Not only is the Lord the Creator of each type of life, He has also provided the way for us to grow to maturity -- both physically and spiritually.
In the following passage, the apostle Peter, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16), instructs us on how to obtain the nourishment needed for our spiritual growth. This is done by using a simple, but profound analogy.
In I Peter:2:2-3 (NKJV) we read "Love one another with a fervent heart, having been born again -- of incorruptible seed -- through the Word of God which lives and abides forever. Therefore, lay aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, and all evil speaking. As newborn babes, DESIRE THE PURE MILK OF THE WORD, THAT YOU MAY GROW THEREBY -- if indeed, you have tasted that the Lord is gracious" (meaning, have experienced His grace in salvation). (Emphasis noted in these verses is mine.)
Why did Peter not say "as a bee, desire the pollen of the Word", or "as a deer, desire azaleas", and so on? Simply because these were not the right analogies. They were not specific enough. Since God created all things, He knew the best analogy -- mother's milk.
This short study is about just how earnestly we should desire the Word, and how that pure milk of the Word makes us grow. To understand this better, we are going to look at how a newborn desires the natural, God designed, or "pure" milk of his mother. We will also see how the very act of breastfeeding points to aspects of spiritual growth via the Word.
First, the word "pure" ("sincere" in older English) denotes that what God has designed is perfect for His purpose. Human milk is pure and not contaminated when delivered from mother to baby at her breast. God's Word, too, is pure. It is not contaminated by error.
Human milk does not contain anything which will harm the normal human baby. Man-made baby milk will provide basic nourishment for babies to grow. However, we know from scientific study that what man makes can not begin to approach what the Creator designed when He anesthetized Adam and formed a woman. Man-made baby milk is not perfect. It lacks so much of what baby milk should be, and what "pure" baby milk contains.
God brought the universe into existence with the vehicle of His Word. It is His Word that is the foundation for our spiritual lives. We are to pursue that Word just like weak, susceptible newborns pursue their mothers' milk. We are to desire the pure milk -- the Word of life which God provides for us -- and not the inferior milk, or that "life" or philosophy which the world offers us.
When I refer to the "world", I am referring to what theologians say is a system which operates in opposition to God. It is a system where man is in rebellion to God, and where man considers himself to be the ultimate being. It reality, Satan controls, within what God allows, the world system.
So, let's look at why God compared the desire for the pure Word to that of a newborn desiring his mother's milk.
1. Fresh human milk is a living fluid. It contains living cells which fight bacteria and viruses. There are cells types which are designed specifically to help the baby digest the milk itself. It causes the G.I. tract to maximize the absorption of nutrients. Some components in the milk cause the lining of the baby's intestines to grow thick with cells which, in turn, protect against infections. It also provides protection against some adult onset diseases, such as Crohns or ulcerative colitis. Human milk will also actively fight disease causing organisms which find their way into the baby's G.I. tract. This protects the little one from becoming ill in many, many cases.
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| Breast Milk. Photo by Stephen Buescher, MD. Used with permission. |
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| A Standard Newborn Formula. Photo by Stephen Buescher, MD. |
2. Human milk tastes different than does artificial baby milks. When given a choice, babies will always prefer the taste of mother's milk over formula. Breast milk is very sweet. In fact, it is the sweeter than any milk made by any of the mammals.
Years ago, when I was teaching a breastfeeding class, I tried something. I brought a snack of chocolate chip cookies. One plate contained store brand, dry cookies and the other plate contained homemade cookies. At the class break, I put out the plates and watched. When class resumed, I held up the plates and asked what the class noticed. Someone pointed out that the plate of homemade cookies was almost empty while the store brand was untouched. My point was "If your baby is given a choice between breast milk and store bought milk, your baby will choose "homemade". I would then encourage the parents to taste some formula, if they had not yet decided just how to feed their newborns.
Psalm 119:103 proclaims "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth." It is the sweetness of God's word which is able to draw us to seek more of God by taking time to read His word, and to "digest" it by meditating on it.
