Avoid Platitudes

Recently, I have discovered I detest platitudes and cliches (especially when they are delivered by friends). If I have ever delivered one of these trite remarks to you when you were anxious, in pain, ill, or stressed, I apologize profusely!

Random House Dictionary defines a platitude as: a flat, dull, or trite remark, especially one uttered as if it were fresh or profound. Platitudes are vapid, commonplace remarks, and they have been around since 18151.

Cliches are almost synonymous, except they are often stereotyped expressions. Cliches may be sentences or phrases that usually express a popular or common thought or idea, that has lost originality, ingenuity, and impact by long overuse, such as "strong as an ox." In art, literature, and drama, a trite or hackneyed plot, character development, use of color or musical expression may be termed a cliche.2 Even the phrase, "I thank you from the bottom of my heart" is considered a cliche.3

When a dear friend or family member is hurting physically or emotionally and is in need of comfort and encouragement, these meaningless utterances are just plain not helpful. Often they are even offered with a moral judgment attached. Again, not helpful! Silence and a hug would be more beneficial.

After the LORD permitted Satan to afflict Job with painful family deaths and debilitating sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head (Job 2:7), three of Job's friends heard about his troubles. They set out from their homes, met together, and agreed to go and sympathize with Job and comfort him. When they saw him from a distance, they hardly recognized him. They felt so much empathy, they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads, as a sign of mourning his plight. (Job 2:11-12)

Now comes the best part of the story, "Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him because they saw how great his suffering was." (Job 2:13)

Unfortunately, however, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar did not stop at silent companionship and empathy. Instead, they began spouting wisdoms that were just not wise! Their statements were not even truthful. They made assumptions and started criticizing Job over and over and over again.

They had no clue that Job's torment and trials literally came to pass because God gave Satan the right to test Job. Satan had been roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it looking for someone to torment.

The Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil." (Job 1:7b - 8) Job's friends did not accept that Job was exactly who he had portrayed to them; instead, they jumped to conclusions and piled on meaningless, hurtful platitudes, assuming he was at fault. Fortunately, though, God knew Job's heart, and even after losing his beloved sons and daughters, Job 1:22 tells us that "Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing."

Job 16:1-5 expresses how I feel about miserable comforters, who do not encourage, do not love, and do not uplift; instead they offer meaningless remarks, cliches, or criticisms:

"Then Job replied:

'I have heard many things like these;

you are miserable comforters, all of you!

Will your long-winded speeches never end?

What ails you that you keep on arguing?

I also could speak like you,

if you were in my place;

I could make fine speeches against you

and shake my head at you.

But my mouth would encourage you;

comfort from my lips would bring you relief.'"

Job 21:34: "So how can you console me with your nonsense?

Nothing is left of your answers but falsehood!"

Job's final word to his friends comes in Job 27:1-6:

"And Job continued his discourse:

'As surely as God lives, who has denied me justice,

the Almighty, who has made my life bitter,

as long as I have life within me,

the breath of God in my nostrils,

my lips will not say anything wicked,

and my tongue will not utter lies.

I will never admit you are in the right;

till I die, I will not deny my integrity.

I will maintain my innocence and never let go of it;

my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live.'"

Job hungers for previous days when he was in his prime, when God's intimate friendship blessed his house, when the Almighty was still with him, and his children were around him.

I know Job's example is extreme for my tirade against platitudes, but my point is this: Think twice before you speak to an afflicted or stressed out friend or family member. We do not have the right to cover anyone with meaningless, trite platitudes. Instead, pause. Love the afflicted one, hug them gently, and comfort them with kind acts and words.

We were not present at the earth's foundation, when the Almighty marked off its dimensions. We did not shut up the sea when it burst forth. We did not give orders to the morning or show dawn its place. We do not comprehend the vast expanses of the earth. We do not know the laws of the heavens.

Job 37:5-7a speaks volumes:

"God's voice thunders in marvelous ways;

he does great things beyond our understanding.

He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth,'

and to the rain shower, 'Be a mighty downpour.'

So that everyone he has made may know his work,"

All that happens on this earth happens so everyone God has made may know His work and Him! Job's friends did not speak truths. God allowed Job to pray for these men, and God promised to accept Job's prayer on their behalf. Because Job stayed true to God, even amidst crying out in torment, the LORD restored Him. God blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the former, and God's majesty, sovereignty, and power were made manifest.

