Monday, June 2, 2008

Psalm 1:2

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he mediates day and night.

Joy can be found in studying God's law. The 'law' is literally the 'teaching', or Torah of the Lord. Torah is the right way, contrasted with that of the ungodly, the sinners and the scornful.

Meditates: The emphasis is on study, as opposed to doing. "Study leads to all the commandments" says the Talmud. Of all the things that one may do to inherit eternal life-honoring parents, dowering the bride, making peace when there is strife-the study of Torah excels them all. From this verse, and others (Joshua 1:7-8), we get the rabbinic dictum of Torah lishmah, study for its own sake. The act of study can itself be an act of worship. Every study session begins with a prayer thanking God for the privilege of studying His Word.

Day and night: taken figuratively to mean, all the time. When asked if Jews should be allowed to study Greek philosophy, this verse was quoted and the rabbis answered, find a time that is neither day nor night and then you may study Greek philosophy. JSB notes: The Dead Sea Sroll community took it literally, suggesting that "[I]n the place in which the Ten* assemble there should not be missing a man to interprest the law day and night, always relieving each other."

*Ten-the mininum number for a quorum required to conduct services or publicly read from the Torah. In Judaism, this number is called a minyan. In Orthodox Judaism, this number must be 10 adult (over the age of 13) Jewish males. In Reform Judaism, to which I belong, we ask for 10 people. Women are counted equally with men.

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