Each Sunday morning we have a Scripture reading near the beginning of the assembly. This is not merely to prepare you for the sermon. Paul exhorted Timothy to “give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:13). Just as exhortation and doctrine (teaching) are done publicly, so “reading” refers to the public reading of the Scriptures.
Please follow along in your Bible as the Scriptures are read. You will increase your comprehension and retain more. Remember, the Bible is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16). When the Scriptures are read, it is just as though Jesus were standing there speaking directly to you. Each of us ought to listen carefully and reverently.
Let us imitate Israel’s good attitude back in Ezra’s time. As he was publicly reading the Scriptures, “the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the Law” (Nehemiah 8:3). To show their respect, when Ezra opened the book, “all the people stood up” (8:5). By the way, this wasn’t just reading a couple of verses; Ezra started early in the morning and read until noon! (Nehemiah 8:3).
John the apostle pronounced a blessing upon those who read the Scriptures publicly. “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it” (Revelation 1:3a). Not that “he who reads” is singular, while “those who hear” and those who “keep those things” are plural. John is writing about the public reading of God’s word, especially the book of Revelation (though the application extends to all of the Bible).