I beseech you to be careful with platitudes that you throw about, regardless of how well-meaning you think you might be. Comfort, love, and encourage with only God's truths, being careful not to speak when silence and companionship are what are most needed.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for instructing us about your work and who you are. Let us not try to be mini-gods. Muzzle our mouths when what is best is to be silent and prayerful. Prevent us from spouting trivial garbage, platitudes, and meaningless words. Give us wisdom to speak and act in ways that will truly honor you and show love for your children! May all that we are point to you. Amen.

1. platitudes. Dictionary.com. Online Etymology Dictionary. Douglas Harper, Historian. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/platitudes (accessed: November 10, 2010).

2. cliche. Dictionary.com. Random House Dictionary. Random House, Inc. 2010. Retrieved November 10, 2010, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cliche

3. cliche. Dictionary.com. The American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2005. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cliche (accessed: November 10, 2010).

Ponder

Luke 2:19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Mary and her betrothed, Joseph, had traveled from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea to register as they were required to do for the census. While they were there, this young girl gave birth to our precious Christ, our Lord and Savior, in a lowly manger.

I wonder how she felt and what she thought when the shepherds showed up. I wonder if she was surprised at their visit.

Luke tells us that Mary conferred within herself; she weighed out everything that she knew. She diligently considered and discerned truth. She purposefully resolved in her mind to believe all that was imparted to her, and she considered everything accurately. She "treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."

I love that verse - Luke 2:19! I am reminded just how blessed we are to have God's complete, holy word at our disposal. We have been gifted with this treasure, which includes one story, one truth, and one prophesy after another.

Lately I have questioned, "Do I treasure up all of these truths? Do I ponder them in my heart? Do I take having all of God's word at my disposal for granted?"

Strong's defines the word ponder as: to level by rolling a cylinder up and down; to weigh, which is done by holding the balance level; to weigh out or to consider accurately; to diligently consider; to discern, understand, perceive or know the mind of; to observe; give heed to; to have insight; to show oneself discerning or attentive; to perceive with the eyes - to see; with the ears - to hear; with the touch - to feel; to turn the mind to anything - to attend with purpose; to regard and understand; wise understanding; to be intelligent and prudent; to teach or instruct; to meditate, devise, muse, imagine, to study; to celebrate; to speak with oneself, murmuring and in a low voice, as is often done by those who are musing or meditating on anything; to contemplate; to converse with one's self; bring together in one's mind.

These concepts are also found in these verses:

Proverbs 4:26: Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.

Proverbs 5:6: She gives no thought to the way of life; her paths wander aimlessly, but she does not know it.

Psalm 119:27: Cause me to understand the way of your precepts, that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds.

Proverbs 15:28: The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.

Joshua 1:8: Keep this Book of the Law 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.

Psalm 143:5: I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.

Psalm 1:1-2:

Blessed is the one

who does not walk in step with the wicked

or stand in the way that sinners take

or sit in the company of mockers,

but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,

and who meditates on His law day and night.

Pondering is more than just casual thinking. Pondering involves considering something deeply and thoroughly. It entails weighing a matter mentally; i.e., chewing thoughts and truths over in the mind with careful consideration and diligence.

As we ponder God's truths, we need to appraise or estimate the worth of all He has done for us. Pondering God moves us into full-blown praise of Him and brings us to grateful thanksgiving and celebration of who He is, who He was, and who He will always be!

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the beautiful story and message you have given us in Luke 2:20. May we emulate the psalmists and Mary by treasuring up all of your truths and pondering them in our hearts. May this be a conscious effort that we make on a daily basis. You and only you are worthy of such attention, time, and praise. May we keep from other distractions and head noise, so we may consider you fully and as completely as our finite minds will allow. Amen.

Memorization

When I was in middle school and high school, I loved participating in extemporaneous speech meets, and I loved acting in plays. If my dad were alive, he would say I was a drama queen and wanted to be the center of attention. Actually, he would refer to me as "Sarah Bernhardt." The Divine Sarah lived from 1844 until 1923 and was often called "the most famous actress the world has ever known,"1 and "the most famous actress of the 19th century."2 She was known for her tendency to over exaggerate and be dramatic.