3. Human milk has unique factors which promote brain growth and development. Several studies show that people who were breastfed as babies typically have higher IQs. In fact, the longer a baby is breastfed, the bigger the brain, which can positively affect the IQ. One study, using MRI technology, noted the difference in the brains of exclusively breastfed babies versus breast milk and formula fed babies, and babies fed formula alone. The brains of the exclusively breastfed babies where the most best developed.
Formula companies have added DHA and choline (and soon, ingredients like oligosaccharides) to try to boost the "brain food" components of their product. Yet, there is no evidence that they are effective. Even the sources for their additives is different that what is in breast milk. That which God provides has ingredients which are in the perfect form, the perfect amounts, and the perfect environment to promote optimal brain growth and development in an infant. Similarly, when we feed on the the pure milk of the Word, our "spiritual brain", or "understanding" can grow properly.
Psalm 119:144 tells us that "the righteousness of your testimonies is everlasting. Give me understanding so that I might live."
In Psalm 119:104 the writer states, "Through y our precepts, I get understanding." "Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe your commandments."
(Psalm 119:66) "The entrance of your words gives light. It gives understanding to the simple." (Psalm 119:130).
4. Human milk promotes proper physical growth in a way formula does not. This is not just because of the nutrients it contains. Breast milk contains HGH, or human growth hormone. Many years ago, I learned about a little girl named Lacy. If she ate any food, other than breast milk, she would become very ill. For many years she could ingest only breast milk in the form of shakes, popsicles, and milk. As a teenager, she was still healthy. The only noticeable difference was that she was taller than the other kids her age.
Our I Peter text teaches us to feed on the pure milk of the Word, "that you may grow thereby."
When we feed on God's Word, we will grow spiritually. Only God's word has "SGH" -- spiritual grown 'hormone'". Just as human milk is the original "super food", capable of keeping a baby alive and well into her teenage years, the Word of God is spiritual "super food", capable of keeping us alive FOREVER.
5. The act of breastfeeding itself promotes the balanced development of vision in the baby. Nursing mothers switch their babies from side to side from feeding to feeding, and sometimes during a feeding. Sometimes they use the football or "clutch" hold, where babies can look at mama with both eyes. These positions allow babies to see from each eye pretty equally over time. This promotes the correct development of vision in both eyes. This allows the baby to see the world correctly, with the right visual perspective. Most formula fed babies are held in pretty much the same position with each feeding. This can negatively affect visual development, in addition to the lack of some nutrients which support good vision development.
Feeding on God's Word causes us to view the world, life, God, eternity, and spiritual matters with the correct perspective through the truth He teaches us in Scripture. Our view, or understanding of these things continues to develop properly as we continue to feed on His Word over the course of our lives.
In Psalms 119:18 we read, "Open my eyes that I might see wondrous things from your law."
Matthew 6:22-23 states "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But, if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then, the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!".
6. Breastfeeding promotes correct jaw development, which, in turn, promotes correct speech development. The exercise of the muscles of the face, jaw, and tongue during breastfeeding results in development of a wider dental arch. All of these can decrease the chance of speech problems. By feeding on the Word, our spiritual speech develops properly. We can speak truth, gently, and with love. We can praise God with our mouths, and we can tell others about Him.
Psalm 119:13 says "With my lips I have declared all the judgments of your mouth." In Proverbs 10:11a we find these words: "The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life."
7. Newborns take a lot of time breastfeeding, and they nurse frequently. It is best to nurse newborns as soon as they communicate their desire to feed (by rooting, etc.). When this is done, healthy, alert newborns will nurse as much as 12 - 15 times a day. After mom's transitional milk comes in, her supply increases, and the baby's stomach capacity enlarges, the number of feedings decreases to about 8 per day. Babies tend to "cluster feed" at some point of the day, which is usually followed by 3 -6 hours of sleep. But, healthy babies continue to come back to the breast for sustenance.
Just like newborn babies, we benefit when we spend sufficient time in the Word in order to support healthy spiritual growth. When we struggle with taking the time to read and study the Bible, it can help us to remember this directive of "as newborn babes, DESIRE the pure milk of the Word." Babies delight to nurse, and nurse often. God wants to delight us with His Word, to sustain us with it, to protect us with it, and to guide us with it.
