Interpreting Scripture so That They Understand
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
The story has specifically to do with the book of Deuteronomy, which was "discovered" buried beneath a wall in Jerusalem when the Temple was being rebuilt. It was brought to the king and read - and as the story goes, the king ordered it read to all the people, so that they might know the laws of God.
And the people, upon hearing the word of God, cried - but the priests told them not to cry: this is a joyous time, you have been given understanding, celebrate!
Oh, if only my preaching made people cry. If only hearing the word of God caused people to tremble inside themselves today - imagine if people were this moved by the word today: America would stop waging wars of aggression across the world, we would end homelessness and poverty and hunger, our justice system would become one of restorative justice rather than punitive or remunerative justice, everyone would work a little and enjoy life more. It doesn't have to be as hard as it is, people! If only the vision of what-could-be could move people to tears today. What-could-be could be.
We could say - go your way, celebrate, and send provisions for celebration to those who have nothing to celebrate with. (Look at that - social and economic justice right there, immediately following the preaching and response by the people! Social and economic justice ought to be part of our worship - do you hear this, people?!).
No wonder utopian communities have been so attractive to people over the centuries - this is a beautiful vision that captures the heart. It is something worth making real. It might be tough to bring about... but the passage ends reminding us that God is our strength... God will do all the heavy-lifting. We just need to get things squared away.
So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.This passage this the definitive scripture for preaching - this is the first recorded act of preaching in the Bible, and lays out the process that remains basically the same to this day. The people gathered, scripture was read, and then selected leaders among the people interpreted the passage so that the people understood. They made the book relevant to the lives and experience of those listening, so that the lessons and insight from so long ago would breathe new life amid the people
The story has specifically to do with the book of Deuteronomy, which was "discovered" buried beneath a wall in Jerusalem when the Temple was being rebuilt. It was brought to the king and read - and as the story goes, the king ordered it read to all the people, so that they might know the laws of God.
And the people, upon hearing the word of God, cried - but the priests told them not to cry: this is a joyous time, you have been given understanding, celebrate!
Oh, if only my preaching made people cry. If only hearing the word of God caused people to tremble inside themselves today - imagine if people were this moved by the word today: America would stop waging wars of aggression across the world, we would end homelessness and poverty and hunger, our justice system would become one of restorative justice rather than punitive or remunerative justice, everyone would work a little and enjoy life more. It doesn't have to be as hard as it is, people! If only the vision of what-could-be could move people to tears today. What-could-be could be.
We could say - go your way, celebrate, and send provisions for celebration to those who have nothing to celebrate with. (Look at that - social and economic justice right there, immediately following the preaching and response by the people! Social and economic justice ought to be part of our worship - do you hear this, people?!).
No wonder utopian communities have been so attractive to people over the centuries - this is a beautiful vision that captures the heart. It is something worth making real. It might be tough to bring about... but the passage ends reminding us that God is our strength... God will do all the heavy-lifting. We just need to get things squared away.
posted by Christian at 8:00 AM
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