, even in practical or military contexts._{AI source quoted.}

This involves primarily the intellect, or our ability to comprehend and move towards a goal. Such as memorizing Psalms 19, which I would encourage for anyone.

The Hebrew word translated into English as meditate, is hāg̱āh: A verb meaning to growl, to groan, to sigh, to mutter, to speak; used figuratively: to meditate, to ponder. _{Word Study Bible Dictionary} It carries with it the idea of,  Chewing the cud/Lion’s growl. Meditation, involves much more than intellect. While intellect plays a role in analyzing and understanding facts or subjects. During meditation, the practice certainly extends beyond pure intellectual activity, encompassing emotions, intuition, and a deeper sense of self-awareness.  

Without belaboring the point, both teaching (memorizing) and meditating on the scripture are necessary. Just as we are to worship in Spirit and Truth, we also should do the same with the scriptures. Learning (or memorizing) the scriptures with our intellect (Truth). And, meditating on them brings them into our heart, emotions, real life situations (Spirit).

Let me offer one example of this, from our Lord Jesus while speaking to a lawyer in Luke chapter ten, the parable known as the good Samaritan. This lawyer sought to tempt Jesus inquiring of him as to what was necessary to inherit eternal life. The lawyer came to Jesus as teacher, master as KJV translates it, (same Greek word used for both) to tempt Christ. Jesus answers him on an intellectual level as a teacher, relaying of facts. You know the Law, what does it say.

At this point everything is intellectual (even theoretical). Christ now tells him to do it, and he will live. Christ has answered him as he came. purely intellectual. However, the lawyer seeking to justify himself? (Declaring his righteousness) asks who is my neighbor? Christ seizes the opportunity (in fact Christ maneuvered him into position to move out of intellectual realm) to take this discussion from the intellectual (Truth) to the actual Spirit of the matter.

Christ forces this lawyer out of the intellectual spere, by placing him in the position of making a judgement call. Which one do you think was a neighbor to the man. He now must now live in the man’s shoes for the briefest of moments, and decide, who was his neighbor? He answers, he that shewed mercy to him. Jesus says, go and do likewise. As, long as we can keep the discussion on an intellectual level, we have ground to stand on (supposedly). Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, cast out devils, done wonderful works in your name? Depart from me you workers of iniquity, I never knew you. _{Mt 7:21-23} If we are ever to move on from a mediocre life in Christianity we must learn to worship in Spirit and Truth and have ears to  hear, and eyes to see and yes train our hearts to understand.

THE SPIRIT GIVES LIFE; THE FLESH PROFITS NOTHING_{JN 6:63 BSB}

Reading chapter 6 in the gospel of John. our author starts the chapter with Jesus feeding the five thousand with five barley loaves and two small fish. For many years, preachers , evangelist, and teachers have gleaned much from this miracle that Jesus performed. I will not attempt to expound further on it, except to say that this is how the chapter opens and leads us from the physical bread Jesus fed the five thousand with, too, later in the chapter Jesus declaring He is the bread of life. And  to have eternal life one must consume His flesh and drink His blood.

Just recounting these words of Christ brings a certain revulsion to my natural mind. To actually think these words are literal, offends my conscience and humanity. Why did Christ phrase it this way. Could He not of prefaced this statement with something like you must consume my words and will as if you were eating my flesh and drinking my blood. So, it becomes part of you and source of strength? God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? _{Num 23:19 KJV} The admonishment not to add or take away from the words of this book are clear, Deut. 4:2, Deut. 12:32 Rev 22:18-19.

It is this point that many of his disciples left following Him. This is a hard saying who can hear it. _{JN 6:60}   No, Jesus said exactly what the Father intended Him to say, the way He intended to say it. It is therefore necessary for us look, seek, knock, and hear what God is intending us to learn from these words that on the outside seem so offensive. And they were meant to be. They were meant to divide and challenge our intellect (understanding). Read Hebrews 4:12. And the disciples came to Jesus and asked why do you speak to the people in parables, read Matthew 13 in its entirety.

I do not think we can understand the import of the words Christ spoke in John chapter 6 before the last supper. Taken in context we find ourselves with the same dilemma Nicodemus faced, how can a man be born again, can he enter again into his mother’s womb?  We must question the Lord on how (or even IF) a man can consume the Lord’s body and blood. The last supper brings context to Christ words in John chapter 6. Christ left us an example we should follow. That if we do not consume God’s words and will in its entirety, we will be weak and fall asleep, 1Co 11:23-31. It becomes apparent that as with most things that pertain to Godliness and living a Christ centered life in this world. They must be received, appropriated, understood, and practiced, by and through faith. Christ is our example, 1Pe 2:21.

