Reading the Word...

[Carl Emerson]

It just occurred to me that when the scrolls were found in the temple, they were read to the people in public resulting in deep repentance.

There was no argument over interpretation, hearts were cut to the quick simply by reading the Word.

I think there is a largely forgotten ministry that is simply reading the Word.

We have so much emphasis on interpretation that we can easily forget the He speaks for Himself through the reading of His Word alone.

In an age where culture wants to outlaw the bible even as 'Hate speech' - how much more does it need to be being read.

Back in the day at university sitting on a river bank at lunchtime, one or two were reading poetry... T.S. Elliot and the like..

So I began to publicly read Ecclesiastes and Proverbs...

Why not ???

They thought I was a Jewish Rabbi...

 

[public hermit]

Doesn't that accounting specifically say that they gave the people the interpretation/sense so they could understand? Nehemiah 8:8

There is no reading without interpretation. How could there be?

 

[GospelS]

This has always been on my mind as well. I believe in the power of the Word, in the public reading of the scripture. Just read and let the one who wants to hear more, let them be given interpretation. Jesus didn't interpret His parables to all but only to those who truly desired to receive the seed. We must engage people in reading and listening to God’s word. This must be a regular practice, like eating daily bread and reading the daily news. I wish public/community reading of the scripture was a commonly accepted practice everywhere. Audio Bibles are a good resource we could use.

I believe there are many people out there on the streets who are hungry for God’s word but have no idea what exactly they are looking for. The pure word of God needs to be heard for the dry bones to come to life. The one who has ears let him hear and let God do whatever pleases Him. Faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God because when God speaks everything else will fall in place by the power of His Spirit. The word of God is sufficient and perfect. (Hebrews 4:12, Isaiah 55).

 

[SongOnTheWind]

It just occurred to me that when the scrolls were found in the temple, they were read to the people in public resulting in deep repentance.

There was no argument over interpretation, hearts were cut to the quick simply by reading the Word.

I think there is a largely forgotten ministry that is simply reading the Word.

We have so much emphasis on interpretation that we can easily forget the He speaks for Himself through the reading of His Word alone.

In an age where culture wants to outlaw the bible even as 'Hate speech' - how much more does it need to be being read.

Back in the day at university sitting on a river bank at lunchtime, one or two were reading poetry... T.S. Elliot and the like..

So I began to publicly read Ecclesiastes and Proverbs...

Why not ???

They thought I was a Jewish Rabbi...

I believe the stress on interpretation has been maligned by itching ears that aren't really concerned with context or truth, but about how they can use (in effect, abuse) the Word of God for their own fleshly gain. As a result, the enemy has succeeded in hardening many hearts against the sheer authority of God's living Word.

It's the same old lie: did God really say... (in Eve's case, that she should not eat any fruit of the tree of the garden. He didn't get her with that one, but of course he didn't give up. He keeps trying to chip away at our faith and our stance wherever he can). "Did God really mean that though, or is it just symbolic or just a parable?" Or whatever excuse he comes up with at the time.

It's a shame, but while it does undermine God's Word in some people's eyes, it doesn't mean the Word of God has lost any of its power. If anyone quotes the Word of God, they must be a priest, or rabbi, or something, as those students presumed! It has a weight that simply poetry and pretty writing does not.

It is written... the authority that the Word made flesh has!

 

[throughfierytrial]

It just occurred to me that when the scrolls were found in the temple, they were read to the people in public resulting in deep repentance.

There was no argument over interpretation, hearts were cut to the quick simply by reading the Word.

I think there is a largely forgotten ministry that is simply reading the Word.

We have so much emphasis on interpretation that we can easily forget the He speaks for Himself through the reading of His Word alone.

In an age where culture wants to outlaw the bible even as 'Hate speech' - how much more does it need to be being read.

Back in the day at university sitting on a river bank at lunchtime, one or two were reading poetry... T.S. Elliot and the like..

So I began to publicly read Ecclesiastes and Proverbs...

Why not ???

They thought I was a Jewish Rabbi...

Also let us not forget the exhortation to preachers do so...read the Bible publicly. ...

Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.
--I Timothy 4:13

 

[After God's Heart]

There are a few groups that do weekly public readings of the Bible over zoom, if that's something you'd like to get into more. I'm not too familiar yet with what all can be posted/shared here as far as meetings but they are easy to find with a Google search.

 

[GreekOrthodox]

This is an example of how the New Testament reading is done in an Orthodox church. It is chanted so that the reader cannot put his own emphasis on the reading.

 

[pescador]

It just occurred to me that when the scrolls were found in the temple, they were read to the people in public resulting in deep repentance.

There was no argument over interpretation, hearts were cut to the quick simply by reading the Word.

I think there is a largely forgotten ministry that is simply reading the Word.

We have so much emphasis on interpretation that we can easily forget the He speaks for Himself through the reading of His Word alone.

