Not by Bread Alone
Then He said to me, “Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” So I opened my mouth, and He fed me this scroll. He said to me, “Son of man, feed your stomach and fill your body with this scroll which I am giving you.” Then I ate it, and it was sweet as honey in my mouth. Ezekiel 3:1-3 NASB
Eat this scroll – “The words of the Bible are not made of paper. In order to know them I must submit them to my judgment; in order to understand them I must stand under their judgment.”[1]
Recently I was asked to comment on the work of a liberal theologian who claimed that the Bible was redacted by many unknown authors, that some of its stories were fabrications, that some of its characters were inventions of the time and that its real message was little more than a tribal system of beliefs enlarged by the Church. These assortments of theological objections to the usual conservative Christian position are not new. The history of theology demonstrates that claims about the integrity of the Bible have been proposed by academics since Marcion, nearly 1900 years ago. With that in mind, I don’t get very flustered when a new flavor of the same cocktail comes along. I remember what Abraham Heschel says. Academic investigation and scholarship is essential for knowing the background, history, language and culture of the text, but that is not the point of the Bible. In order to understand the Bible, I must submit to its demands. It is not a book made of paper. It is the living word of YHWH. I must eat it–absorb it into my very being–in order to experience its secrets and its deliverance.
In other words, the proper approach to Scripture is not erudite analysis (although this is truly helpful in overcoming errors and mistakes). The proper approach to Scripture is much simpler: Try it. You’ll like it!
Those who stand outside the house peering in the windows trying to comprehend and appreciate the meal served on the table will never know the taste of the food. In order to taste, you must come inside, sit down and eat! Then you will know the meaning of the flavors. The Bible is meant to be eaten, ingested, consumed, devoured, chewed upon. It is not to be studied as a recipe book in a library! It is meant for the kitchen.
“Eat this scroll” says YHWH to Ezekiel. ‘ekol ‘et-hamgila’. An imperative, not an option. The basic meaning is “to consume.” The verb is applied to difficult circumstances (“the famine consumed the land”), to worship or devotion (foods to be consumed during a sacrifice), to prosperity (eating well), to zealous behavior (“he was consumed with devotion for the Lord”), or to blessing (Adam’s state before the fall where no flesh was consumed). But this is merely the academic analysis of the text and the word. The real meaning of ‘akal is in the doing of ‘akal. Try it. You’ll like it. You cannot know what the dish tastes like until you eat. You cannot know what the Bible does in your life until you consume. There is no substitute for eating honey from the word of God.
“Into his studies of the Bible the modern scholar brings his total personality, his increased knowledge of the ancient Near East, his power of analysis, his historic sense, his honest commitment to truth–as well as inherent skepticism of biblical claims and tradition. In consequence, we have so much to say about the Bible that we are not prepared to hear what the Bible has to say about us. We are not in love with the Bible; we are in love with our own power of critical acumen, with our theories about the Bible. Intellectual narcissism is a disease to which some of us are not immune.”[2]
Topical Index: eat, ‘akal, Bible, scholar, Ezekiel 3:3, ‘ekol ‘et-hamgila’
“We are not in love with the Bible; we are in love with our own power of critical acumen, with our theories about the Bible. Intellectual narcissism is a disease to which some of us are not immune.”
Amen – threefold.
Those who stand outside the house peering in the windows trying to comprehend and appreciate the meal served on the table will never know the taste of the food. In order to taste, you must come inside, sit down and eat! Then you will know the meaning of the flavors. The Bible is meant to be eaten, ingested, consumed, devoured, chewed upon. It is not to be studied as a recipe book in a library! It is meant for the kitchen.
I CAN VISUALIZE THIS SO MUCH..I LIKE THIS WORDING.
IN CHRIST; my HIDING PLACE and a table set for a servant of GOD .
Let us pray for those who are still wondering what our GOD is like and HOW they can come in and feast at HIS TABLE set for all.
Bon Appétit!
Let’s eat! (Amen to that!) – A healthy appetite is one sign of good health. But where, (o where?) is the “good stuff?” You know full well what I’m talkin’ about!..
For not all foods or calories ( I hope you know this by now) are created equal. Cotton candy may be sweet, but the nutritive value is minimal.
