Learning to Read For the Glory of God

The Bible's Place in the Worship of the Church on the Lord's Day

Howdy!

For today’s look at the Westminster Directory of Public Worship we have a particularly long section which is focused on the content and place of the reading of the Bible in the morning and evening worship services. At Bethany you will notice that we follow this pattern more or less. We have the reading of whole chapters one after another in the evening, and at the 11 o’clock hour we have two readings of parts of Scripture which are normally one after the other. There is a reason for this. It is a traditional Presbyterian practice born out of what we read below. As we get into the intentions behind this let’s first see what our forefathers in the faith had to say about it:

All the canonical books of the Old and New Testament (but none of those which are commonly called Apocrypha) shall be publickly read in the vulgar tongue, out of the best allowed translation, distinctly, that all may hear and understand.

How large a portion shall be read at once, is left to the wisdom of the minister; but it is convenient, that ordinarily one chapter of each Testament be read at every meeting; and sometimes more, where the chapters be short, or the coherence of matter requireth it.

It is requisite that all the canonical books be read over in order, that the people may be better acquainted with the whole body of the scriptures; and ordinarily, where the reading in either Testament endeth on one Lord’s day, it is to begin the next.

We commend also the more frequent reading of such scriptures as he that readeth shall think best for edification of his hearers, as the book of Psalms, and such like.

When the minister who readeth shall judge it necessary to expound any part of what is read, let it not be done until the whole chapter or psalm be ended; and regard is always to be had unto the time, that neither preaching, nor other ordinances be straitened, or rendered tedious. Which rule is to be observed in all other publick performances.

Beside publick reading of the holy scriptures, every person that can read, is to be exhorted to read the scriptures privately, (and all others that cannot read, if not disabled by age, or otherwise, are likewise to be exhorted to learn to read,) and to have a Bible.

So first out we read above that the only thing that is to be read with authority to bind the conscience of those who hear it is the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament. This seems kind of obvious, but we need to remember the context of why the Westminster Divines would say such a thing. In the Anglican prayer book it contains forms for the expositing of the books we call the Apocrypha, which are works which generally speaking appear in the inter-testamental times (between Malachi and Matthew). While we think they can be neat and interesting we do not believe that they are the word of God, and because of this they have no place in His worship.

In the opening paragraph we noted that the reading of books consecutively through is encouraged by the Directory. We see that explained a bit more here. There is an underlying assumption that the members of the church are coming to church each week, and that the Bible is a continuous story through which we are blessed to come back to the following Sunday. The mindset for this is the same reason why when we are watching a television series we don’t just randomly watch episodes out-of-order, especially if it is a drama or thriller. We want to see what happens next, and this is why our Scripture Lesson in the morning and evening just picks up where we left off the week before. The DPW hopes that at least one chapter is being read, but recognizing these matters are left to the wisdom of the minister as he puts the service together. There is a subtle challenge given here to our ADD culture. We have a tendency to bristle if the reading gets too long. Why is that? Why are we in such a hurry to get God’s word over with? Something worth examining our own hearts about as we consider the Bible in worship.

Another aspect of the reading of the Scriptures that this section of the DPW makes note of is that it was common in older days for the minister after having completed the reading of the chapter to give a sense of it to the hearers. This was separate and different from the sermon. It was more a commentary. While this is exactly what we do in evening worship at Bethany it isn’t followed as strictly in the morning, though it kind of is. If you notice the Children’s Lesson which comes right after it in our order of service is almost always based on what I have just read. There is a method to the madness. We come to worship to praise God, and to learn how. It seems odd to me at least to have the word read and then just to leave it there in the air. When we see the prophets or apostles of old take the Bible, or a revelation which is later written down, they always explain it for the benefit of the hearer. This is the kind of thing Paul is alluding to in the prophecy he is so concerned to protect in 1 Corinthians 12-14, which ironically, we just went over in our evening time together. The vast majority if worship is to be taken up with God’s people hearing God’s word and helping these truths to become the very testimony of our own heart and soul.

In closing, there is an interesting exhortation that people buy bibles, and before that, make sure they learn how to read them. In a culture that has more access to the written word of the Lord than ever before this is an encouragement to us to take advantage of our blessings. Imagine a Scottish church where not all the members of the body are educated to the point of being able to look down and understand the English type on the books in their lap. Yet, we see the writers of the Directory concerned that the Church be motivating their people to learn to read so that they are not reliant on the one day reading of the Bible by the minister, as good as that is. This great reinforcement of our duty to be with our Savior as we hear Him speak is also a testimony that we remember the great purpose of our literacy, so that we can learn more of our God and His love.

Last word:

https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/ten-reasons-to-read-the-bible-every-day

Blessings in Christ,

Rev. Benjamin Glaser

Pastor, Bethany ARP Church