Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.
Ezekiel 3:3 (NIV)

The other day, The Babylon Bee posted one of its usual satirical memes that pictured a man with children on his lap reading. The headline said, “Man Sits Down With Children To Read ‘The Hobbit’ for Nightly Devotions.” I sent it to our family chat string with the comment “I’m not sure what’s satirical about this.”

I read both The Hobbit and the entirety of The Lord of the Rings to our girls when they were young. They were preteens when the epic Peter Jackson film adaptations began being released, so they grew up watching those with me, too. It’s a thing in our family.

A few years ago I received a strange text in the middle of the day from Taylor asking the name of the character King Theoden’s horse. “That’s random,” I thought as I immediately replied with the answer: Snowmane. Turns out she was at a Pub Trivia night in a pub in the UK and knew that I’d know the answer. For the record, I could have named most of the other character’s horses, as well.

There’s a difference between reading a book and digesting it.

That’s exactly the metaphorical point of today’s chapter. We’re in the final of three chapters describing Ezekiel’s vision of being ushered into God’s Throne room and called to be a prophet to the people of Israel exiled in Babylon. Zeke is handed a scroll with God’s message of “lament, warning, and woe.” In today’s final chapter describing the vision, Ezekiel is told to “eat” the scroll. He does so and finds it sweet as honey.

There’s a difference between reading a scroll and eating it.

Throughout the Great Story, God tells His people to devour His Words. Not just to read them, but to feed on them spiritually; To digest them as they meditate on them day and night. Like the old PSA I grew up with on television stated: “You are what you eat.” That is not only true physically, but also metaphorically. Spiritually we become whatever our mind and spirit feast upon daily.

This chapter-a-day habit is, for me, a spiritual breakfast that gives me a good spiritual start to my day. Just like the blueberry-spinach smoothie Wendy will make for me an hour from now, that does the same thing for me physically. Just as that will not be the only thing I eat today, this chapter-a-day rumination is the only time I spend reading, studying, meditating, or memorizing.

Having devoured the text for over forty years, I have a few observations regarding why God would ask His people to do so:

First, everything in life begins to relate to the Word. Having devoured it and digested it, I begin to find that my heart and mind translate everyday events, conversations, and interactions through the spiritual lens of the Great Story. I can’t help it. It just does.

Second, there are important verses and passages that I have on instant recall just like the name of King Theoden’s horse. The difference, of course, is that life isn’t always trivial. In moments of fear, stress, anger, temptation, conflict, or tragedy I have instant recall of God’s words to instruct, inspire, guide, and comfort. And, it not only works for me intrapersonally but also for others interpersonally as I’m conversing with them.

Third, the deeper I get in my reading, meditating, and memorizing the more deeper, more rich, and more fulfilling it becomes to me spiritually. There’s always more for me to learn, understand, and connect to as I return to it. It humbles me how much I know that I still don’t know after a lifetime of study, but it excites me to keep going back to dig deeper knowing that it will continue to yield even sweeter fruit in my life.

In the quiet this morning, I’m reminded why I’ve developed this chapter-a-day habit and why I continue to do it. I’m grateful for the experience that digesting the Great Story has been for me and my life. And, I recommend it. It’s never too late to start, and I guarantee it yields positive spiritual results.

And, for the record, in the Lord of the Rings:

Gandalf’s horse is Shadowfax.
Sam’s pony is named Bill.
Aragorn rides Hasufel.
Legolas and Gimli ride Arod.
Merry’s pony is called Stybba.

If you know anyone who might be encouraged by today’s post, please share.