DEVOTE YOURSELF TO THE PUBLIC READING OF SCRIPTURE
“Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.”
(Paul’s instruction to Timothy – 1Ti 4:13, ESV)
The public reading of the Scriptures was an extremely important practice throughout the Bible. It started at Mt. Sinai when the Israelites were first rescued from Egypt. In Egypt the Israelites somehow lost the knowledge of God. He had to introduce Himself to Moses at the burning bush as YHVH – a name they did not know. “I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty (El Shaddai), but by My name LORD (YHVH) I was not known to them.” (Exo 6:3, NKJV). The Israelites came out of slavery. They needed a new identity as a people group and they needed to learn the ways of the LORD. When God gave Moses the Law, he gathered the people together and read the Law out loud to them, reminding them of where they came from, who they were, and the new destiny God had called them to.
“So Moses wrote this law and delivered it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel. And Moses commanded them, saying: “At the end of every seven years, at the appointed time in the year of release, at the Feast of Tabernacles, when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Gather the people together, men and women and little ones, and the stranger who is within your gates, that they may hear and that they may learn to fear the LORD your God and carefully observe all the words of this law, and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God as long as you live in the land which you cross the Jordan to possess.”” (Deut 31:9-13, NKJV)
When the Israelites arrived in the Promised Land, Joshua continued the public reading of the Scriptures. “And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and the curses, according to all that is written in the Book of the Law. There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, with the women, the little ones, and the strangers who were living among them.” (Jos 8:34-35, NKJV). However, after Joshua died the Israelites began to do what was right in their own eyes (Judg.17:6; 21:25), and several generations followed who did not know the LORD.
“Hear the word of the LORD, You children of Israel, For the LORD brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: “There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land. By swearing and lying, Killing and stealing and committing adultery, They break all restraint, With bloodshed upon bloodshed. Therefore the land will mourn…” (Hos 4:1-3, NKJV)
Centuries later a king named Josiah rediscovered the Scriptures. He called the people together and the Word of God was read to them. It caused a National Revival and thorough cleansing of the nation from all idolatry and wicked practices.
“Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. So Shaphan the scribe went to the king, bringing the king word, saying, “Your servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of those who do the work, who oversee the house of the LORD.” Then Shaphan the scribe showed the king, saying, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king. Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he tore his clothes.” (2Ki 22:8-11, NKJV)
Here is God’s response: “because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,” says the LORD.” (2Ki 22:19, NKJV).
When the public reading of Scriptures diminished, the people lost their faith. It caused them to be exiled to Babylon. After the exile God instructed Nehemiah and Ezra, the priest, to publicly read the Word again. And again it caused a National Revival!
“Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded Israel. So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month. Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. (Neh. 8:1-3, NKJV)
Due to the powerful effect of public Scripture reading, reading Scripture aloud became a key practice in the Jewish faith. Even Jesus Himself participated in this practice, and it was during the weekly reading of Scriptures that He first launched His mission. After this event, the timeline of public Scripture reading takes us to the New Testament Church where the Apostles daily ministered the Word: “but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”” (Act 6:4, NKJV) and finally Paul instructed Timothy on the importance of the practice. The public reading of the Scriptures were continued through the centuries of the church until it became restricted to church buildings. It is time to free/release the Word of God.
LET THE WORD RESOUND
In South Africa we have freedom to read the Bible. There are lots of sermons on the Word, but the Word of God Himself “is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart ” (Heb 4:12, NKJV). The time has come for a new approach, a reset of how we do church.
- With this then, a challenge to every congregation in South Africa to publicly read the Bible or play the audio Bible through loudspeakers from your church building or your house. Choose a time when most people in your area will be either at home, commute to work or take a lunch break. Put speakers on the roof of the church, at the door or where it will be most effective, and broadcast the Word of God for 30 minutes over your area, as often as you can (at the same time, daily or weekly).
- For Christians who are bold and not ashamed of the Gospel, park your car in the parking lot of a shopping centre or business district, connect the Audio Bible or your phone to your car speakers and broadcast the Word of God for 30 minutes, as often as you can. Choose a time that many people will be outside to hear it.
- Use different languages. Audio Bibles are available in all South African and African languages, in Arabic, Urdu, Tamil and Mandarin (see the links at the end of the article.
Let the Word of God wash over our nation. Let us trust that the Holy Spirit will quicken the Word and pierce the hearts of people. Let us pray that the fear of God will penetrate the darkness of our nation and bring people to salvation.
Some Scriptures concerning the power and effect of the Word of God (NKJV):
- In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (Joh 1:1).
- He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. (Rev 19:13)
- The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. (Psalm 12:6)
- The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward. (Psalm 19:7-11)
- By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. (Psalm 33:6)
- He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. (Psalm 107:20)
- Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. (Psalm 119:11)
- Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven. (Psalm 119:89)
- Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105)
- The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. (Psalm 119:130)
- Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me. (Psalm 119:133)
- The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever. (Psalm 119:160)
- I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name. (Psalm 138:2)
- So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. (Isa 55:11)
- “Is not My word like a fire?” says the LORD, “And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?” (Jer 23:29)
- But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD.’ ” (Mat 4:4)
- It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. (Joh 6:63)
- You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. (Joh 15:3)
- Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. (Joh 17:17)
- So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Rom 10:17)
- And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; (Eph. 6:17)
- because “all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. the grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the lord endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you. (1Pet 1:24-25)
- as new-born babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby (1Pet 2:2)
Audio Bible resources: