“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV).
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12 ESV).
As a pastor, I spend many hours each week studying God’s Word in preparation for the task of preaching. Yet, this practice of regular study doesn’t always meet my own spiritual needs. Being so focused on the preaching task sometimes causes me to read the Bible looking for information over inspiration. I see sermon points to preach rather than spiritual food to eat.
Don’t misunderstand. I’m not diminishing the importance of exegesis. The Bible is a written text, inspired by God and written in human language. It deserves close literary study. Words need to be defined, sentences diagrammed, parts of speech identified, context and setting in life determined. Careful study leads to better understanding. And as my preaching professor at seminary used to say, “Fuzzy thinking leads to fuzzy preaching.” You’re not ready to preach until you understand the text.
But the Bible is more than a book to study, it’s spiritual food to eat. As Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Reading the Bible just for information is akin to dissecting your dinner meal just to determine its recipe. You might better understand how your quiche was cooked, but your stomach will still be left growling.
In my early years as a pastor I began to recognize this deficiency in my spiritual diet. I was growing in knowledge of the Bible, but I was feeling more and more dry in my spirit. So I turned to some old classical devotional authors to try and find some help. It was in these readings that I came across the Latin phrase lectio divina, which means “divine reading.” I was a little put off by its origin among the Benedictine monks in the 6th century. I wasn’t interested in shaving a circle in the top of my head and wearing sackcloth with a rope belt. But after examining the four step practice I was intrigued and decided to try it.
And the practice has changed my devotional life.
Here are the four movements of Lectio Divina (as I practice it):
- Lectio. Read the Scripture aloud and slowly. The idea of silent reading was unheard (no pun intended) of in the 1st Century. Reading it aloud means you get it twice, once through the eyes and again through the ears. If this practice is likened to “Feasting on the Word,” then lectio is like “taking a bite.”
- Meditatio. Meditate on the words by repeating them over and over. Pause on those words that seem to stir your soul. If lectio is “taking a bite,” then meditatio is “chewing on it.”
- Oratio. Begin to turn the reading into prayer. For instance the reading and meditation of Psalm 23 might become, “Oh Lord, You are my shepherd. I am learning not to want for anything but You…” Praying the Word back to God you are “savoring the essence of it” as you would a tasty feast.
- Contemplatio. Finally, you contemplate how the Word is doing, or wants to do, its work in you. Not just understanding that the Lord was David’s shepherd, but that you are receiving Him as your Shepherd. Not just thinking about the “still waters,” but drinking from them. Feasting on the Word, contemplatio is “digesting the food” of God’s Word and making it part of your life.
Lectio Divina is a helpful practice for approaching God’s Word. It recognizes the living aspect of the Word and seeks to hear God speak afresh. It isn’t the only way to handle the Word. Intense study, memorization, hearing the teaching and preaching of the Word, and other approaches are all important. The Word should affect our whole selves, the mind, the soul and the heart. Perhaps adding this practice to your Bible reading will help balance your spiritual diet as it has mine.