What I Have Been Doing
Choose a passage
Select verses you want to consider or memorize. The passage I chose for the project shown above was Isaiah 55:8-9: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Study
Explore the meanings of words. Maybe you are beginning in Hebrew and need to figure out and look up every word. Do it. Maybe you can already read every word so you do a contextual word study on a key Hebrew word or two. This can be amazingly profitable even for an old hand at the Bible. (Biblical Hebrew 2 teaches how.)
You may also want to study Hebrew calligraphy. Check out the links below for historical, practical, and inspirational resources.
Gather materials
The verses above were written on watercolor washed drawing paper with letters written in gouache with a dip pen. The script is based on third century stone coffin inscriptions.
A pencil on scrap paper works, too, but it has been a pleasure to honor the words and their Giver with (however humble) an attempt at beauty, to learn about callligraphy traditions, and try out new art materials.
Write, Ponder, Memorize
Trying to write beautifully in a new alphabet and flawlessly in a new language is likely to give plenty of time to ponder the words, if you know what I mean. You might even have it memorized by the time you are done, especially if you read aloud as you work. Approaching the writing thoughtfully, prayerfully, and patiently, with creativity and care, yields some really rich listening time. You might display your finished work, even if only on the fridge for a few days, to let the words really sink in as you are reminded of the verses and continue your conversation with the LORD. Some of your projects will beg to be given away.
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