In an age where culture wants to outlaw the bible even as 'Hate speech' - how much more does it need to be being read.

Back in the day at university sitting on a river bank at lunchtime, one or two were reading poetry... T.S. Elliot and the like..

So I began to publicly read Ecclesiastes and Proverbs...

Why not ???

They thought I was a Jewish Rabbi...

A "Jewish Rabbi"? As opposed to ..?

Just teasing you, Carl! I appreciate all your posts!

 

[Micaiah-Imla]

Doesn't that accounting specifically say that they gave the people the interpretation/sense so they could understand? Nehemiah 8:8

There is no reading without interpretation. How could there be?

This isn’t interpretation as we do today. Today interpretation is a means to nullify scripture: Back then it was to magnify it.

"So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading." (Nehemiah 8:8)

So when they read the following:

"that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month" (Nehemiah 8:14).

They literally did it!

"So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim." (Nehemiah 8:16)

Today we wouldn’t obey the scripture.

After all, how many obey this scripture?:

"Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law." (1 Corinthians 14:34)

I haven’t seen it yet.

Many Christians are a bunch of hypocrites!

But Christ was right:


"…wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat" (Matthew 7:13)

And:

"Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition." (Mark 7:9)

 

[pescador]

This isn’t interpretation as we do today. Today interpretation is a means to nullify scripture: Back then it was to magnify it.

"So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading." (Nehemiah 8:8)

So when they read the following:

"that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month" (Nehemiah 8:14).

They literally did it!

"So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim." (Nehemiah 8:16)

Today we wouldn’t obey the scripture.

After all, how many obey this scripture?:

"Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law." (1 Corinthians 14:34)

I haven’t seen it yet.

Many Christians are a bunch of hypocrites!

But Christ was right:


"…wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat" (Matthew 7:13)

And:

"Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition." (Mark 7:9)

The Jews celebrate the Festival of Booths annually; it's a very big deal in Israel.

What is your basis for the sweeping condemnation that "Many Christians are a bunch of hypocrites!' (excluding yourself of course)? Because of what Paul wrote to a single church in Corinth approximately 2,000 years ago? Why are you judging others and putting them under some new law?

Apparently you've forgotten what Jesus said about judging others, but God will remind you!

"Now when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they assembled together. And one of them, an expert in religious law, asked him a question to test him: “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” Jesus said to him, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:34-40

 

[Minister Monardo]

I think there is a largely forgotten ministry that is simply reading the Word.

Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy,
and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

This statement reminds me of the reaction of Mary to the wondrous words she heard,
and consider them in understanding the above verse.
Luke 2:
19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.
51 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them,
but His mother kept all these things in her heart.
When we wait on the Lord, He will confirm His Word in due season.

 

[public hermit]

Today interpretation is a means to nullify scripture

Many Christians are a bunch of hypocrites!

I wish it were all so obvious and easy. I would say the vast majority of Christians who take the time to study and interpret are doing so in good faith, even if they're dead wrong. I disagree with your wholesale condemnation of so many Christians, but I don't assume you're putting forward anything other than what you believe. I don't assume your use of scripture is intended to nullify it, even if it's mistaken.

The fact that there can be and is disagreement over interpretation only confirms that it shouldn't be done lightly, and that we should try to be generous with each other in our disagreements over interpretations. It's serious business, but we have all we need to interpret rightly, i.e. love for God and neighbor. Even if we get our interpretation wrong, so long as we have love we are getting it right. Without love, it doesn't matter what our interpretation is.

 

[Carl Emerson]

Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy,
and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

This statement reminds me of the reaction of Mary to the wondrous words she heard,
and consider them in understanding the above verse.
Luke 2:
19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.
51 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them,
but His mother kept all these things in her heart.
When we wait on the Lord, He will confirm His Word in due season.

A few years back at college about 6 of us read the whole of Revelation out loud, in turns, in a lecture room in response to the promise of blessing you quoted. There was a good audience - It took most of the day.

 

[Minister Monardo]

A few years back at college about 6 of us read the whole of Revelation out loud, in turns, in a lecture room in response to the promise of blessing you quoted. There was a good audience - It took most of the day.

Hearing God's Word is to your spirit like the heavy snow pack of winter.
It is able to sustain you through dry times. Another beautiful analogy:
Psalm 1:3
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
Jeremiah 17:
7 Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
And whose hope is the Lord.
8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit.

 

[The Liturgist]

This is an example of how the New Testament reading is done in an Orthodox church. It is chanted so that the reader cannot put his own emphasis on the reading.

This is how it should be done. Historically, “reading” the Bible meant chanting it, and the Jews continue to do this to this day (see: Cantillation) as do Orthodox Christians and Roman Catholics using the Traditional Latin Mass. Anglo Catholics also chanted scripture lessons historically, but the custom of chanting the entire liturgy, which was de rigeur in the 1970s when Francis Jackson was organist at York Minster, has nearly vanished.