Shalawam Family,

This weeks meditation will consist of 7 days of purely concentrating, contemplating, and meditating on the “Ten commandments.”   We’ll utilize the basic understanding and format provided in “What is Meditation & Musing???” (Take a quick look at that blog for an intro to whats covered in this blog).

As practicing Christians, potential Christians, and everything in between on our road to Hamashach(Christ..That is to say “The Anointed”), we tend to be dogmatically conditioned into believing the Mosaic law was done away with …through the Messianic order, and we are covered through grace – While it is by grace we’re saved through faith – This conditioned thought regarding adherence to Mosaic Law is a half-truth, making it a full lie!  Keep in mind in the aforementioned blog referenced in the previous paragraph ↑↑↑, that Christ only did away with the sacrificial aspect of the Mosaic Laws As concerning the rest of the law, he merely expounded upon it… Taking their concentration, and  strict carnal adherence to the laws, unto a level of spiritual contemplation.   In brief the three stages of meditative thought can be summed up as: Concentration, Contemplation, Meditation, or simply Focus, Study, Reflect.

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To begin the meditation here’s an excerpt from my previous Blog (What is Meditation & Musing???)

In my meditations I focus on precept, posture, and breathing.  I begin by finding a set of precepts, or commands that I’d like to practice with..

1. I find a comfortable position whether siting our laying down (you wanna be comfortable, not so comfortable you fall asleep)
2. Notice and relax any tension in my body
3. Concentrate(Focus) on reading the precepts multiple times (with the intention of committing them to memory)
4. I begin by taking a deep breath through my nose 3 times ( holding for 7sec, then slowly exhaling for 7secs each breath)
5. I recite the precept out-loud 7 times( with a breath like the first 3 b/t each recitation)
6.   I then do the same process 7 times, but this time saying the precepts only in my mind.
7.   I Contemplate(Study)  the deeper meaning, or how it connects with other scriptures, ect…
8. The Meditative(Reflection) part, I can’t really put into words but the precept will become alive and your thoughts will flow Most High willing  (this translates over into your encounters when you fellowship, general conversations, ect…You’ll receive confirmations, answers or just simply think “wow I was just musing on that the other day”)

Utilizing this simple beginners format we’ll be meditating on the “Ten Commandments” contained within Exodus 20:3-17.  I hope you found yourself a nice semi-comfortable spot because this mediation is about 1 hr – 1 hr & 1/2 long.   Lets begin!!

Start with your initial 3-7 deep breaths.  Focusing on your breath, inhale deeply through your nose w/t mouth closed for a count of seven seconds, now hold that breath for another count of seven seconds, okay great; now exhale slowly through your nose for seven seconds, That’s one!   Now continue the same process for the next 3-7 breaths (It’s up to you how many breaths you’d like to take with this process after the initial three.  Keep in mind the purpose of these beginning breaths are to comfort you, release tension from the mind, ease pain in the body, and prepare your mind to focus – So I’d recommend as many breaths as necessary to accomplish that.  As you become more regular in you meditations it’ll take less breaths to ease you.)

Now concentrate(focus) on memorizing the first commandment (below in Red).  Lets read it through… Take it sentence by sentence, read and recite the first sentence out loud repeatedly, until you find your self reciting the sentence without even having to look.  Good work! now the next sentence…  Okay, now recite those two sentences together without looking before beginning the third.. Take on the third sentence – After each sentence you memorize, recite the former sentences together with the newly memorized sentence…  Great job!  Now that you have all the precepts memorized,  recite the whole first commandment.

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.  Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.”— Exodus 20:3,5,6 (1st Commandment)

After your first recitation of the first commandment take a deep breath (7 secs inhale, 7 sec hold, 7 sec exhale through nose w/t mouth closed) –  Now recite the first commandment out-loud again, then take another deep breath as before – Repeat this process of reciting the first commandment, seven times (take a deep breath between each recitation.)  Once you’ve completed seven full recitation of the First Commandment through the above process, repeat the same process again (only this time merely recite the commandment in your head, for seven times.)

