How to Eat Your Bible by Nate Pickowicz
* This post may contain links that will, at no additional cost to you, earn the author a commission on any purchases made.
And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.
Deuteronomy 8:3
Many times throughout Scripture, we see the Bible described as food or a source of nourishment. In the Old Testament, we see Jeremiah saying "Your words were found and I ate them" in 1 Peter 2:2 we see the advice to "long for the pure spiritual milk" which is of course referring to the Word. Some translations of 1 Timothy 4:6 even describe being "nourished" with the "words of the faith."
What’s more, in Matthew 4, we see Jesus fresh off a 40-day fast, hungry, and being tempted by the devil, and in response, he repeats Deuteronomy 8:3.
So then, the picture we get from scripture is clear — God's Word is nourishing and vital to our very livelihood. Why, then, is regular reading and study of Scripture such an overlooked component of our spiritual lives? Why do we so often forsake what is a clear Biblical command to regularly consume God's Word? In a moment of brutal self-reflection, the answer I might be inclined to give is that I'm just a lazy hooligan bent on the pursuit of whatever idols I hold most dear. Maybe you see yourself in that statement, too.
But don’t worry, Pickowicz handles the conversation much more gently than I tend to.
If you enjoy a good pun as much as I do, you're in luck, because every chapter is a play on the theme of eating. So we dive right in with where else? Setting the table. In this thorough introduction, Pickowicz reveals that while, yes, many of us just simply don't spend the time in scripture that we should, one of the biggest reasons why is not laziness, but rather the fact that many people just simply don't know how or even where to start. Without a firm foundation in the how and the why of Scripture study, many people just fling open their Bibles, slam their finger down on the page, and start reading, looking for inspiration to strike. Now we don't believe that God can't work in this way, but if he has given us every tool we need to seek his will, then why would he? This is where Pickowicz takes plenty of time laying an important foundation, exploring scriptural sufficiency, and some of the ways the scripture changes us.
This foundation is important because as we move into chapter one (Starving for the Word) we begin to see and understand why a deep love and understanding of the whole Bible is preferable, and even more deeply satisfying than just randomly meandering through, or sprinting from end to end in a single year. Pickowicz sums it up best when he says: "God desires for you to know and love his word."
The chapters that follow contain droves of practical guidance on what sorts of things you should focus on in your study, what things you should avoid, and how, when, and where you should study. He even dives into some big fancy words like exegesis, eisegesis, and hermeneutics, and why you should care about them.
Finally, he wraps the whole book up with a nice pretty bow, diving into how you take all of what you've read, and apply it to a deep and meaningful study, utilizing a seven-year reading plan.
You read that right — seven years.
The idea here is that rather than sprinting through the Bible and barely catching anything as often happens with Bible in a year plans, you take the slow and steady approach, taking time to really devour each and every word of the Lord.
Since finishing this book, I've personally taken to this method of study, and I've never found my time in the Word more intentional, guided, and fruitful. It makes for better consistency, better understanding, and better application. Taking the time to chew on every little word and idea brings Scripture to life in ways you've never encountered before.
Whether you're a new believer just trying to figure out what to do next, or someone who's spent their entire life in church and is just looking to go deeper, this book is fantastic for all comers. With the response questions at the end of each chapter, it also makes a great small group study, or one on one discipleship material.
Grab your copy today, and dig in to God's word!
*Disclaimer: Moody Publishers provided us a copy of this book in exchange for our review. Our review and recommendation is based solely on the content of the book and was not influenced by Moody Publishers or the author.
