Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:46-47
Rabbi Shimon would say: Three who eat at one table and do not speak words of Torah, it is as if they have eaten of idolatrous sacrifices; as is stated, “Indeed, all tables are filled with vomit and filth, devoid of the Omnipresent” (Isaiah 28:8). But three who eat at one table and speak words of Torah, it is as if they have eaten at God’s table, as is stated, “And he said to me: This is the table that is before God” (Ezekiel 41:22).
Pirkei Avot 3:3 (The Sayings of the Fathers)
When I read about meals in the Bible, I often picture people sitting at a table sitting on chairs like I usually eat. This, however, was not the normal way they did things. People generally sat on the ground. Tables were short or were a mat on the ground on which food was set. One exception to this rule was to recline at the table. This was done by the rich or at celebrations. We read multiple times in the Gospels of Jesus reclining at a table. The Greek way of accomplishing this was a triclinium – a table where guests reclined on three sides, leaving the fourth side open for the person serving them to easily reach the table.
More important than how they sat, however, was how they ate. It is easy today to have the TV on or to quickly gulf down a meal before hurrying off to the next big thing on one’s agenda. A Middle Eastern meal, however, would be slow and a time where family and friends could spend time together. The table was much more than just a place to eat. It was an opportunity for fellowship with others and a time to discuss God’s Word.
While in Israel, we celebrated Shabbat dinner almost every Friday evening. It was a time to ring in Shabbat (the Sabbath), setting it apart from the normal week. For the past several weeks, I’ve been doing this with my small group from church, applying to what I learned at JUC. After a busy week, we often feel tired and don’t necessarily feel like getting together. However, each time it has refreshed us. One of the things we read before the meal says, “Here may we always find rest from the day’s work, and refuge from cares.” After an engaging discussion, we eventually decide it’s time to go home after more than three hours. It has become something we look forward to.
I think we’ve tapped into something amazing that the early believers and rabbis of old understood. To gather for a meal and talk about God’s Word is an amazing thing, bringing us closer to each other and to God. As Rabbi Shimon said (quoted above), it’s as if we were sitting at God’s own table.