My father's assessment may be partly right, but my pleasure came from more than just being on the stage. I cherished the excitement of seeing the props magically appear before my eyes. I loved the behind-the-scene sounds of stage workers scurrying about during rehearsals, ensuring that every piece of equipment and ever curtain worked as it should. Working with my peers to bring a play's characters and the story to life was an extraordinary experience.

Running lines and memorizing my specific part challenged me, but when I delivered my part perfectly, I was thrilled. At 16 and 17 years old, I found memorizing page upon page of dialogue fairly easy.

Now that I have moved into the seniors category, I have discovered that memorizing anything is extremely difficult. Even when I finally think I have committed something to memory, I find that a month later, my recall is just not what it used to be at 17. I can remember trivia and factoids I have learned in the past, but I do not do well recalling newly retained information.

I write this as an encouragement to young adults and young parents. While your memories are quick and while your children are young and their brains are like sopping sponges ready to soak up every drop of truth, commit Scripture to your hearts and their minds. Teach your children verse after verse of God's Word.

In the book, "the Word of God in the Child of God," Dr. George Zemek teaches us specifically through reflections on Psalm 119 that a child of God commits the Word of God to his or her heart. God's teachings are precious and are worthy of our memorization efforts.

Psalm 119:2 tells us that "those who keep His statutes and seek Him with all their heart" are blessed. Unless we memorize God's profound teachings, we will not know His commands and precepts.

If we have committed His Word to our hearts, we can follow His ways. We will not put ourselves to shame because we will consider all of His commands. Psalm 119:9 says that a young person can stay on the path of purity by living according to God's Word. Verse 11 tells us that if His Word is hidden in our hearts, we will not sin against Him.

Rejoice with the psalmist! Meditate on God's precepts and consider His ways always! Come to know our precious Lord by not neglecting His Word. Take Proverbs 22:6 seriously:

NIV - "Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it."

KJV - "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

Dear Heavenly Father,

May we teach our children and our grandchildren all about you. May we encourage them to commit your Word to memory, to hide it in their hearts, so when they are old, it is there for safe-keeping and recall. May we also diligently learn your ways, regardless of how old we are. May we honor you and praise you by doing this. Amen.

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Bernhardt

2. Golden, Eve. "From Stage to Screen: The Film Career of Sarah Bernhardt". http://www.classicimages.com/past_issues/view/?x=1997/june/bernhard.html. Retrieved 2007-10-18.

Patient Endurance

Word of warning to husbands - if you ever use a sander in your houses, particularly in the master bedroom, sweep up the dust immediately - cleaning fairies do not exist, and Hazel the maid is dead!

One rainy Saturday my dear husband decided to use a sander on our bedroom door because it had been sticking. Then, he happily sanded (yes, he loves his power tools!) a sliding closet door that needed to be prepared before it could be painted. I was in another part of the house, and occasionally I heard a strange vibrating noise, but I did not investigate. Actually, I walked into our bedroom at 10 P.M. to get my robe, and suddenly my eyes landed on the one-half inch thick dust on each one of the dressers! I could not believe my eyes. I was stunned! I started dusting and sweeping, and halfway through my cleaning frenzy, my husband, rather foolishly, came and inquired about what I was doing . . . he wanted to go to bed . . . Let's just say, his bedtime was delayed, and by God's grace, he lived!

You might surmise from my reaction that I am not patient. I have tried counting to ten, but I do not have one patient bone or fiber in my body. I literally expect tasks to be done right this red hot minute (or yesterday is even better), so I fully expected him to sweep up his dust and mess immediately after he finished the sanding part of his project. I absolutely did not want to enter the bedroom at 10 P.M. to find a disgusting mess.

I am ashamed to confess that I went to bed in a huff.

The next day as I was doing my devotions, I discovered that the word "perseverance" means "patient endurance." I never thought of putting the word "patient" with "endurance". Not only are we, as sojourners or foreigners on this earth, supposed to plod ahead with our eyes on the end goal (JESUS), but we are to be patient about our trials. Yipes! If I was frustrated and huffy about a little dust, how then might I react when a true trial pops up?

I did not like how squirmy I felt as I read 2 Peter 1:3-4. God wants to empower me to make it to the finish line. He wants me to persevere, and that means I should be longsuffering, forbearing, and graciously indulgent. If I cannot endure these minor bumps with grace and mercy, how on earth am I going to face severe challenges?