You’ll do this same process repeatedly until the fifth commandment.  Below, are commandments two through four.  Read, and memorize them one by one just as you did the first commandment.  Now that we’ve completed the first commandment, begin the second commandment – Same process as the first commandment seven recitations out-loud, and seven recitations silently in your mind.   Do this process for each commandment…

 “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth“–Exodus20:4 (2nd Commandment)

 

“Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.“– Exodus 20:7 (3rd Commandment)            

 

 “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:  For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.”— Exodus 20:8-11 (4th Commandment)

Congratulations!!  All praises due to The Most High, you’ve now memorized the first four commandments by the Most High’s mercy, through sheer concentration(focus) upon them.  We’ll now use the same concentrating process to memorize “The Greatest Commandment” as according to Yasha Hamashach (Hebrew for Jesus Christ) our lord, savior, and exalted King!  Below you’ll find “The Greatest Commandment, as well as our Lord quoting it – Memorize this commandment as you did the others and you’re ready for the next step in our Meditation…

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”— Deuteronomy 6:4-5

“And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is,Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”— Mark 12:29-30

We’ve now memorized the first four commandments, along with the first commandment of “The Two Greatest Commandments“… I have you memorizing the first four commandments w/t “The Greatest Commandment“, because “The Greatest Commandment” sums up the first four of the “Ten Commandments.”  If you think about it… The way to love the Most High in Christ with all your heart, mind, and soul-  Is by keeping the first four commandments!  If you agree with this thought, that’s great – If you don’t agree, even better!

Notice I said “If you think about it.”   In this next stage of our meditation, I want you to do just that “think”, contemplate (study), muse upon your agreement and/or your disagreement with my statement.  Investigate, and try to understand for yourself why I would claim that the way to keep “The Greatest Commandment” is by understanding and keeping the first four commandments.  Part of investigation and study is dissection – Breaking things down piece by piece.  If “The Greatest Commandment” is to love the Most High with you whole heart, mind, and soul!  What is the love of God according to scripture? Can you find some scriptures that say “this is the love of God”?… What is the definition of the word “heart” in hebrew or greek?…  Can I routinely break any of the first four commandments and still believe I’m keeping “The Greatest Commandment“?, ect…

This is your meditation, remember this is the contemplative stage – Which means its less about my instruction, and more about your own study.   Only you know the questions you’d like to ask that’ll inspire further inquiry, that’ll give you deeper understanding of these commandments… How they apply, how they compliment each other, what they truly mean, ect…  I’d suggest writing your findings down in a notebook, whether that be definitions of words, or newly found precepts that connect to each other.   It’s all part of your study, and all essential to preparing you for the final stage!!

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The final, and greatest stage: Meditation(reflection).   We’ve memorized the commandment precepts, we have them written in our hearts/minds, we know how to slow down, relax and breath… We’ve gathered a greater and deeper understanding of these commandments through personal study, notes, further precepts, definitions, and perspectives.   What is the point of all of this concentration, and contemplation? How does all this apply to ourselves?  How are we keeping these commandments?  How do we refrain from stagnating ourselves in our knowledge, and use the knowledge to edify others in love?  How do escape the hypocrisy of the Pharisees?…   In the concentration stage, I was very hands on; walking you step by step with instruction – In the contemplative stage, I merely guided you somewhat providing some instruction – In this stage I’m totally hands off!!  This blog is done, it’s time for you to sit in silence (or some light relaxing instrumental music), giving  your thoughts completely to reflection on how your study applies to you, how you can improve and be perfected in Christ commandments.  What confirmations are you looking for to improve?, where are you weak at?, where are you strong at?… Let the words of the Law you memorized guide and keep you in daily life, let them begin to talk with you, recognize how they aren’t only words but LIFE!

“My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.  For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life”—Proverbs 6:20-23

I hope you enjoyed the blog, please stay tuned for “Part 2” of this meditation blog – I will cover the last six commandments of the “Ten Commandments” & “The Second Greatest Commandment“…

I hope you enjoyed the blog, please stay tuned for further meditative blogs/ spiritual exercises –  If there was anything profitable, or good that you received of the this blog…ALL PRAISES TO THE MOST HIGH AHAYAH IN YASHAYA NAME!!  That’s strictly him, attribute none of his glory to me.   If this was offensive to you, and perceived as stumbling-block to faith… Salachya (forgive me) that sin is upon me and can be attributed to my own iniquity/shortcomings.  Thawadah(Thank you) for reading.   Please do comment, & share.   To subscribe or donate, see links at the bottom of the page ↓↓↓

Shalom(Peace)!