Psalm 143:5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.

In Hebrew poetry there is a device called synonymous parallelism. We see this often in Psalms and Proverbs. The first line makes a statement followed by a second line that reinforces or expands the statement with different words.

The above verse is an example of this parallelism. David is going through a time of darkness, feeling overwhelmed and desolate. Instead of giving up, he recalls to mind God’s faithfulness in the past. He meditates on God. ‘Muse’ can mean to talk to oneself in deep thought. David was talking to himself about God. He was probably recalling many of the Scriptures regarding God’s creation and provision for His creation. As David was seeking deliverance, he could recall the many times in the past that God had delivered His people.

Often, when we are sad and discouraged, we seek to be amused. We look for short-term amusements of this world. In1864, Spurgeon preached, “We do not muse much in these days of ours. We are too busy. We are hurrying here and there, doing much, and talking much, … The world has put a little letter before the word “musing,” and these are the days, not for musing, but for a-musing. People will go anywhere for amusement; but to muse is a strange thing to them, and they think it dull and wearisome.”

God desires for us to come to Him, to seek His face. We don’t need to wait until we are desperate. It’s good for us to muse about God every day. We need to be in God’s Word: 1 Timothy 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

Take time to muse.



Ronald Cox – Director of HOPE Ministry