Mem מ
Today’s letter, Mem מ, is the thirteenth in the Hebrew Aleph-Bet and has a numeric value of 40. Water is the inspiration of the ancient pictograph and it resembles a wave of water. To the Jewish sages, Mem symbolizes the “spring” or source of God’s Law.
Mem מ Prayer Focus: Living Water!
There are many related meanings and symbols associated with Mem. 40 is an important number throughout scripture. The visual representation of water is thought to infer the spring of wisdom rising up from the source of all wisdom, God! This also can relate to a person’s words spoken with true wisdom.
Proverbs 18:4 (NLT)
Wise words are like deep waters;
wisdom flows from the wise like a bubbling brook.
Mem has two forms in traditional Hebrew script. Open and closed. Open signifies revealing truth and closed the mysteries of God. In Jesus, the promised Messiah or Christ, the mystery is revealed! Our thirst for truth and wisdom can only be satisfied in Him. Jesus reveals the once hidden mystery of God’s Kingdom!
He told the disciples this.
Matthew 13:11-12 (NLT)
11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. 12 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.
One of the mysteries Jesus revealed was that the Kingdom was available to everyone – all tribes, nations and languages. It’s very interesting that the actual word Mem has a number of similar meanings including waters, people, nations, languages and tongues.
In the encounter with the women at the well, Jesus mentioned eternal, living water that would forever quench her thirst. Our world is spiritually parched and dry today. Where does this living water come from? Jesus told us.
John 7:37-39 (NLT)
37 On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! 38 Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” 39 (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)
Acts 1:8 tells us the Holy Spirit is our power to witness. Living water flowing from the heart of a believer! Today let’s pray that we will fully submit to God’s wisdom, revealed in His Word, and be filled to overflowing with the Living Water of the Holy Spirit.
The world all around us is thirsty!
Here are some scriptures to meditate on as we pray together:
(mouse over or click the scripture references)
Isaiah 41:17-18, 55:1 | John 4:10, 14 | Acts 1:8 |
Galatians 5:22-23 | Ephesians 1:14 | Revelation 21:6
Section מ of Psalm 119
Psalms 119:97-104 (NET) מ (Mem)
97 O how I love your law!
All day long I meditate on it.
98 Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies,
for I am always aware of them.
99 I have more insight than all my teachers,
for I meditate on your rules.
100 I am more discerning than those older than I,
for I observe your precepts.
101 I stay away from the evil path,
so that I might keep your instructions.
102 I do not turn aside from your regulations,
for you teach me.
103 Your words are sweeter
in my mouth than honey!
104 Your precepts give me discernment.
Therefore I hate all deceitful actions.