Feasting on the Word

I’ve recently been introduced to different styles of Bible reading that I’d like to share with you. Originally established within certain denominations, they are by no means exclusive. I find them not only intriguing, but believe they are intended to deepen one’s prayer/bible reading time and walk with the Lord. At times I, too, have experienced such exhilaration after reading God’s Word, and I know that I have spent precious moments with the Lord. These are the times when I walk away feeling energized because God has personally spoken to me by illuminating my mind and even giving me a specific message. Other times, my Bible reading time has produced little to no results, because I simply read out of an obligation to do so. As a Christian, I believe in the power of God’s Word, but if I am not fully focused and present with God, I can allow distractions, selfishness, and even un-enthusiasm to impact my time with God. I’ll either rush through my devotions, or give up on them altogether, and then I wonder why I'm so easily irritated and my day does not go as well as it could.

When I learned about Lectio Divina and Midrash, I was intrigued. Yes, I wanted to make my time with the Lord more meaningful. Yes, I wanted to get more from my Bible reading. And above all, Yes, I wanted to be fully present with the Lord receiving His love and grace which He so freely desires to give.

Lectio Divina, is a Latin word for divine reading and represents an ancient practice of prayer and Scripture reading which is intended to promote intimate communion with God as well as increase knowledge of God’s Word. It is a slow and thoughtful way of reading Scripture that causes one to study, ponder, listen, pray, and even rejoice from God’s Word deep within one’s soul. This practice was originally established and used by Catholic Benedictine monks centuries ago. It has also been referred to as “Feasting on the Word.” The four parts are first taking a bite (lectio), then chewing on it (meditatio), next, taking the opportunity to savor its essence (oratio), and finally, the Word is digested and made part of the body (contemplatio).

There is a natural progression involved in this type of practice that goes from reading, to meditation (thinking about significance of text), to prayer (responding to God), to quiet stillness in the presence of God (contemplation). This type of Biblical reading requires a commitment to time, space, and solitude, and is far superior to just reading for reading sake. It promotes an intimate dialogue with God Himself, and as you remove yourself from distractions, you hear God speaking to your spirit. In prayer, you respond to God with an open and trusting heart.

The steps are as follows:

1. First, read the Scriptural passages slowly, attentively, maybe even several times. Write down any words that stick out or grasp your attention.
2. Next, simply meditate or think about what you have read and what the text means. Don’t worry—the Holy Spirit will impart spiritual understanding which will enable you to grasp the revelation contained in the passage.
3. What follows is prayer or conversation with God. He has invited us into His embrace and now we allow the Word that we have taken in to touch and change our deepest selves. This is the time when we openly commune with our Maker. In honest dialogue, we give our most pain-filled and difficult experiences to God, believing in His power and provision. We recite over all our concerns the healing words or phrases God has given us in our sacred reading. Through this consecration-prayer, we allow the Word of God to touch, heal, and transform us.
4. Lastly, contemplate or focus, on our loving Father. As your soul is satisfied, and in the quietness, fix your gaze upon Jesus as you rest and enjoy His presence. Knowing that you have been “filled,” allow His grace to give you the strength to endure whatever comes your way. It is a peaceful and tranquil state of being.

Midrash, is steeped in Jewish tradition. Likewise, it is a rich, ancient tradition which invites deeper exploration of the Scriptures through study, reflection, and even debate. In Hebrew, Midrash means to search out. It invites the reader to find those hard-to-understand or even quirky Scriptures and try to make sense of them before God. It reads the Hebrew Bible, not for the familiar, but for the unfamiliar, and then wrestles with the text, passionately and reverently. It views the Bible as one side of the conversation, started by God, and invites the reader to keep the conversation going by taking hold of a passage, wrestling with it, and not letting it go until he understands it. This process allows one to trade in a “surface understanding” for a “deeper grasp” of God’s Word. Reading the Bible this way can certainly be time-consuming and challenging, but I believe the rewards are well worth it. Again, it leads to a more intimate knowledge of God, and greater communion with Him.

There is no right way to practice Lectio Divina or Midrash—it is merely an invitation to go deeper into God’s Word by allowing the Holy Spirit to illuminate and enlighten your mind and heart. When we take the time to pursue and deepen our prayer life in this way, not only will we gain a deeper knowledge of Scripture, oneself, others, and above all, God, but He will align our hearts and minds with His as we ever-increasingly grow in our faith. And that should be the goal of every believer, shouldn’t it?

"It is written: Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Matthew 4:4

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God." Colossians 3:16

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." James 2:22