“Praise be to you, Lord; teach me your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.”
– Psalm 119:12-14
![]() Around the time of the building of the second temple, a group of influential Jewish prophets and leaders got together and were termed the great assembly. In that group, they decided things like what should be included in the canon of Scripture and what was commonly meant by certain parts of the Torah. Even more significant, out of their discussion emerged what was called synagogue, which rather than referring to a building, referred to a gathering of Jews who came together to read the law of the Lord and to worship Him. The purpose of such assemblies was to ensure that the Word of God was never, ever forgotten. The Hebrews understood that they had been chosen to steward the commands of Yahweh, and that if even one generation did not remember His Word, their history and traditions would be as good as forgotten. This is why they celebrated and revered the Scripture, even to the point of dancing and jumping up and down when the scroll was brought out. They designed a worship service to celebrate the Torah and to ensure that future generations loved and revered it as much as they did. Friend, I want to encourage you to love the Word of God! Revere it, steward it, digest it, and let it be the guide for your life. Then, share it with others, especially the next generation. Pray for spiritual children, and as the Lord provides, teach them to love and celebrate the Bible and to cultivate a worldview that is centered on the truth of Scripture. As you do this, you will make disciples who continue to make disciples and the Kingdom of God will expand greatly as a result! |
Prayer
Jesus, teach me to revere your Word and to share my passion for it with others.
Reflection
Do you love God’s Word? If so, do you share your passion with your children and spiritual children?