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Mem is the thirteenth letter in the Hebrew alphabet and the thirteenth section of Psalm 119, which we’ve been exploring since 2019 in this ongoing series entitled “Psalms Greatest Hits.” The mem is written in two forms, one has an opening at the bottom and another that is closed, which is only used at the end of a word.

The mem is said to mean ‘water,’ derived from the Hebrew word mayim. In the same way that water sustains life to our bodies, so the author is conveying how God’s word brings life to our soul. As we contemplate God’s laws and obey them, we are swept away in a current of wisdom, where God reveals reality to those who seek and prioritize His precepts. To forget, ignore or reject God’s word is like a fool who rejects water thinking himself not to need it.

⁹⁷ Oh how I love your law!
    It is my meditation all the day.

The anonymous author of “The Cloud of Unknowing” taught us something from the 14th Century that almost no modern pastors, bible teachers, priest, Imams, gurus, or life coaches seem to understand, namely: “We cannot think God, we can only love Him.” Spend ten minutes watching vertical videos of religious talking heads and everyone one of them insists “we’ve been lied to” or that they are going to provide a reason of believe, or a rational apologetic for their favorite flavor of theological doctrine. Then the comments roll in, arguing one side then the other. If Psalm 119 were a video, it would only possess enough necessary words to get everyone to shut up for a few moments, and begin reflecting in stillness upon the immense gap between God’s commandments, and our obedience. There can be no, zero, zilch, nada, none whatsoever love for God if there is a whiff of apathy toward what God has said and commanded us to do. Loving God means living entirely for him.

⁹⁸ Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,
    for it is ever with me.
⁹⁹ I have more understanding than all my teachers,
    for your testimonies are my meditation.
¹⁰⁰ I understand more than the aged,
    for I keep your precepts.

Alan Watts is famous for describing people as seeking our world as either “prickly” or “gooey.” Structure or form, wave form or particle, engineering or art, logic or emotion, music or tune. The Psalmist, by way of God’s disclosure of Himself and His created world, understands the reality of “prickly-goo” or “gooey-prickles.” The rigid, unswerving (prickly) law opens us up to the freedom, agency, and experience (goo) of life’s blessings and riches. By knowing not only the designer, but the design of life, we “play above the net” compared to those who claim to have wisdom, but can’t get out of their own frameworks and maps, to experience and freedom. I’ve spent so many years arguing theology, and I often laugh at myself now.

We live in a world of influencers who aren’t old enough to have lived out any true wisdom. They regurgitate content for the purposes of likes, follows, and ego, but are blind to the fact their life produces no genuine content that anyone can use. Jesus said: “When the blind lead the blind, both fall into the ditch.” God’s commandments are different. Viewed by the world as buzz-kills, God’s law prevents blindness, and ditches.

¹⁰¹ I hold back my feet from every evil way,
    in order to keep your word.
¹⁰² I do not turn aside from your rules,
    for you have taught me.

Every one of us wants to give into our impulses and desires. We are convinced by the foolishness of our world that there is nothing wrong or misguided about obeying our appetites. God’s word cautions us about giving way to that which is evil and has provide a railing (rules) to keep us from the cliff. The Psalmist understand that “no” doesn’t mean “because I said so.” but “no, because it will hurt you.” It’s God’s tremendous love which gives us rules to live by, and learning to live by and love them is to extract the most out of life, not somehow to suppress the joy as if doing wrong could do that for us.

¹⁰³ How sweet are your words to my taste,
    sweeter than honey to my mouth!
¹⁰⁴ Through your precepts I get understanding;
    therefore I hate every false way.

Once we dodge a few bullets, we quickly begin to appreciate God’s word. Those who reject it, live a life of constantly digging out of a hole in the sand. Once we watch those who reject God’s law experience a dramatically different life from those who uphold it, we gain the eyes to see just how precious and delightful God’s words are for living. God lovingly gives all of us life’s greatest “cheat codes” and somehow our world has convinced us that such a life isn’t as fun or even worth it.

Understanding is the gift of a life lived. It comes to both those who win and lose. The water of the mem is a life flowing with understanding and wisdom. Such a person will always value the right things, have their compass dialed to True North, and continually land on their feet when thrown off balance. The main thing is to make the Main Thing, the main thing. Once we do this, we can hold no regard for a path that stands no chance of delivering something so good to our lives, and thus we would hate anything that would take such a life giving sweetness from it.