Episode Overview

Title: #302 - Kyle Thompson // HUNGER for the Word: Eat the Scroll
Date: February 26, 2026
Hosts: Joby Martin & Kyle Thompson

In this episode of The Daily Blade, Kyle Thompson explores the concept of spiritual hunger, delving into the biblical account of Ezekiel eating the scroll in Ezekiel 3. The purpose is to challenge listeners, especially men, to develop a deep, sustaining appetite for the Word of God—going beyond casual engagement and making scripture the foundation of daily life. The discussion draws on biblical history, rabbinic tradition, and personal reflections to illustrate how transformative and sweet the Word of God can be when truly internalized.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Spiritual Hunger: Aim Higher

Timestamps: 00:20–01:20

• Kyle opens by acknowledging men’s innate drive—for success, comfort, and pleasure—but encourages aiming for a higher hunger: “I want to aim higher, okay? By digging into biblical stories, we'll see why knowing God through his word changes everything.” (Kyle, 00:26)
• Sets the stage with the context of Ezekiel: after the fall of Judah, Ezekiel is exiled to Babylon and called as a prophet, receiving powerful visions and instructions from God.

2. Ezekiel Eats the Scroll: Consuming the Word

Timestamps: 01:20–02:50

• Kyle reads Ezekiel 2:10 and Ezekiel 3:1–3, emphasizing the moment God commands Ezekiel to “eat this scroll.”
• Key insight: God doesn’t instruct Ezekiel to engage passively or occasionally with His Word but to consume it—to “feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it.”
• Memorable quote:

  “God didn’t just give Ezekiel this scroll and tell him, hey, you know, just kind of skim this from time to time if you’re bored… No. He says, eat this scroll.” (Kyle, 02:09)

3. The Sweetness of Scripture: Jewish Rabbinic Traditions

Timestamps: 02:50–04:58

• Kyle connects Ezekiel’s experience to a story from Joby Martin's book, If the Tomb is Empty, highlighting ancient rabbinic teaching methods:
  • Jewish children began their studies with honey-soaked tablets, associating the sweetness of honey with the delightfulness of God’s Word.
  • The rabbi would say, “Just as you crave the sweet taste of honey, may your soul crave the life giving taste of the word of God.” (Quote from Joby’s book, 03:45)
• Key insight: Scripture memorization and love for God’s Word were cultivated with joy, not fear; the aim was to raise men and women who crave and feed on the Word, not those who engage out of obligation.
• Notable reflection:

  “These rabbis didn’t just want these kids to just admire the Word of God. They didn’t want them to be passive fans of the Word of God. They wanted them to feed on it. They wanted it to sustain them in a way that only the Word of God can.” (Kyle, 04:30)

4. Living on the Word: A Daily Practice

Timestamps: 04:58–05:35

• Kyle exhorts listeners to pursue a rich, daily engagement with scripture:
  • Not just “when it’s convenient” or “the morning before your men’s Bible study,” but to fully “eat the scroll, just like God commanded Ezekiel.”
  • The challenge: cultivate a sustained spiritual appetite that is foundational, not supplemental.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On passive engagement:

  “Hey, go get you a devo... and read it if you can make time for it... just go to a building once a week as long as it’s not traveling baseball or lake season, and let someone else read these words to you. Right? No.” (Kyle, 02:04)

• On cultivating delight vs. obligation:

  “They would have not gained a sincere admiration nor, you know, dedication to the text... They would have just been learning rotely in order to avoid punishment and wrath, right? No.” (Kyle, 04:17)

• Central call to action:

  “I want you to feed on God’s Word and not just when it’s convenient... I want you to eat this scroll, just like God commanded Ezekiel to do.” (Kyle, 04:45)

Important Segments & Timestamps

• 00:20 – Setting spiritual hunger and biblical context for Ezekiel
• 01:20 – Reading and interpreting Ezekiel 2:10 and 3:1–3
• 02:50 – Story from Jewish tradition and If the Tomb is Empty
• 04:30 – Application: What feeding on the Word truly means today

Conclusion

The episode concludes with a challenge to “eat the scroll”—to internalize and crave the Word of God like spiritual nourishment. Kyle Thompson uses the example of Ezekiel and ancient rabbinic practices to inspire listeners to approach scripture not out of duty, but with genuine hunger and joy.

Be back here tomorrow as we wrap up the week. Stay sharp.