Chewing cud
What a joy to watch deer peacefully chewing their cud – not an everyday sight for most people. Watch the video carefully to see her pause from chewing, swallow, then something moves back up her neck, her cheeks bulge, and she resumes chewing!
This was especially interesting to observe today, as the Torah reading in synagogues around the world includes the Deuteronomy passage that defines what makes an animal kosher for Jews to eat. One characteristic is having a split hoof, and a second is chewing cud (Deuteronomy 14:6).
Consuming commandments
A second-century interpretation of Moses’ teaching connects the chewing of the cud of kosher animals to the joy of chewing over the word of the Lord, meditating on it. Since we use our mouths both to eat and to speak, our language today also creates metaphors between chewing on food and meditating on words: “I need to chew on this awhile.” “Let me ruminate on that.” “This thought is gnawing on me.”
Even Jesus connected food with consuming God’s instructions. While hungry in the wilderness, he quoted Deuteronomy 8:3: “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” (Matthew 4:4)
The Hebrew Bible can be split into three main sections (Torah, Prophets, and Writings). The start of each section links to the others through the theme of meditating on God’s word day and night.
- The first chapter of Genesis starts the Torah. Here, God creates everything by his word, over a sequences of days and nights (Genesis 1).
- The first chapter of Joshua starts the Prophets. It connects to meditating on God’s Torah day and night: “Keep this book of the Torah (instruction) on your lips, and meditate on it day and night, so that you will take care to act according to everything written in it.” – Joshua 1:8 (CJB version)
- The first chapter of Psalms starts the Writings. It connects to the Prophets: “His delight is in the LORD’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night.” – Psalm 1:2 (CSB version)
This shows how meditating on God’s word is key throughout the Bible. Just as animals repeatedly chew on their food, we should continually meditate on God’s word day and night.
Food for thought
What do you consume, physically, mentally, and spiritually? What thoughts and ideas do you ruminate on most often?
How do you approach reading Scripture? Do you do it with a sense of responsibility or joyful anticipation? The Hebrew word for “meditate” (hagah), means murmur, used for the growl of a lion ready to feast – “As a lion or young lion growls (hagah) over its prey…” (Isaiah 31:4a). Imagine the contented low growl of anticipation with the lion about to enjoy his meal.
Enjoy chewing and ruminating on God’s word today!