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."

My behavior was just plain evil. I was called by the One, who is full of mercy, grace, and goodness to act similarly, and I failed miserably. I did not need to be a doormat, but I certainly did not need to go to sleep in a total huff over such a teeny, tiny, inconsequential inconvenience.

Yuk! I was acting immaturely, just like a child stomping her foot in a temper tantrum. I did not want to be patient or kind, and I wanted the muss and fuss gone immediately. I am so glad God does not think or act as I do, or I would still be the same person I was before salvation, or worse, yet, I would still be lost.

I truly love the reminder in 2 Peter 1:3-4 that my success in making it to the finish line has to do with God's empowerment, not my own. My calling is not by my glory or goodness, but by His, so I know my sanctification (my transformation process) will come to fruition!

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge (not head knowledge, but knowing Him intimately) of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given me His very great and precious promises, so that through them I may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

James 1:4 says, "Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

James went so far as to tell us to consider trials a joy! My whiny tantrum over dust certainly was not exhibiting patient endurance, much less joy! When I was failing miserably to demonstrate God's mercy and grace, I should have turned to my heavenly Father, who wants to teach me and empower me, and I should have asked for His help and enabling. He never seems to give us instructions without giving us the means to be victorious!

"With man [and with woman too] this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26

If I learn to have victory over these small mini-trials with God's help, I should be more prepared to face bigger ones!

Dear Heavenly Father,

Help me find my staying power that I know is buried in me. Help me face these small trivial circumstances with patient endurance, so I might be mature and complete enough to persevere with resolution and resignation when bigger hurdles arise. Don't let me trip over a half inch of dust! Help me turn my childish tantrums into spunky resolve to plod ahead, so you might receive all of the praise, honor, and glory you deserve from me! Amen!

Numb?

When my daughter was a toddler and became confident walking on her own, she moved at about 90 miles per hour. I tried to move equally fast to intercept her approaches to danger, but I was not always successful. Her racing ahead caused bumps, bruises, and bangs, so she became quite attached to her pink booboo bunny because its icy coolness numbed her aches and pains.

Now that my body aches from rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia, I have discovered that strategically placed ice packs numb some pain significantly. The ice tricks my brain, and my sensory receptors are desensitized and do not register all of the sore spots.

Unfortunately, I have also discovered that the world's teachings deaden my brain from registering all of God's truths. I become desensitized to minor sins, and suddenly I begin accepting the world's blatant sins in an attitude of tolerance. This cannot be pleasing to my perfect, holy Lord.

I see my generation and my daughter's generation obsessing over materialistic pursuits. I see family and friends seeking financial success and career apexes at the detriment of others. Beautiful young women, dissatisfied with how God created them, schedule extensive surgeries and Botox injections because their faces and bodies do not look like the most popular models and celebrities.

I see friends involving themselves in lascivious behaviors, trying to alleviate stress or emotional and physical pains with alcohol, medications, illegal substances, pornography, and inappropriate liaisons. My heart aches when I see them buying into the world's temporary ways.

These ways are intriguing, shrewd, and entertaining. Popular standards and liberal morals slowly seep into our lives, and suddenly we are not labeling sin according to God's plumb line. Unless we intentionally flood our minds and our lives with God's word and His character, we will find ourselves apathetic to sins, such as greed, envy, covetousness, lust, meddling, and gossiping, just to name a few.

Peter clearly tell us to be nonconformists, living as strangers here on this earth, not as numb participants in an empty way of life:

"Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'" 1 Peter 1:13-16

"Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through Him you believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him, and so your faith and hope are in God." 1 Peter 1:17-21

"Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us." 1 Peter 2:11-12

"Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God." 1 Peter 2:16

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the clear direction you have supplied for us. You do not want us to be followers and lovers of the pagan way of life - full of debauchery, lust, greed, and idolatry. You have called us out of numbness, and you want us to protect ourselves and our children from becoming desensitized to the sinful ways of this world. Help me, Lord, to enjoy your creation, enjoy your people, yet not become entrenched in a life you did not intend for me. Help me to quickly become aware of areas in my life that are not glorifying to you. I pray that you will help me work out my salvation, so I might be blameless when you come again. Amen.

God Gives the Best Benefits

When a friend or family member finally lands a job in our current economic climate, after celebrating, one of our first questions is, "What benefits are you getting?"

