“When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my hearts delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies.” (Jeremiah 15:16)
When was the last time you devoured anything? In my mind I picture some great plate of food or some amazing dessert placed before me. I’ve had very little to eat that day in anticipation of something special planned for later. In my hunger, and with my senses of sight, smell, and even that first taste, I can no longer hold back. Manners are set aside. Slowly tasting and savoring each bite no longer are a feasible option. I want what is in front of me, and I devour each bite perhaps to the point of being stuffed.
God wants us to devour His word. Can you imagine craving the word of God with that same level of desire or passion that we have for something like a meal? Perhaps. Maybe not. And yet, God desires us to be that driven, that addicted, that enticed, that nothing will slow us down, nothing will distract us from that craving.
Why should we crave God’s word? How do we get to a point where that is even possible when we don’t even fully understand it, or agree on the meanings hidden within it?
God’s word was meant to be a means for us to connect with God. It is a gift given to us that permits us (even thousands of years later) to see God’s character and to know Him. The word of God is different from other texts. It is often called the “Living Word,” which is because despite the number of times we read it, it speaks to us differently. Text that never appeared to us or connected with our hearts when they have been read a dozen times before, can suddenly stick out and grab our attention because it appears they were placed there just for us. Just for our circumstance. Just for our need. Just for this particular time.
Perhaps this is why we don’t always fully understand it, or interpret it the same. We are each on our own pathway through this life. We each interact with the Word on different levels (some daily, some sporadically, and some not at all). Our experiences and needs become filters through which God’s words to us stick differently.
Ultimately, just like so many other things in life, when we choose to make something our focus, or when we place great value on it and invest our time, energy, and resources into it, our hearts become linked to it. God’s word is the same. When we value it, invest our time and put out the energy to read it, we begin to crave it. We are linked to it. Our senses and emotions are engaged with it (with Him). It is then that we devour the Word. We cannot get enough of it. We hunger for it.
God and His word are meant to be our joy and our hearts delight. Friend, we were made – YOU were made to bear His name. You are the beloved child of the LORD God of Heaven’s Armies.
Blessings!