We are “commanded” (interesting) in the word of God to “eat well!” ~ (to) Eat that which is good, and (to) let your soul delight itself in fatness!! ~
Are the words of the prophet Isaiah still “relevant” today? (they strike me square center-direct hit!) ~ Why (do you) spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which does not satisfy? hearken diligently unto Me, and eat that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness ~
(Isaiah 55.2)
I want to help out in the kitchen, Isaiah.. Maybe some folks might not know what it means to “hearken diligently..” Those who are Jewish (by first birth) are one step ahead of the rest of us.. This “hearken diligently” is the Hebrew word (and an excellent – critical, vital, -life-imparting word it is!), -“shema!”
To hearken is to not only “listen,”- but also to obey! I heard that!
Did you? Wonderful!- Now, “go” and do! (Ready to “fast-forward?) Spanning centuries of time, James repeats the words of Isaiah and says (again)- ~ Be doers of the Word and not hearers only.. ! (James 1.22) This same theme of “obedience” (do what He says) is repeated throughout the written word. What good is “knowledge” if it is never applied? I may know how to repair a car, but until I actually and in reality “do it”- my “knowing” is both empty and unproductive. But “knowing” and doing are very much related.
i must confess, – I love a good biscuit. But peoples, here’s the thing,- you won’t (ever) -you cannot make biscuits unless you get your hands in the dough! (for realz!) The best learning (and the best biscuits!) comes from “doing!..”
Again, (and again!)- we (also) learn from repetition! This is both a good thing and a bad thing! But “if” we are doing the right thing (repeatedly)- then repetitive behavior can become a “holy habit!” Please (do) notice the similarity in these two words: Discipline and disciple!
Come to the table (God’s Table) hungry! Come thirsty! You and I have been invited to “Look, Find, and Feast!” But what are we hungry for? Milk? or Meat? Have we lost our appetite?- Are we already full?
~ As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby..~ (1 Peter 2.2)
Soul Food:
~ Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your Name,
O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies ~ (Jeremiah 15.16)
My husband, Dennis and I are richly fed with TODAY’S WORD and the Hebrew words you use. Is there a Hebrew book that has all the Hebrew words in it?
Dennis is a worship leader at our church and he sings mostly all Paul Wilbur songs which do have Hebrew words in them. We would like to learn the
meaning of them. We would appreciate any info you may have regarding this. We are good friends with Bob and Renea Hale here in St. Joseph, MO.
Thank you and blessings…..Joanne Wegner
I have 12 books by and about Abraham Joshua Heschel on my shelf. I’ve skimmed them since purchasing them.
As of late, with all the references to his work, gleaning from the succinct wisdom he dispensed, I’ve decided to read all I have of Heschel. I’ve put the books in chronological order based on their initial publishing dates as best as I can figure. I want to read him as he progressed via his trail of writings. I started with WHO IS MAN?, even though it wasn’t his first work. I’m almost done with it.
I can’t decide whether this will be a “Heschel Vacation” or a “Heschel Work Study.” Probably a little of both.
I’ve gone out and secured a racing seat belt to keep me firmly positioned in my reading seat. I’m thinking I’ll possibly need a stainless steel helmet to keep my brain from exploding! Medically speaking this might not be a good thing, but I am anticipating my heart to enlarge, a good thing regarding real life.
Anyway, I think I’m ready. This first book has certainly whetted my appetite for 20,000 leagues under this amazing slave of all things Torah.
Hold my hand, it make get rocky for the beginning steps.
THE PROPHETS, Heschel’s PhD thesis, is the absolutely FIRST thing to read. Sets the tone for everything else.
Guess I’ll bump it up from #7 to #1 slot!
Thx.
I have requested that very book for my upcoming birthday 🙂
Ever since you mentioned it in Virginia Beach last month, I have been anxious to get a copy!
Oh Michael — I so hear what you are saying!
The first book I read by Heschel was “The Sabbath” and it was in those hours of reading that I fell in love with the Word in a new way. “Try it, you’ll like it” never applied more than in keeping Shabbat.
I’m thrilled that Skip has been introducing us to more of Heschel’s work. Like Michael, I have been going back and picking up the Heschel books that have been on my “intend to read” list far too long.
Thank you Skip – TW always wets my appetite to dig and chew more.
Suzanne I so know what you mean, my first reading of Heschel’s books was also “The Sabbath”. Now I’m ready for another one of his books. I’ll have to check out “The Prophets”.
Thank you for Hebrew Word Study, it inspires me to continue to search for the truth, Skip.
