Worship

Part 16 - To Hear and to Understand

When we read the Bible, we read the very words of God. There is however more to it than simply seeing and reading or hearing words from a printed page. These are special words. They are words inspired by the Holy Spirit. The words of Scripture therefore carry the authority of God. We should bow before the words of Scripture as we would bow before God Himself. We do not worship a book. We do worship the God who speaks to us in the Book. Herein is the problem. Reading the words of God is one thing. Recognizing the authority of the words of the Bible and acting on these words is another thing. We may hear and yet not hear and not understand (Matthew 13:13).

This goes for preaching too. Romans 10:14 is a classic text about preaching. Paul asks three questions. "How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?" We may alter the middle question slightly to conform to the original language and emphasize Paul's point. The little preposition in is unnecessary. "How will they believe Him whom they have not heard? Paul speaks of encounter with Christ in preaching. He speaks of hearing Christ.

We understand this to mean Christ speaks to the congregation in preaching. Some ministers push the text too far. They hold that if people in the pew disobey their words they are disobeying Christ. This is a superficial understanding of Paul. Jesus complements Paul. "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me" (John 10:27). One of the objectives in preaching is for men and women, and boys and girls not only to hear the voice of the minister but also to hear the voice of Christ. How does this come about?

Reading Scripture and preaching are important elements of public worship (1 Timothy 4:13, Nehemiah 8:8-9). As we assemble for worship, God promises to meet with us. God told ancient Israel, "Moreover, I will make My dwelling among you, and My soul will not reject you. I will also walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people" (Leviticus 26:11-12). Paul quotes this text when he writes to the church at Corinth. The people do not receive individual copies of his letter. They no doubt hear Paul's letter read to them in the corporate setting. Paul says to the gathered church at Corinth, "For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, 'i will dwell in them and walk among them; and i will be their god, and they shall be my people'" (2 Corinthians 6:16).

God is especially present among His people gathered for worship to fulfill His covenant promises. He is present to apply the reading of Scripture to our hearts. Pastors must faithfully relate the sense and meaning of Scripture and apply God's word to our lives. At the same time, the Holy Spirit is present to open our hearts to respond to the preaching of the great truths of Scripture. God is present to put light on His word and His truth in our hearts. Here is a profound and divine dynamic. In the context of public worship, as we sing to Christ, read Scripture and listen to the sermon, we may expect Christ to fulfill His words to us. "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." We may expect to hear and understand Jesus Christ.