07/10/2018
Keeping the Word of God in our hearts and mulling over it all the day long is the way we glean from it the intricate details of what has been placed there for us. By quietly chewing every syllable over and over again we find that we can extract all of the flavor it contains, and then every bit of nourishment. In this way we are thrilled, and then fed. In this way we see God in our everyday world.
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.”
Psalms 1:1-2 ESV
If you walk by a Pasture full of cattle you will notice that some of them are busy grazing, and eating grass, but an equal number of them are just standing, or laying, there... quietly chewing. We call this activity “chewing the cud.”
Cows are interesting animals, God has given them four stomachs so that they can fully digest the grass which they eat. The process begins by their biting off a mouth full of grass, and chewing it just enough to swallow it. The food then goes to the first two stomachs where it sits and the digestive process begins. Once the cow has filled these two stomachs then it goes into the restful state that we see them in, and they cough up the grass from these two preliminary stomachs, and chew it again. This continues into the night until at last they have chewed all of this cud thoroughly, and passed it on their third and fourth stomachs where it is fully digested. In this way they are able to extract as much of the nourishment from the grass as possible. Interestingly, some of these nutrients nourish the cow itself, while some goes to the udder where it becomes milk that feeds its offspring... and us as well.
“And he will give grass in your fields for your livestock, and you shall eat and be full.”
Deuteronomy 11:15 ESV
In a similar manner we are to spiritually digest God’s Word. We read it, and then should chew on it all the day long as we take from it everything that we are able. In this way we are fed and refreshed; in this way we feed our children... and others around us. As humans we are physically equipped with only one stomach, but spiritually we are much more like the cow... we have the capacity through our spirit, heart, soul, mind, and by the assistance of the Holy Spirit, to effectively digest the Word of God. In this way we are immersed in God’s Word all day, and into the night. In this way we feed ourselves in thought, dreams, visions, and prayer. We are also able to pass along nourishment to those around us.
“From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work. You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth”
Psalms 104:13-14 ESV
Have you ever wondered about the scripture which instructs us to pray without ceasing? Well if you go to a pasture at night and watch the cows as they lay there, you will notice something amazing... they chew their cud... even as they rest and sleep. We should do this as well. Our dreams, and subconscious minds should take over while our conscious minds rest. In this way the prayers of the day become the prayers and dreams of the night.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 ESV
Are we fully nourishing ourselves, our children, and those around us, or are we simply eating the Word of God, letting it pass through our one stomach, and going about our worldly day? Or, are we allowing ourselves to become spiritual cattle? Do we take the Word we are provided as meat, do we find provision in the day, the night, and even during the Sabbath of the land?
“The Sabbath of the land shall provide food for you, for yourself and for your male and female slaves and for your hired worker and the sojourner who lives with you, and for your cattle and for the wild animals that are in your land: all its yield shall be for food.”
Leviticus 25:6-7 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your provision in all things, but especially for nourishing my soul with your Word. Thank you Holy Father for making me a spiritual cow that takes each Word, and every thought of you, and chews it all the day and night long. Thank you for allowing me to draw every ounce of nutrition I am able from these things you give me, and in this way provide me with an abundance that I can share from the storehouses of my soul. Help me Merciful Father to be a good shepherd that leads those around me to fields of plenty, and who teaches them to eat. Help me to demonstrate how our spiritual cud is to mulled over to nourish us fully, and how it provides the substance of prayer that we will lift up to you as an offering of relationship, and praise. How great are you Holy Father! You offer us examples in the physical world that enlighten and strengthen us spiritually... all thing sing out to you, and all things serve your will. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you who takes the least of your creation and uses it to show us your glory. Praised be your name, now and in all the days and nights of my life.
“he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.”
Psalms 136:25-26 ESV
Rich Forbes