Metaphysical meaning of Mizpah (mbd)
Mizpah, miz'-pah (Heb.)--looking about; scanning the horizon; watchtower; lofty place, i. e., giving increased vision; broad vision; seen from afar; speculation; observation; inquiry.
a The place where Jacob and Laban met, and parted, after Jacob had taken his family and possessions and had stolen away from Laban, and Laban had come after him and overtaken him. They called the name of the place "Mizpah, for he said, Jehovah watch between me and thee, when we are absent [hidden, margin] one from another" (Gen. 31:49). This place became the site of a city of Israel (Judg. 10:17). b There were other places in Palestine by this name (Josh. 11:3; Neh. 3:15, and others).
Meta. Spiritual watching--being on guard against the encroachment of error. The great spiritual Teacher instructs us not only to pray, but to "take heed, watch and pray" (Mark 13:33).
The second step that Samuel took (I Sam. 7:2-12) in leading the Children of Israel out against the Philistines was to have the Israelites assemble at Mizpah, which means watchtower. In order to maintain consciousness of one's unity with God and to keep one's forces organized in singleness of thought and purpose, one must keep the attention steadily fixed in the direction of that to which one aspires. Samuel here is only carrying out the Scriptural injunction, "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth." By looking away from the besetting forces of materiality and by maintaining the "high watch," the broad vision, one is enabled to discern the action of God in the various situations of life.
The stone called Ebenezer (I Sam. 7:12) refers to the Christ, who is in every individual who will acknowledge Him, a rock of deliverance, a very present help in every time of need. This stone's being placed between Mizpah and Shen (the watchtower of prayer, and the assimilating of true ideas gained through prayer) heralds a lifting up of the whole organism and a bringing of the perfect, ideal man into manifestation. Such is the work of the Christ in every individual.
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Preceding Entry: Mizar
Following Entry: Mizpeh
