Read It Out Loud!

In the Middle Ages, there was virtually no literacy in Europe, except within the Church societies. In fact, many cultures didn’t seem to rely on the written word much at all compared to the spoken word. From tales of history, to popular literature, to ordinances, that were many times accomplished by someone like a town crier; an old fashion public announcement – oral reading was common.

However, during the early 15th century, there were notable changes happening all over the world. Things like the invention of the movable type printing press in 1436, but also political changes that opened the doorway for more exploration into educational and religious venues. The collapse of Constantinople in 1453 for one, and the events leading up to the Reformation Movement. So, for the first time in a long time, on a grand scale, more people were able to read, or at least had access to the written word. People heard the unaltered story of the gospel for the first time; straight from the text itself.

Hearing the actual words of God, not just sermons about God, caused people to think about their lifestyle, their faith, and even their death more biblically. When we look through the pages of the Bible, we quickly discover that those same kinds of problems had happened before, and the public reading of scripture had been a part of it.

After 400+ years in Egyptian slavery, the Israelites set out for the Promised Land and were given the opportunity to hear the will of the Creator spoken to them by Moses. In Exodus 19:7-8 after Moses shared everything with the people they answered, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do!” 40 years later, Joshua read the laws of God to the Israelites and they too responded, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.” (Josh 1:16). Then in Nehemiah 5:12 and Ezra 10, the people wept because they had heard the words of God spoken to them again.

It may be tempting to regard preaching about the Bible and reading the Bible out loud as one in the same, but I encourage you to consider that there is a difference. Although they both may have the same basic message, there is something unique about hearing the words of God read from the Bible. Paul said in 1 Timonthy 4:13, “Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.”