Usually, the new employee's answer is detailed and complete. We have come to expect perquisites from our employers along with our regular salaries, such as pension plans, vacation pay, holiday pay, sick pay, maternity and paternity leaves, death benefits, and insurance. Since these benefits are advantageous to us and to our families, we find out exactly what we are being given.

Why then do we not ask our Christian friends and family, "What benefits has God bestowed on you?" And, if we did ask, how would they answer?

Psalm 103 specifically tells us "forget not all His benefits." Our Lord wants each and every one of us to fully know, to remember, and to discuss the advantages, provisions, and benevolences our precious LORD has bestowed upon us as His children. He wants us to inscribe His benefits on our hearts. We must remember!

If we intentionally choose to remember and talk about all that God has done for us, we would live encouraged, edified, positive, and peaceful existences every single day. We would be eager to praise Him. We would give Him the honor and glory He so rightly deserves!

Read the following aloud and slowly. Meditate on David's words.

Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise His holy name.
Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all His benefits-
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
He made known His ways to Moses,
His deeds to the people of Israel:
The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will He harbor His anger forever;
He does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is His love for those who fear Him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on His children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him;
for He knows how we are formed,
He remembers that we are dust.
As for man, his days are like grass,
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD's love is with those who fear Him,
and His righteousness with their children's children-
with those who keep His covenant
and remember to obey His precepts.
The LORD has established His throne in heaven,
and His kingdom rules over all.
Praise the LORD, you His angels,
you mighty ones who do His bidding,
who obey His word.
Praise the LORD, all His heavenly hosts,
you His servants who do His will.
Praise the LORD, all His works
everywhere in His dominion.
Praise the LORD, O my soul.
Psalm 103

Then, make a list similar to the one I have placed here, so you might meditate upon just some of our eternal benefits:

• The Lord's name is holy and worthy of my praise!
• Because of Christ's death on the cross, His resurrection, and ascension, all of my sins are forgiven, and that means past, present, and future sins.
• He heals us - whether He heals us on this earth or takes us home to be with Him - we know He heals us perfectly.
• While I was His enemy, He saved me from the pit of hell.
• He bestowed His mercies, infinite grace, ultimate love, and compassion on me at the time of my salvation, and He continues to bless me abundantly every single day.
• He satisfies my needs according to His will, and His choices for me are exactly what I need, when I need them.
• If I live my life joyfully and peacefully in His will in all my circumstances, my body, mind, heart, and soul are renewed or rejuvenated on a daily basis.
• He is completely and perfectly just! No one can corrupt our Lord's decisions or His plan. He will deal with all situations and all people one day - we will each give an accounting of our lives. We can trust that He will mete out rewards equitably.
• He is not secretive. He wants us to know Him, just as He made His ways known to Moses and His deeds to Israel, His Word divulges who He is to us now.
• He is long-suffering and merciful. He is slow to anger, and His love continues to overflow.
• His love is so encompassing that while we were His worst enemies, He did not treat us as our sins deserve. All of us failed, and the wages of our sin was death, yet instead of sending us directly to hell, He sent His beloved, precious Son to be our sin. Jesus voluntarily accepted His Father's mission; He died the death we deserved. He became our ransom - He bought our freedom, our salvation, with His life. We were not repaid for our inequities as we so deserved. Our sins are forgiven infinitely to the east, and infinitely to the west!
• He lives beyond the three heavens we see - above our sky and atmosphere, above our moon, and above and beyond the sun, the stars, and the galaxies. His love is larger and beyond all of those heavens for those who revere and respect Him.
• He knows exactly how we were formed because He created us from dust. When He finished creating everything, He pronounced that it was "very good."
• We were created to be finite, with a beginning and an end. Our days on this earth have all been numbered by our dear infinite LORD.
• He is from everlasting to everlasting, and His love extends to us who fear Him and are obedient to His will, to our children, and our children's children. His love never fails, and it never ceases.
• The Lord's throne is established in heaven. He is our sovereign Lord, and His kingdom will come. It will be established here on earth, just as it is in heaven!
• Just as David said in Psalm 146:1, "Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul."

"Forget not all His benefits" because His are certainly the best!

