Digesting the Word

Please don’t bother reading the Bible any more. It won’t do any good.

It’s not supposed to be read. Novels and history books – they’re meant to be read. You read the newspaper, billboards, and People magazines in doctors offices (how else would I know what the Kardashians are up to?). Computers can be programmed to read a PhD thesis and report how many times the word “goober” is used, but the Bible was not written to simply be “read.”

Holy Scripture of the Old and New Testaments were written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit so that we can “hear them, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them… that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life” (Thomas Cranmer’s prayer for Proper 28). There’s a world of difference between reading the Bible and diving into God’s message that promises transformation.

The Bible understands this. “This Book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night…” Josh 1:8. “Your words were found and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart” (Jer 15:16). Ezekiel was instructed by God to eat the scroll, the Bible, and when he did, it tasted “as sweet as honey” (3:1-3). All of Psalm 119 is an enjoinder to consume and explore the depths, and ruminate on God’s Holy Word. And Paul writes to young Timothy: ” Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything” (2 Tim 2:7). There is no doubt that the Bible is meant to affect us deeply and shape us boldly, and that will never happen by simply reading it.

I began to realize this personally when I was preparing to teach Psalm 1. It says that happy people are those who “thrill to God’s Word, who chew on Scripture day and night” (The Message). I began to think of  what it means to delight in God’s Word like that. This led me to ask, “Lord, aren’t you inviting me to something much deeper than just reading?” Over the the years I’ve heard some Christians talk about praying the Scriptures. I’ve heard others reflect on the blessing of memorizing portions and attending Bible studies. Some have told me that they take phrases of Scripture with them into their day, like: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” And others speak of wrestling with God over the consideration of difficult passages of Scripture. I’ve even seen how people change towards Christ-likeness when their minds and thoughts are shaped by the word of God (Phil 2:5; 4:8); it has happened in little ways in my life!

Please be clear, the Bible isn’t about you or me. It is not a treasure trove of helpful aphorisms or nifty Christian tips that we can dip into when we need a little help from our Friend. It’s the story of God’s interactions with Israel and the New Israel, and his rescue mission to save a dying world. It’s God’s story, and the story into which he invites us to participate.

So, if you want to hear God’s Word – I mean really hear it – you will do more than just get a good “goober-count.” Mull over it, chew on it, ask “How does this point me to Jesus?”, wrestle with God about it, and finally pray it, so that God’s word will always be a life-transforming word that will shake your world and shape your life and thinking.

Wishing for you this summer all the blessings that are in God’s Word written.