Get ready! My copy of THE PROPHETS is 268 pages. Small pages, small type, a lot of words. Plus an appendix.
Find a comfy chair or a desk to take notes on, which ever is your habit of reading.
Thanks for the info Michael, I’m ready!
I’m still in the midst of reading Heschel’s WHO IS MAN?
I’ve moved in the next section that pretty much says what today’s TW is alluding to.
It seems Heschel is separating being with living. Being is on the same level of animals and other ‘things.’ Living, on the other hand, is a transcendence to another existence, that is, life.
Being is experiencing thing-ness, controlling, manipulating and utilizing creation. Living is experiencing a presence. Of course, that presence is the Living Elohim, YHWH.
Heschel implies that in order to transcend from just being to living, one must experience/taste life by engaging in the presence of life. One cannot explain it, rationalize it, or conceptualize it as the Greeks have tried to do. One must live it to know it. That is what makes ‘being’ transcend to human being. Humanness is seen, demonstrated and experienced in actively participating in that which is human. In the biblical sense, that would be living out Torah, as exemplified by the life of Yeshua.
Righteousness, then, is what life really is. It is rightly, if you will, being in a human way, a human position, in the presence of the One who mysteriously brings being into being. Further, as all things have their being from YHWH, a human being is something else. It is other than mere being. It is a reflection, an image of the presence of YHWH when exhibited in the life of Torah.
Man, this Heschel dude is something else! I’ve got my head duct taped up. It is full at the moment! On the verge of exploding . . .
Hi Everyone,
I hope everyone is doing well. I haven’t been able to comment that much lately. But, I’m glad to see that many of the regular names and faces are still here. I trust that everyone is doing well.
This was a fantastic Word study! And so true… especially on a personal level. All the knowledge and information on the Bible and it’s context means nothing unless you actually partake of It and It becomes part of every fiber of your life.
The two ideas that spoke to me most were:
” In order to understand the Bible, I must submit to its demands.” – I am seeing it more and more often that people who choose not to submit their lives to the authority of God’s Word, that for them knowledge becomes a great stumbling block. Their knowledge of the Bible and it’s context quite often becomes a way of arguing around issues that they are unwilling to submit their lives too. Unless I choose to submit my live to the authority of God’s Word – His entire Word – I will never get to that place where can actually partake in the whole meal. Far to many believers today are on “theological diet plans” that leave them malnourished .
“We are not in love with the Bible; we are in love with our own power of critical acumen, with our theories about the Bible. Intellectual narcissism is a disease to which some of us are not immune.” – I am seeing it more and more often how many “Intellectually Narcissistic Theologians” end up destroying people’s faith with their theories about the Bible. It sometimes seem as if some theologians and “self-taught theological gurus” have no regard for the impact their ideas or theories might have on people who read their words. And it is because they they do not love God’s Word and do not see It as authoritative for their lives.
In terms of this I have to praise Skip for his ability to break down one’s “romantic ideas” of Scripture, without completely destroying one’s faith. I believe Skip has an amazing way of balancing proper theological investigation and encouraging one to “try it”.
Anyway, hope everyone is well!
P.S. – Michael C: The Prophets and The Sabbath are two of my favorites as well.
Hi, Jaco.
If my mind and soul survive WHO IS MAN? I will certainly move in to reading THE PROPHETS next per Skip’s recommendation.
I have already skimmed both THE PROPHETS and THE SABBATH. However, in truth, I’ve discovered it is rather difficult to skim Heschel’s writings. It just ain’t the way to go about digesting him. His writings need my full attention and full context. Otherwise, I’m paddling up stream with a toothpick! 🙂
“Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll,
and go, speak to the house of Israel.”
Makes me think of the movie called The Matrix
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zE7PKRjrid4
You take the red pill – you stay in Wonderland
And I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes.
I guess. But I just don’t fully see that comparison. Guess I’d need to go watch it again. I may have forgotten too much.
“don’t fully see that comparison”
Hi Michael
I would say that this compari “son” is metaphorical rather than empirical
Paul as I recall liked to compare being in this world but not of this world
And as the radical psychiatrist RD Laing taught regarding Jesus I think
If you want to enter the Kingdom, make the two things one
Ezekiel was clearly in this world but what he saw makes the Matrix
Look tame
In any case what Ezekiel saw looks stranger than fiction
And terrifying to say the least