8. A natural result of the time the nursing dyad spends together is a special intimacy. Many mothers who have bottle fed one child and then breastfed another will report a different type of bonding. They describe this as knowing their breastfed baby better because of the extra closeness breastfeeding requires. Some tell stories of how they knew their nursing babies so well, they were able to pick up on the fact that the baby was sick, or had some disorder much sooner than if they were bottle feeding.
From baby's perspective, we know that in as little as two to three days, breastfed newborns can identify their own mother's breast pads from those of other mothers.
God wants us to experience an intimacy and a closeness with Him that can come only from knowing Him. We know God through His word. Only by spending time reading and studying God's word can we know God and develop an intimacy as close, or even closer than that which is shared by a nursing baby and his mother.
In 2 Peter 3:18, Paul encourages us to " . . . grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Jeremiah 9:23 tells us, "This is what the Lord says: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, or the strong man boast of his strength, or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and know me, that I am the Lord who exercises kindness, justice, and righteousness on earth, for in this I delight', declares the Lord."
There are many examples in Scripture, but the most significant one is the Cross. Humans deserve eternal punishment for rebelling against their Creator. This is a just punishment for so great an offense. Yet, because God "is love", Jesus Christ, God the Son, came to earth to live a sinless life -- a life that in no way ever went against God and His Word. Only God, who is sinless, could do this. Even though Jesus was sinless, He voluntarily went to the Cross to die in place of those who put their trust in Him. At any point, Jesus could have stopped the unlawful and unjust execution. He had created the world. He could control nature. It would have been nothing to Him to destroy every Roman solder, every Jewish leader, and every mocking voice around Him in an instant. Yet, because of God's attribute of love and mercy, He was determined to follow the great plan to redeem a fallen human race. By Jesus' death God's justice was satisfied. The "sin penalty" was paid.
"Kindness (love), justice, and righteousness" came together at Calvary -- and those who place their trust in Jesus Christ and follow Him are the beneficiaries, and eternally so.
9. One major benefit of breast milk is that it protects babies from infection. If they do become ill, breast milk helps them fight the illness so that the duration is shorter and the illness is less severe.
Newborns have an immature immune system. Colostrum, the first milk the baby drinks, is very much like a liquid vaccination against many diseases. Mature milk also has living cells which provide protection. Macrophages, which "seek and devour" pathogens provide great protection to the vulnerable baby. The protectiveness of human milk is so finely tuned that when a baby's body is invaded by an illness causing organism, when he or she nurses, that organism is transferred to the mother. Her body quickly produces antibodies to fight the infection, and she "feeds" the "medicine" back to her baby with that same or the following feeding. In most cases, the infection is overcome before the baby has symptoms. If the baby does get sick, the symptoms are often less severe and recovery is faster. God's word has the power to "inoculate" us against the various pathogens of sin. When we do succumb, it provides us with what we need to fight the battle and overcome the sin before it overcomes us.
Psalms 119:11 reminds us "Your word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against you." The pure milk of the Word protects us against sin just as the pure milk of the mother protects her baby against illness.
10. Even more than fighting infection because of its components, human milk prepares the baby's immune system from the first feeding. Formula actually disrupts this amazing process, and even causes inflammation and damage to cells important to the baby's immune system. In a sense, an adulterated source of nourishment "defiles" the baby, by the damage it causes. Likewise, seeking spiritual nourishment from a source other than God and His word defiles the person. He can not hope to be healthy. A person's only hope for a healthy spiritual life is through God's word. Only Scripture will not defile. In fact, it is the only source of the words of eternal life.
Psalm 119:1 states "Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord."
11. Human milk is readily available, and at just the right temperature and the right composition. Premature babies require milk that it higher in protein (for brain growth) and lower in fat (because of an immature G.I system) than the milk a mother makes for her full term baby. Mother's milk "adjusts" to this need perfectly, without her even thinking about it. For term babies and older babies, the composition of milk changes throughout the days, weeks, months, and even years, according to baby's stage of growth and exposure to illness causing organisms.