Dear Heavenly Father,
May I take your charge to forget not your benefits seriously. May I remember that you loved me so much you kept me from the pit of destruction! You put all my sins behind your back (Isaiah 38:17). Refresh my heart, so I may praise you in my soul and live in a tranquility and peace that can only come from you. Your grace and mercy are almost beyond my comprehension, but remembering your benefits brings me closer to you. Your benefits are for my eternal health and well-being, not just my earthly health. May such meditation kindle a deeper love in me for you! Amen.

How the Mezuzah Spoke to Me

The Old Testament tradition of writing scripture on the doorframes of houses has touched my heart. This commitment of placing God's revered word in the face of family and visitors is not only historical, but is beautiful. It challenges me to keep God at the highest pinnacle of my focus. It challenges me to place His word in my face and heed it.

In no way should this blog be considered authoritative or complete. I am sharing what spoke to me as a Christian and lover of the LORD.

The Hebrew word "mezuzah" literally means doorpost. Officially, the word applies to a small rolled, not folded or creased, parchment scroll (Klaff) upon which key Hebrew verses from the Torah are inscribed. Many dictionaries use the word "mezuzah" interchangeably for the container into which the scroll is placed, but that is inaccurate. The mezuzah is the scroll, and the box is just the protective covering.

On one side of the mezuzah the translated Biblical passages of Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and Deuteronomy 11:13-21 are inscribed. On the other side at the top, the word Shaddai (Almighty) is written.

A Translation of the Text in the Mezuzah:

"Hear O Israel, G-d our Lord is G-d the Only One. You shall love G-d with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your power. These words which I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them to your children and you shall speak about them when you dwell in your house, when you travel on the road, when you lie down and when you arise. You shall tie them as a sign on your arm and as a head ornament between your eyes. You shall inscribe them on the doorposts of your home and your gates.

And it shall happen, if you obey my commandments which I command you today, to love G-d within all your hearts and all your souls that I will give the rains of the land in its proper time, the light rains and the heavy rains, and you will gather your grain, your wine, and your oil. I will give grass in your fields for your livestock. You will have enough to eat and you will be satisfied. Guard yourselves, lest your hearts lead you astray and you will serve other gods and you will bow to them. G-d will then become angry with you and will withhold the rain, and the land will not produce its bounty. You will quickly be lost from upon the good land that G-d has granted you. You shall place these words on your hearts and on your souls. You shall tie them as a sign on your arms and they shall be head ornaments between your eyes, and you shall teach them to your children to speak about them when you dwell in your house, when you travel on the road, when you lie down and when you arise. You shall inscribe them on the doorpost of your houses and your gates. So that you and your children may live many years on the land that G-d has promised to your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth."1

A mezuzah's text must be handwritten on special handmade parchment. The parchment, prepared by specific processes, must come from a kosher animal, such as a cow or a goat. If it is written on any other surface, it is invalid.  Printing, copying, photographing or producing the text by any means other than writing makes it invalid and unusable.

The inscription must be prepared by a qualified calligraphist - a certified scribe (a sofer stam). He is a holy person - pious, trustworthy, and meticulous. He either copies the text from another manuscript or writes it from memory. If even one letter is missing, misshapen, or the ink is smudged, the mezuzah is unusable. This scribe takes his task seriously, is scrupulous, performs it with reverence, and follows the specific regulations and laws of the faith.

The mezuzah's first purpose was to remind Jews of their obligations toward Israel's God. Just recently Lisa-Jo at http://theygypsymama.com/ gave me insight into this reminder. She says, "Hebrew epistemology assigns heavy weight to knowledge, and knowledge of, requires responsibility to, and care for." Not only did they know God's word, they were obligated to follow it!

The scroll was rolled and placed in a small metal, wooden, or glass case or tube, which was attached to the doorposts of the homes of observant Jews. When the scroll was placed in the rectangular box, the word Shaddai, on the back of the parchment, was clearly visible through an opening in the container.

Wearing a mezuzah box on a chain around the neck is a relatively new practice, and is considered inappropriate in many circles. Those who do wear one around their necks often do so as an affirmation of their Jewish identity. The making of ceramic or other decorative cases has become an art form, but the case and its contents are not to be considered a magical ornament or amulet in any way.

