Hyperbole has become reality

In the second Psalm, the son of the king is promised "the nations as your inheritance, the ends of the earth as your possession."  It seems a lofty promise coming from a guy who was king of a relatively small piece of land.  (Israel in the late 10th century BC at its greatest extent would have stretched about as far as it is from my house to St. Louis).  The promise seems ridiculous actually, and so we say that in poetic terms, it was hyperbole, exaggeration for the sake of emphasis.

Yet, here we are over 3,000 years later, and Jesus (the son of David, the one who is greater than Solomon) reigns in every corner of the globe. Distant shores and the islands rejoice at his presence in their midst. He reigns through his church, his citizens who have sworn allegiance to him above all others.  He reigns because men and women have courageously taken the good news of Jesus to the darkest corners of the globe. Thanks to the faithful service of missionaries and the prayers of those sending them, hyperbole has become reality.  Through sacrifice great and small, advancing by acts of kindness and mercy, accompanied with the bold proclamation of the truth that sets men free, "the kingdom of this world, is become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ." (Handel's Messiah)

Lead on, O King eternal
till sin's fierce war shall cease
and holiness shall whisper
the sweet amen of peace.
For not with swords loud clashing,
nor roll of stirring drums
with deeds of love and mercy
the heavenly kingdom comes. 

A Hagah Aha

Today while teaching I had one of those "aha" moments. I don't know how many times I've read, quoted, or sung the first Psalm, but as I was thinking about the word "meditate" in verse 2, for the first time it dawned on me that "meditation" is a very physical activity. The Hebrew word hagah literally means "to murmur" or to "mumble".  It is used elsewhere of animals making noises (doves cooing and lions growling) and of the people grumbling and conspiring -- all of which are very physical, audible activities. Meditation isn't simply thinking deeply about something. It is actively speaking it, and in the process of speaking it, the thinking about it occurs.

Over the holiday break I was listening to Handel's Messiah, and the lyric led me to Isaiah 40. I memorized the entire chapter over the course of a couple days, and in those moments when no one was around, while I was driving, or waiting for my son to get out of school, I simply recited it. And the act of reciting the text aloud caused to me to think about the passage in all kinds of ways.  Questions came to mind.  Connections to other texts were made.  The beauty of the poetry captivated me. I gained deeper appreciation for the humility, supremacy, and wisdom of God as I lingered on the images in the text -- a tender voice, a highway for our God, a shepherd carrying his lamb close to his heart, marking off the heavens with the breadth of a hand.  As I spoke the text I was struck by the beauty, wonder, and the glory of the Lord. I worshiped. And it all began with hagah.