While Peterson’s 3 books on Spiritual Theology have formed the basis of the first part of the sabbatical, I have tried also to read some other authors who pick up similar themes touched on by Peterson.
I think there is little doubt that Peterson places great emphasis on listening to, reading and studying the Scriptures. The second of his books was after all entitled ‘Eat this Book’ and the challenge he sets is to let the Word of God get right inside us.
A similar point is made by David Foster( a Benedictine monk at Downside Abbey) in his book, ‘Reading with God’.
As he reflects on the challenge of reading the Scriptures he recognizes that Scripture is no easy read. Therefore we need to get used to reading it and read it slowly, reflectively. . He suggests that the metaphor of honey used in Psalm 19:10 is directly related to the imagery of chewing and digestion that became central to the Christian understanding of meditating on the word.
He writes: “The word that is sweet in the mouth needs to be chewed and digested. Receiving the word of God is a process of nourishment, where the word of God gives life to the one who obeys.” David Foster then notes, as did Peterson, that there are a couple of places where the Bible talks of eating the scroll on which the word is written.( Ezekiel 3 and Revelation 10). In Revelation we learn that it gave John stomach-ache. Foster writes: “It would probably be intolerable if the Scriptures only tasted of honey! But this is a sobering reminder that the word of God is not just easy talk or words of comfort. The bitterness of the scroll is because of the toughness of the message as well as the seriousness of the commission entrusted to its recipients.
It’s the weekend again and we are off on our travels. This time we are popping just over the border to
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