It was Jeremiah the prophet who said, "Your words were found and I ate them. And your words became to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord God of hosts" (Jer. 15:16).
It's a wonderful moment when we can assimilate the word of God in such a way that the metaphor of eating the Bible applies. Some would call this making the Bible your hobby. That too is a magnificent analogy. But we have to be careful with it. Surfing is my hobby. Mountaineering is my hobby. Marathoning is my hobby. Lifting is my hobby. Why, just this morning I was thrilled to be able to get back to the gym after a 12 day hiatus. There is nothing quite like doing lat pulldowns!
But let's be clear about what a hobby is. A hobby is a regular activity we engage in for enjoyment during our leisure time. It is typically pursued without any intent to make a profit. Thus, I am an amateur surfer, an amateur climber, an amateur runner, and an amateur lifter. All these activities provide a great sense of achievement and satisfaction. They enrich my life tremendously and offer many opportunities for personal growth. But I can do without them. As you know, I just spent over a week riding the waves in Hawaii. The last time I did this was exactly a year ago. Hobbies aren't inherently indispensable even though they may enhance our quality of life and promote both mental and physical well-being. In a similar way, Bible study provides an escape from daily pressures and offers opportunities for personal growth. But it does much more than that. Here's a statement I'm going to make that some of you won't believe. But it is 100% true. I can go a day, a week, a month, even a year without surfing, but -- and I mean this literally -- I could not make it through a single day without reading and digesting the spiritual nourishment the Scriptures provide my hungry soul. Not. One. Day. Yes, I am that dependent on the Lord. Yes, I am that needy. Yes, I am that weak.
Remember: the act of eating is a fundamental human activity. You and I engage in it automatically every day. Jesus is the Bread of Life who nourishes our often failing faith. And so we are desperate for that daily bread. Feeding on his words and basking in his presence -- this is the essence of true belief in Christ. To eat the Scriptures is to believe Jesus' words and trust him as the only true source of life. As he said on one occasion, "The words I have spoken to you are spirit, and they are life" (John 6:63). Augustine put it beautifully when he said, "For to believe on him is to eat the living bread. He who believes eats. He is sated invisibly." So Jesus' hearers respond, "Sir, from now on give us this bread" (John 6:34). Similarly, the woman at the well implored Jesus, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water" (John 4:15). These metaphors are related in the sense that they all refer to eating and nourishing.
Thus eating God's words, as expressed by the Jews, meant something much more than a hobby. It signified the deep internalization and assimilation of the Scriptures into one's entire life, transforming God's word into a joy and a delight. Such eating is a nourishing that goes far beyond mere reading, emphasizing a profound connection with and desperation for God. God's word is not meant merely to be read or heard or even enjoyed but is to be fully digested into our lives. This is a consistent Hebrew thought, where eating signifies a complete assimilation of knowledge and truth. Jeremiah's experience parallels that of Ezekiel and John the apostle, both of whom "ate the scroll" of God's word.
In the end, the metaphor of eating the Bible encourages all of us, I think, to make the Bible more than a fleeting pastime. We are to engage with the Scriptures deeply, allowing God's word to transform our very hearts and lives. Internalizing God's word promises daily hope, strength, and a sense of purpose. The Bible and the Bible alone satisfies our inner hunger for spiritual food. As Jesus himself said, the words that proceed out of God's mouth are food for us to eat (see Matt. 4:4).
When was the last time you took the word of God as food and ate it to satisfy your spiritual hunger and cause your heart to be joyful? Day by day we can come to the Scriptures as food to satisfy our souls. As we do so, we will, like Peter, taste that the Lord is good (1 Pet. 2:3). Remember:
- God's word matters more than our hobbies and even our daily food.
- Severe trials strip away all superficial appetites, leaving us with a greater hunger for God.
- Feeding our souls from the Scriptures involves getting off the fast track to spend unhurried time with God.
Let me encourage us to remain faithful to our daily quiet times with our Lord. God's word is meant to be savored and enjoyed.