Psalm 119:147 states, "I rise before the dawn of the morning and cry for help: I hope in Your Word." While the correlation between this verse and the image of a baby crying for milk in the early morning might bring a smile, it is still a beautiful picture of how "the pure milk of the Word" is always there, comprised of exactly what we need for the moment. This is especially so when we have hidden it in our hearts. When we cry, no matter the time, God's Word meets out needs.
12. Nursing babies are absolutely delighted when they see mom preparing to breastfeed them. They wiggle, smile, make this little "uh, uh, uh" sound (which means "hurry, Mom, hurry" or something like that!), and sometimes try to help her with their little hands. Psalm 119:162 tells us "I rejoice at your Word, as one who finds a great treasure". "My hands, also, I will lift to your commandments, which I love." (Psalm 119:47) "Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart." (Psalm 119:11).
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| Used with permission. |
13. Nursing is not just for feeding a hungry baby. God made mother's breasts, and the closeness enjoyed when nursing, to be a quick and special way to comfort a sick, frightened, or injured little one. Babies even crawl or toddle toward their mothers for this comfort. Studies have shown that when a baby is subjected to pain, babies who suckle have a diminished response to the pain, as evidence by lower levels of catecholamines (stress hormones) in their blood.
"Remember the word to your servant, upon which you have caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction . . ." (Psalm 119:49). "You are my hiding place and my shield. I hope in your word." (Psalms 119:114). "Let my supplication come before you. Deliver me, according to your word." (Psalm 119:169).
I think it is interesting to note something else about this passage in 1 Peter. As has been stated, God chose to instruct His children to "as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word." He did not say "as a dehydrated sojourner, desire the oasis of the word", or "as a prisoner, desire the freedom of the word", or some other analogy similar to those listed at the beginning of this study.
I'm certain that the people living in Peter's day had some understanding of what he was conveying. Babies needed their mother's milk (or the milk of another woman) or they would not grow to maturity. The readers of this passage of Scripture at that time could really connect with this analogy.
Yes, God knew exactly what He had created when He made human milk. He knew just how specifically the command of 1 Peter 2:2 correlated to the physiology of the milk and the act of nursing. However, it was not until the era of advanced science and technology that we have learned so many wonderful things that they could not have know in the time this verse was written.
But, God knew. His directive to "desire the pure milk of the word" is clearly an extremely precise picture of the benefits to us of doing so. This is just one example of the the perfect Word of God. He has protected His Word over time, so that the absolute essence and meaning have been preserved. It remains life-giving, even today.
God's design of human milk and breastfeeding illustrates beautifully how His living Word causes "those who have tasted that the Lord is gracious" (by salvation) to grow with optimal health, to be able to understand Him and His instructions to us, and to know Him better as we experience a special intimacy with the God of the universe. It pictures how we can develop the right perspective of life here on Earth, of what God is like, and of the true life He offers us -- as opposed what the world has to offer. God's Word supports mature, spiritual speech development. It wonderfully demonstrates how the Word protects us against spiritual and even physical pathology caused by sin. It promises the immediate availability of its power to nourish or comfort in just the right way, at the right time. Just as newborns feed frequently, we, too, are encouraged to feed frequently on His Word.
Finally, to encourage us to do what is vital for our healthy spiritual growth and life, God made it so His children's feeding on His Word is sweet to our spiritual taste buds. We don't spend time in Bible study out of some duty or desire to please our Father. The blessing is for us!
The few minutes we take away from the cares of life in order to nourish our spirits on the "pure milk of the Word" is full of blessing because we are, in a way, nestled up to God. We are enjoying the sweetness of His fellowship as we learn more about Him and His love for us. Our "devotions" or "time with the Lord" , or however we choose to describe it, becomes a time to which we look forward to spending with Him.
May we desire God and His Word as a newborn babe who craves his mother's milk for satisfaction, health, proper growth, comfort, intimacy . . . and our very life. May our desire for God's Word reflect those of of the Psalmist:
"Your word is very pure, therefore, your servant loves it." Psalm 119:140.
Love this article. It's been over 16 years since my last child was born, but I nursed all four of our children. It was such a precious time for both my children and myself. Thank you for such a beautiful teaching of desiring the pure milk of the Word of God.
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