For most now, the mezuzah is a reminder of the centrality of God, the Oneness of God, and His Word. With a special blessing ("Blessed art Thou, O L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, Who hast sanctified us by Thy commandments and hast commanded us to fasten the mezuzah"), the mezuzah box was firmly affixed to the outer doorpost of the home (to the right upon entering). Affixing the mezuzah to the doorframe in Jewish homes fulfilled the "mitzah" (Biblical commandment) in Deuteronomy 6:9.

Initially, the position of the box varied from vertical to an angle, depending upon the observer's geographical location. Observant Jews touched and kissed the word Shaddai as they passed, and they recited this prayer: "May G-d keep my going out and coming in from now on and ever more."

Over the centuries, the mezuzah's regulations have been refined in some circles, and diverse traditions have arisen in others, but an observant Jew still follows strict regulations to ensure God's protection, prosperity, success, and long life.

To emphasize the momentousness of this practice, here are just a handful of the custom's restrictions:

• The mezuzah's text contained 22 lines of writing.


• A mezuzah could be anywhere from two inches square to six inches square. However, use of a two-inch square was inadvisable because they were harder to write, and were more prone to erros and spoilage.


• The ink had to be black and indelible and made according to specific requirements.


• Some even interpreted Jewish law to require a mezuzah on every doorway in the home apart from bathrooms and closets too small to qualify as rooms. Others considered it necessary only to place one in the front doorway.


• Traditionally the case was attached at an angle to the top third of the right doorpost as an individual enters, (approximately shoulder height), with the upper portion slanted inward, spaced about a handbreadth from the outer edge of the doorpost.


• If the house were sold or rented to a Jewish person, the previous occupant had to leave the mezuzah.


• In private homes, the mezuzah had to be inspected for legibility at least twice in every seven years; i.e., every three and a half years.


• Observant Jews still take this tradition seriously, to the point of only purchasing mezuzahs from Hashem-fearing Jews. The preparers are expected to believe in every single word of the Torah; otherwise the words are not considered holy. Even if they keep all of the laws properly, if the scribe does not believe in just one word, and he writes a mezuzah, his writing is considered invalid, and what he has written must be buried.

According to the Mezuzah Doctor, "Every time a person enters and leaves, he is confronted with the Unity of G-d, the name of the Almighty, and he remembers his love for Him. He awakens from his slumber and his involvement in the vanity of temporal matters and realizes that nothing has eternal existence but the knowledge of G-d. He then immediately returns to the path of righteousness. Our sages have said that he who has Tefillin on his arm and head, Tzitzit on his garment and Mezuzot on his doorway can be assured that he will not sin, because he has many reminders. These are the selfsame angels that protect him from sin as it says, 'The angels of G-d surround those who fear Him and protect him.'"2
As a Christian, I am freed from the old laws. However, beautiful and significant lessons arose as I read about the mezuzah's traditions. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 speaks of love for the One True God and of making Him THE focus when speaking to our children (and our children's children). Deuteronomy 11:13-21 teaches us the responsibility of obeying God, the results of our obedience, and the consequences of our disobedience. I especially love the reminder that we are "to love the LORD your God and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul." Nothing is more important. Nothing!!
These two Deuteronomy passages challenge me to love my LORD with every fiber of my being, to make Him my first focus 24/7, to prod me to revere His Word, to remind me of His provision and protection, and to instruct me to obey Him. Although I am not affixing a mezuzah to my home, as I walk through the doorframe into my house, I will be put into remembrance of such truths. I will be reminded to obey His command, and I will love Him with all of my heart and soul!
Dear Heavenly Father,
As a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, my Savior, may I purposefully and intentionally fill my home and my life with love for you, passion for your Word, and love for your people. May reading about the mezuzah motivate me and others to think about you, our Almighty God. May we be provoked to spend time in your presence. May we constantly talk of you to our children. We are so privileged to be invited and welcomed to enter your throne room. We are blessed to come into your presence with confidence and certainty that we are supposed to be there! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Amen.

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:4-9 NIV
"So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today - to love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul - then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied.
Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. Then the LORD's anger will burn against you, and he will shut the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce, and you will soon perish from the good land the LORD is giving you. Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that the days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth." Deuteronomy 11:13-21 NIV
1 Mezuzah Doctor; http://www.mezuzahdoctor.com/Mezuzah/paragrph.htm
2 Mezuzah Doctor; http://www.mezuzahdoctor.com/Mezuzah/paragrph.htm