Draw the Circle: The 40 Day Prayer Challenge

by Mark Batterson

In ancient Jewish culture, formal education began at six years of age. Jewish boys enrolled in their local synagogue school called bet sefer (“house of the book”). On the first day of class, according to tradition, the rabbi would cover their slate with honey. Honey was the symbol of God’s favor. Then the rabbi would instruct his students to lick the honey off their slate while reciting from Psalm 119: “How sweet are Your words65 to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth.” It was their first lesson and their most important lesson. It taught the students that nothing is sweeter than the Word of God. It taught them that the Bible is the land of milk and honey, the true Promised Land. By the time students graduated from bet sefer four years later, they had memorized the entire Torah. Every jot and tittle of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy was engraved on their cerebral cortex via memorization. After graduating from bet sefer, the best students continued on with bet Talmud (“house of learning”). From the age of ten to fourteen, students memorized the rest of the Hebrew Scriptures. For what it’s worth, I think it’s likely that Jesus attended bet Talmud. Scripture doesn’t explicitly mention66 it, but even at twelve years of age, Jesus wowed the rabbis in the temple courts with his understanding. After bet Talmud, a select few graduated to bet midrash (“house of study”). Those who didn’t make the cut would typically go into the family business. Applica...