Draw Near to Listen: practicing Lectio Divina
No, lectio divina is not a spell from Harry Potter. It's Latin for "divine (or sacred) reading". It's a way of reading a section of Scripture in order to truly listen. We often read our Bibles as part of a daily reading plan – which is great – or as part of a time of study. Lectio divina is not about learning information but inviting transformation. It's not just reading to check it off your to-do list; it's about checking in with your heart and soul.
One commentator described the practice saying, "it does not treat Scripture as texts to be studied, but as the living word." The word of God is living and active (Hebrews 4), not just ink on a page – or pixels on a screen.
There are many ways to practice lectio divina. This week, I want to invite you into this practice with the passage we studied on Sunday. Here's how it will work. You will read the passage three times through. Read it out loud if you can. After each reading, you will sit queitly listening for the voice of God to speak through his word. With each successive reading, you will spend a few moments contemplating a question. You can sit quietly with your thoughts or you can write your answers down, whichever you prefer.
Beginning Prayer
First, let's center our thoughts and ground ourselves. Quiet your mind and read this prayer out loud if you can.
"Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening"
First Reading
QUESTION: What does this passage reveal about myself?
Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 (Christian Standard Bible)
Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Better to approach in obedience than to offer the sacrifice as fools do, for they ignorantly do wrong. 2 Do not be hasty to speak, and do not be impulsive to make a speech before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. 3 Just as dreams accompany much labor, so also a fool’s voice comes with many words. 4 When you make a vow to God, don’t delay fulfilling it, because he does not delight in fools. Fulfill what you vow. 5 Better that you do not vow than that you vow and not fulfill it. 6 Do not let your mouth bring guilt on you, and do not say in the presence of the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry with your words and destroy the work of your hands? 7 For many dreams bring futility; so do many words. Therefore, fear God.
Second Reading
QUESTION: What does this passage reveal about God?
Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 (New Living Translation)
As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. It is evil to make mindless offerings to God. 2 Don’t make rash promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few.
3 Too much activity gives you restless dreams; too many words make you a fool.
4 When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him. 5 It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it. 6 Don’t let your mouth make you sin. And don’t defend yourself by telling the Temple messenger that the promise you made was a mistake. That would make God angry, and he might wipe out everything you have achieved.
7 Talk is cheap, like daydreams and other useless activities. Fear God instead.
Third Reading
QUESTION: What is this passage calling me to do?
Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)
Guard your steps when you go to the house of God; to draw near to listen is better than the sacrifice offered by fools, for they do not know how to keep from doing evil. 2 Never be rash with your mouth nor let your heart be quick to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you upon earth; therefore let your words be few.
3 For dreams come with many cares, and a fool’s voice with many words.
4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay fulfilling it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Fulfill what you vow. 5 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not fulfill it. 6 Do not let your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake; why should God be angry at your words and destroy the work of your hands?
7 With many dreams come vanities and a multitude of words, but fear God.
Closing Prayer
When you are ready, end your session with this prayer from Psalm 19:14 (NIV)
May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
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