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1 Timothy 4:13 – Read with Intent – Public Reading
Reading in public is becoming a lost art. The Bible is not meant solely for reading, but for listening too – “He who has ears to hear” (Matthew 11:15). God’s word is just like music which is created to be performed, and heard. Even if the player is alone, he is hearing the sounds and being transformed by the mystery of music.
Public reading should be done by reading with intent, by making the words what they are – living – Hebrews 4:12 HCSB For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as to divide soul, spirit, joints, and marrow; it is a judge of the ideas and thoughts of the heart.
Just as we listen for the tones within music, we must listen for the tones in the recorded words, meaning the reader has to hear them first and then reproduce them. Imagine a musical composition where each note and every note was a repeating whole note – middle C. Missing would be meaning, imagination, beauty, life, intent and riveting rhythm. Is our public reading as meaningless as a song filled with only one kind of note?
Therefore when reading, imagine the words are notes, punctuation marks are rests or musical notations. Just as a song should not have the same tempo or volume from beginning to end, neither should our reading. Just as the tones change within the song, our tones must change when reading. Certain words should be spoken as if they had accent marks above them. Certain words should make us linger. Pauses give silence which gives added meaning through reflection. Make the words coming out of our mouths as lovely as a musical composition meant to be listened to, not endured. Make the reading a musical concert. Make it a work of art.
This is true whether reading publicly or privately and personally. This is especially true of preachers – read the word of God as if you truly believe that what God says is more important than what you have to say about it.
1 Timothy 4:13 HCSB Until I come, give your attention to public reading, exhortation, and teaching.
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