Psalm 119:103 describes God’s word as “sweeter than honey in my mouth.” This doesn’t mean Bible reading is a piece of cake. Eventually, we chew on a tough bit of meat. There are strange stories with hidden lessons, and the point of some passages doesn’t feel like something I can grasp. What can we do when that happens?
Here are four practices that help me chew on the tough bits of the Bible.
1) Pray
There is a rich friendship between Bible reading and prayer. Remember the Bible is both human and divine. Written by real people, using the full range of their personalities and literary styles to communicate and at the same time every word of scripture is breathed out by God.
When we read our Bibles, we need to think. The riches of scripture will stay hidden from lazy minds. We also need to pray because only the Holy Spirit illuminates the word of God in our minds and hearts. “Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, since the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10).
So the first step (and in every step along the way) is prayer. Ask the Spirit of God to give you understanding.
2) Ask the Simple Questions.
As you read Bible stories ask the questions you asked as a child: Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?
The first question you ask should never be: What is the point and how do I apply it? The first step towards understanding and application is comprehension. So ask the basic questions and don’t panic when the point isn’t immediately clear.
Here are some basic questions for the two other text types in Scripture.
Discourse (Epistles):
What is the flow of the argument? What is the subject? What would we lose if this section wasn’t here?
Poetry (Wisdom, Prophetic):
What images are used? How many sections/stanzas? How do the sections fit together? How are they different?
Asking and answering simple questions relieves pressure. They get us into the text without having to announce the meaning and moral right away. Getting your brain working in the passage puts you on the path to understanding.
3) Assume Layers of Application
Every text in scripture applies to us, but not in the same way. Romans 12:13 gives you something to do: “Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality.” Job 39 intends for you to close your mouth in awe of God. Psalm 107:43 calls for contemplation: “Let whoever is wise pay attention to these things and consider the Lord’s acts of faithful love.”
Sometimes we get boots on the ground and ways to behave. Other times we have our eyes lifted to look at God. Through his word, God shapes our thoughts, affections, and actions. Faithful application, therefore, does not always look like a to-do list. I don’t have to come away with 5 truths to get me through the week to have a quality devotional on Tuesday morning. Rather, the time spent with God in his word, meditating on his character, with a thankful remembrance of his work is a life-shaping fruit of Bible reading.
4) Admit you Don’t Know.
Bible reading is a habit for life. If you commit to regular Bible reading, you will read every passage more than once in a lifetime. The Bible is a beautiful book, but that doesn’t mean it is easy. It's okay to admit you don’t know what a passage means and come back another time.
One last practice to remember is that the best insights we’ll get from God’s word often come in communion with other Christians. Ask your pastor for help with tough passages (trust me, that will be a joy and blessing for him). Join a Bible study group. Also, just talk about the Bible when you hang out with other Christians. The Bible is the church’s book. We are made to read it, study it, delight in it and proclaim it, in community with brothers and sisters in Christ.
Don’t quit when the Bible gets tough. Keep chewing on it.