Tuesday, March 10, 2020

Approaches to Reading the Bible: Divine Reading

Example Text: John 3:1-21

Why This Practice?
The spiritual discipline of “divine reading” is a centuries’ old practice with roots in the early Church(1) that is meant to be a slow, careful way of reading scripture designed to help you not just skim or even just remember the text, but to absorb it. Its purpose is to elevate your understanding of the written Word from “head knowledge” to “heart knowledge,” by focusing your attention on your relationship with God during your daily devotions. This is a discipline. And just as an athlete who wants to train for a marathon needs to be intentional about what they eat at every meal and how they train every day, as a disciple of Jesus you must be intentional about your daily diet of scripture and your regular training regimen of prayer, fasting, acts of service, corporate worship, fellowship with fellow believers, and participation in the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.
Don’t rush this practice. This exercise should take 15-20 minutes per chunk of text. Begin by praying that the Holy Spirit would guide and enlighten you as you read scripture. 

1. Read“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” - 2 Tim. 3:16-17 (NLT)
Read the passage slowly. Get a sense of what it is saying. Read it a second time, again slowly. Pick out any words that strike you as significant, or that are relevant and important – either to what the author is trying to say, or to your current situation.

2. Reflect (Meditate) - “But [the righteous] delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.” - Psalm 1:2 (NLT)
Read the passage a third time, slowly. Savor it, like a bite of delicious food. Pause and reflect on those phrases that stood out to you.
    • Why is this phrase important to what the author is trying to say?
    • Why does it speak to you?
    • Is there some place in your life where you feel God’s Word has been absent?
    • Is there a circumstance you’re going through that calls for God’s guidance?
    • Is there a part of you/your thoughts/your actions that you have closed off to God’s instruction?
    • Is this passage calling you to repent of something you are doing or that you are neglecting to do?
    • How should your thoughts, actions, and behaviors change in response to what God is telling you?

3) Respond (Pray)“Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” - 1 Thess. 5:17-18 (NLT)
Read the passage a fourth time. Consider what God is trying to say to you, and respond to Him. Pray. If this passage is leading you to repent of something, confess that thing to God and declare your intention to change. If this passage is encouraging you in some way, thank God for that encouragement. If this passage is challenging you to do something, pray for strength to meet that challenge. If this passage brings to mind the needs of others, pray for them, declare your intention to share God’s love with them in some way, and pray for opportunities to do so.

4) Remain (Contemplate)“...As Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out...” 1 Kings 19:11-13 (NLT)
Now, just rest in the presence of God. If you need to, set an alarm for 5 minutes or more. This might be uncomfortable at first, and it should be. Technology, busy schedules, and the constant pressure to surround ourselves with friends means that we often forget the value of solitude and we miss God speaking to us through silence, because we drown Him out in all the noise.
Finally, journal what God has taught you through this experience and thank Him. Write down a plan for consistently applying what God has shown you.

Footnotes
(1) Adapted from the practice developed by Benedict of Nursia, itself rooted in the practices of the early Church Fathers Origen, Augustine, Ambrose, Hilary of Portiers, and the Desert Fathers; and guided by the instruction the Apostle Paul laid out in Romans 10:8-10 (NRSV), “But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.”