Reading of The Word

Found this gem from the C M Alliance’s web site:

Of course we of this generation cannot know by firsthand experience how the Word of God was read in other times. But it would be hard to conceive of our fathers having done a poorer job than we do when it comes to the public reading of the Scriptures. Most of us read the Scriptures so badly that a good performance draws attention by its rarity. It could be argued that since everyone these days owns his own copy of the Scriptures, the need for the public reading of the Word is not as great as formerly. If that is true, then let us not bother to read the Scriptures at all in our churches. But if we are going to read the Word publicly, then it is incumbent upon us to read it well. A mumbled, badly articulated and unintelligent reading of the Sacred Scriptures will do more than we think to give the listeners the idea that the Word is not important. We do not, however, concur in the belief that because the Word has attained such wide circulation we should not read it in our public meetings. We should by all means read it, and we should make the reading a memorable experience for those who hear. Every man who is honored with the leadership of public worship should learn to read well. And do not imagine that anyone who can read at all can read well. Even learned men break down here. We are all familiar with those public figures who can talk fluently on almost any subject but flunk out miserably when they try to quote the Scriptures. Reading the Bible well is something not picked up overnight.

Amen.

That’s why I have never found the “each one read his own verse” idea favourable. The one who lead the bible study should, IMO, read the whole passage if feasible.

Rise Up, Reading and Sleep

Admittedly, I have been buying (and reading) too many books recently — from Francis A. Schaeffer’s Escape from Reason and How Should We Then Live? to A.W. Tozer’s Submit Yourself To God or J. I. Packer’s Knowing God (and many other books that I can’t remember) — all in a single month or so.

Beside all these readings, I was trying to wake up earlier and earlier — you can imagine how packed the life would be. There is no other reason but I am feeling some kind of void, or emptiness, in my life.

“​​​​​​​It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.” (Psa 127:2)

May I put aside the books for a while and trust LORD for this rest, for I have been longing for it?