CIRCUMCISSION: THE SIGN, NOT THE REALITY

I will briefly touch on circumcision as relates to the sign given to Abram to signify the righteous he possessed through faith. _{Rom 4:11} In the first post we briefly touched on Abram and his response to God’s declaration that He was Abram’s shield and his very great reward. Abram moved from under the sun faith, to understanding at least partially, the purposes of God. In supplying a Son of promise and not a son of the flesh, born out of the will of man. It was his faith that had moved from under the sun faith, into heaven itself. Divining the will of God in relation to His promise to Abraham. As with Peter in Matthew 16:17  Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.” Abraham has thus become the father of the faith. _{Rom 4:16}

We can now understand that with this brief interlude with scripture that the righteousness of  faith Abraham possessed through faith is ours also. If we walk in the faith Abraham possessed which was the righteousness of faith in the work of Christ on our behalf. Jesus, speaking in John chapter 8 verse 56 says that Abraham rejoiced to see His (Christ’s) day. Therefore, “to see one’s day” encompasses not just the physical act of dying but also the broader understanding of fulfilling the purpose and timeframe God has set for each person’s earthly existence”. _{AI source quoted.}

We will end this post with brief look at the physical elements necessary to perform circumcision and hopefully draw a parallel to the circumcision of our heart. The first circumcision recorded for us in scriptures is that of Abram when he was ninety-nine years old. So, the elements in that circumcision are specifically to a person who is aware of what they are doing and is not applicable in all its functions for the circumcision taking place at birth.

Let me say from the beginning that when we ask Christ into our hearts through faith. That is the fulfillment of being circumcised in heart. However, I also believe the Lord continues that work throughout our life and what I relate as circumcision of the heart is not doubting the finished work of Christ inhabiting our hearts. But merely the Holy Spirit working on us throughout our life to develop Christ’s image in us. Some of which will have the same elements exposure, pain, and healing as circumcision does.

Firstly, you must have at least four parts to circumcision: participant, exposure, pain, and healing. In the participant they are aware of what they are entering into in their flesh, they have decided to participate and take the sign of circumcision in their flesh. It was a sign in their flesh that set them apart, at least physically from all other people and the natural birth condition. They are God’s people, God’s possession and to be distinctly different from the rest of the world.

Secondly, there must be  exposure of our flesh we normally keep covered. Paul tells us in 1Co 12:23 that in modesty we cover certain parts of our body.

Thirdly, when the flesh (foreskin) is cut away there is blood and pain.

Fourthly, there is healing of the injured area.   

It is not hard to draw the parallels in the circumcision of the heart, but much harder to imitate. Whereas circumcision of the flesh can be performed in the flesh without the reality of why God first instituted it with Abraham. A sign of the righteousness Abraham possessed by faith. The circumcision of the heart is much less easy to imitate as it was in the flesh. In Abrahams case it was an outward sign of the inward reality Abraham possessed, even righteousness by faith.

Not so with circumcision of the heart, because true circumcision of the heart will be evidenced in our flesh. Not with the single stroke of the knife performed on the foreskin. But in Godliness (lifestyle) as we live a transformed life apart, distinct from the world, we are peculiar people. God will cut certain things away from us that are instantaneous while others, are left for us to battle and overcome through His spirit. It is a process, it takes time however, it will be manifest in our flesh if we live the reality in our heart. No getting around it, either our life is changed, and we start reflecting the life of Christ or we are not living in the covenant circumcision of the heart. God said at the very beginning, he who is not circumcised is cut off from Israel. _{GN 17}

Secondly, there must be an exposure of the areas in our heart that God wants to perform His circumcision on. I believe this is mostly done privately, through the Holy Spirit and the person involved. However, if we are resistant or disobedient, the Lord may expose to someone else also our need for help. Once exposed to us the Lord, through the operation made without hands, can cut it away from us. If you have not read my first blog, I tell of an instance of this in my own life.

Thirdly, there is pain. It pains Christians when we fall short or fail the Lord and it is exposed or brought to our attention. However, the pain is short lived as God’s Holy Spirit startS right away the process of healing us.

And fourthly, I believe with healing comes sensitivity to the things that please the Lord and to the things that may displease Him. As Christ’s purchased possession I (we) want to please Him and not ourselves.

I am not sure where the next blog is going to go, let’s wait and see where the Lord is going to meet us.