September 11 - Read in the Great Congregation

September 11 - Read in the Great Congregation

One of the first things I did as a kid upon sitting down in the pew was check out the scripture. Alright, that was after I put a piece of paper in the hymnal to mark every single hymn we would be singing, but I wanted to see how long we would have to stand there while the scripture was going to be read out loud. And then I would see who the lay leader was for the morning - would they read clearly and quickly or would they end up stumbling over words and draw it out even longer.

Moses took the Book of the Covenant in Exodus 24:7 and read it to the people. I'm certain they didn't have lawn chairs or comfortable pews (or even uncomfortable pews). They listened as he read the covenant to them and then responded, "We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey."

The reading of the Law was a common occurrence. The people of Israel did have access to the scriptures in printed form, so they had to hear the words of God over and over for them to sink into their hearts.

In Joshua 8:34, we read "Afterward, Joshua read all the words of othe law - the blessings and the curses - just as it is written in the Book of the Law. There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the aliens who lived among them"

Baruch read Jeremiah's words from the Lord to the people in the temple, proclaiming anger and wrath against them. (Jeremiah 36:8)

In the New Testament, we see Jesus come to the temple to begin His ministry. He stands to read and the words of the prophet Isaiah are opened before Him, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of God's favor." (Luke 4:17-19)

Paul tells his readers in the letter to the Colossians to ensure that the letter is also read to the church of Laodicea and that their letter should be read to the church in Colossae. (Colossians 4:16)

The words of God were meant to be read to the people. When James tells his readers that they should "not merely listen to the word, but do what it says," (James 1:22) he knows that the only place they are receiving the message from God's word is in their community gatherings.

The Word is meant to be heard, it is also meant to be acted upon.