A meditation on "Meditation"

There is a great difference between Eastern meditation and Biblical meditation.

The simplest way to highlight the difference is to say that Eastern meditation is an inner journey to find the center of one’s being, while Biblical meditation is the concentration of the mind/heart upon an external Revelation.

For Eastern revelation/insight/illumination occurs when the inmost self (which is also the ultimate Self, the one final Reality) is reached by the journey into the soul, while Biblical meditation comes as a result of encounter with God in and through his objective Revelation, of which the Holy Scripture informs us.

Eastern meditation, whether Transcendental Meditation or various forms of New Age meditation, is to be avoided. But Biblical meditation should not be feared. On the contrary, it should be fully embraced as a vital means of knowing God, growing in grace, being transformed into Christlikeness, and fulfilling God’s purposes for our lives.

What Does the Bible Say about Meditation?

Keep this Book of the Torah always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Joshua 1:8

Blessed is the one who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, But their delight is in the Torah of ​YAHWEH, And on His Torah they meditate day and night. They will be like a tree planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season, And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever they do, they prosper. For YAHWEH knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish. Psa 1:1-6

Make me understand the way of Your precepts, And I will meditate on Your wonders... How I love Your Torah! It is my meditation all the day.''Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your Torah is truth...My eyes anticipate the night watches, So that I may meditate on Your word. Psa 119 (know the Truth and it shall set you free John 8:31-31; Mat 4:4)

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 2Ti 2:15

And raising His eyes to heaven, Jesus said,..."Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. Jhn 17:17

and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2Ti 3:15

They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty--and I will meditate on your wonderful works. Psa 145:5

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luk 5:16

Jesus and the Apostles memorized lots of OT Scriptures and could pull them to mind and apply them in all circumstances. They meditated deeply to understand their meaning. That treasury of truth enabled them to use God’s Word in an accurate way in whatever situations they encountered.

J.I. Packer says "Meditation is like chewing. It is slow and thorough. Write notes about what you see in this passage. Make connections between the various sections. Ask yourself, “What do these words from God say?” “What do they mean?” Place who you are and what you do next to this passage and ask God to examine you. Continue to write your findings."

Blaise Pascal said “all the troubles of life come upon us because we refuse to sit quietly for a while each day in our room.” He echoes the Psalmist David, “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him” Ps. 62:5

 In the Bible YAHWEH is described many times as a strong rescuing ally an "ezer"[H5828] . Guess who else is? 

And YAHWEH God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make ('build') him an help meet ('ezer') for him. Gen 2:18 KJV

Seven times in Gen 1 it says "and God saw and it was good". 

But In Gen 2 we come to God saying, for the first time, something  "is not good" and what was not good, was Adam was alone. Alone and in a place of vulnerability and unable to fulfill what God has told him to do. 

God formed Adam out of dirt. That word "formed" is the word for like when a potter forms clay. But God uses the word "build" when it comes to Eve.  He splits Adam (translations say rib, but word is closer to “takes a side, or side chambers) and for Eve He uses the word that means build or fashion, - build a city or fashion jewelry or build the universe.  And He called Eve an “ezer" which means “strong ally, conquering ally, deliverer.”

Incredibly the only other person besides Eve who is consistently called an "ezer" is YAHWEH (see verses below) and GOD calls Eve the same thing. Many English translations give the rather meek and subordinate "helpmeet" as a translation. In Biblical context, it's a rescuing army, it's a strong ally, its help and deliverance by YAHWEH.

God looked at Adam and said I know exactly what he needs to be safe, strong and able to fulfill the mission, he needs a strong delivering conquering ally, an "ezer". 

Sin twisted the hearts of men and women and the enemy constantly uses that to separate these 2 great mighty allies that God made to carry out His mission. Insecure men feel the need to dominate and control women. Societies became male-dominated and oppressive towards women. Women are born into societies and cultures that are permeated with messages that they are not as useful or worthy as men and are second class humans to men.

But the Bible teaches that a woman is the strong rescuing ally YAHWEH has made so that together men and women can accomplish God's will in this world. Without women, men are vulnerable, alone and unable to accomplish God's will, as allies they can fulfill their destiny to bring the whole earth back to God.

If Russia attacked England or the U.S., we would probably become allies to fight back . In Hebrew we would say the other party is our "Ezer".

Throughout the Bible there are examples of women being the strong delivering ally in all kinds of circumstances (Miriam, Deborah, Esther, Lydia, Priscilla, see more below). In marriage, in Church, in government, in war, in business, in reaching this world. Women cannot accomplish God's will in these arenas alone and neither can men. God did not make women subordinates, He made them Allies, Strong, Conquering, Rescuing Allies.

Miriam - saves Moses life and arranges for him to be raised safely and for his mother to be with him. Also the first prophetess.

Deborah -Prophetess, Judge, Strong Military Leader for about 60 years

Esther  - with humility, brains and courage she becomes Queen and rescues all of Israel and is celebrated still today.

Mary - teenage mother of Jesus, caregiver, teacher, companion, disciple, mourner, and eventually church leader, mentioned in the Pentecost accounts.

Lydia - Successful Businesswoman. leader and host of the first Philippi church 

Priscilla - multi-talented business woman, always named first, is a strategic leader whose business enables her to set up house churches and to give instruction at crucial points, as with Apollos, correcting an incomplete message.

Phoebe -  Paul’s trusted proxy in Rome, not only carrying the letter to the Romans but, as letter carriers did, reading and interpreting the intent of the letter.  Interpreting his most challenging letter.

Junia - is called an Apostolos.  bold in testimony as she endured imprisonment.

Elizabeth, and Anna, Mary Magdalene, Sarah, Ruth, Hannah, Hagar, Abigail, Rahab and many others 

Besides describing Eve, here are some other verses the word : עֵזֶר ʻêzer, ay'-zer; H5828 is used:

And this was regarding Judah; so he said: "Hear, YAHWEH, the voice of Judah, And bring him to his people. With his hands he contended for them and may You be an "ezer" against his adversaries." Deu 33:7

"Blessed are you, Israel; Who is like you, a people saved by YAHWEH, The shield of your "ezer" and He who is the sword of your majesty! So your enemies will cringe before you, And you will trample on their high places." Deu 33:29

Our soul waits for YAHWEH, He is our "ezer" and our shield. Psa 33:20

But I am afflicted and needy; Hurry to me, God! You are my "ezer" and my savior; YAHWEH, do not delay. Psa 70:5

Israel, trust in YAHWEH; He is their "ezer"and their shield. Psa 115:9

House of Aaron, trust in YAHWEH; He is their "ezer" and their shield. Psa 115:10

You who fear YAHWEH, trust in YAHWEH; He is their "ezer" and their shield. Psa 115:11

Blessed is he whose "ezer" is the God of Jacob, Whose hope is in YAHWEH his God, Psa 146:5