BIBLE READING - PROFITABLE AND PLEASURABLE

A Necessity for Young and Old

In ancient times, individual copies of the Scriptures were not available for personal use, so Bible reading was done before the congregated throng. After Jehovah had given him the victory over the city of Ai, Joshua assembled the tribes of Israel before Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim. Then, the account tells us: "He read aloud all the words of the law, to all that is written in the book of the law.
There proved to be not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read aloud in front of all the congregation of Israel, together with the women and the little ones and the alien residents who walked in their midst." (Joshua 8:34, 35) Young and old, native and alien resident, needed to have engraved, as it were, in their hearts and minds what conduct would bring Jehovah's blessing and what would bring his disapproval. Bible reading done on a regular basis will surely help us in this regard.

Today, millions of Jehovah's servants are like those "alien residents" in a spiritual sense. At one time, they were living according to the world's standards, but they have transformed their lives. (Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:7, 8) They constantly need to remind themselves of Jehovah's standards of good and bad. (Amos 5:14, 15) Daily reading of God's Word helps them to do this. -Hebrews 4:12; James 1:25.

There are also many "little ones" among Jehovah's people who have been taught Jehovah's standards by their parents but who need to convince themselves of the rightness of his will. (Romans 12:1, 2) How can they do so? In Israel, the priests and older men were instructed: "You will read this law in front of all Israel in their hearing. Congregate the people, the men and the women and the little ones and your alien resident who is within your gates, in order that they may listen and in order that they may learn, as they must fear Jehovah your God and take care to carry out all the words of this law. And their sons who have not known should listen, and they must learn to fear Jehovah your God." (Deuteronomy 31:11-13) Living under the Law, Jesus at the early age of 12 showed a keen interest in understanding his Father's laws. (Luke 2:41-49) Later, it was his custom to listen to and participate in Scripture reading in the synagogue. (Luke 4:16; Acts 15:21) Young ones today would do well to follow Jesus' example by reading God's Word daily and by regularly attending meetings where the Bible is read and studied.

Next time: Bible Reading - A Priority

Watchtower, 2000