Thought for the Day 11/05/21 - Read (or listen!)

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Let's face it, not everyone's a reader. If you are reading this, of course, that may not be something you fully appreciate, but this a fact we have to deal with nonetheless.

Of course, if you measure literacy rates by counting the number of people who can read a little, literacy rates in the UK are pretty high.

Nonetheless, according to the National Literacy Trust, 1 in 6 (16.4% / 7.1 million people) adults in England have very poor literacy skills compared with 1 in 4 in Scotland, 1 in 5 in Northern Ireland and 1 in 8 in Wales and the NHS reckons that 1 in 10 people in the UK has some level of dyslexia.

But illiteracy (can't read) and non-literacy (don't read) are different things, and levels of non-literacy are apparently quite significant too.

In fact, there seems to be a significant cadre of highly intelligent and educated people in responsible positions in their employment who avoid reading by choice and who filter out the overloading torrent of 'stuff' that demands attention by avoiding reading like the plague.

The trouble with all of this is that definite, knowable and binding communication does really need to be put in a format that is definitive and accessible ... and for many thousands of years that has involved reading and writing.

The need for the clearly-written word

Laws are very much a case in point, of course.

Good law is clear, definite, knowable and accessible ... and so when Wales was given (for example) the Laws of Hywel Dda, they were received as a blessing and a help. People now knew the score, they knew where they stood and how to stay out of trouble, apart from anything else!

Good law does that. It HELPS.

And of course, because it is based on clear, knowable, propositional truth, Christianity is known as 'a religion of the Book'.

It needs to be, to preserve the truths handed down accurately from generation to generation, so that everyone can know reliably what those truths are, and so that the public 'good' of enjoying those things can therefore be maintained.

The Psalmist, in our Verse for the Day, writes in appreciation of this:

"The law of the Lord is perfect and preserves one’s life.

The rules set down by the Lord are reliable and impart wisdom to the inexperienced. 

The Lord ’s precepts are fair and make one joyful.

The Lord ’s commands are pure and give insight for life"

                                                          Psalm 19:7-8

Now look, there are four characteristics of God's law listed there, and four benefits:

Four characteristics

God's Word to us is

• Perfect
  
  Writing in Hebrew the Psalmist just uses the straightforward word here for 'perfect', but 'Spot on' means the same in any language!
  
  
• Reliable
  
  His choice of the word 'reliable' points up the observable truth that (in line with what we've said about good laws) God’s covenant with His people contains a clear, reliable witness to his own moral character and the demands that makes of His people in this world.
  
  You know where you are, with Him.
  
  
• Fair
  
  The idea is that they impart a knowledge of what is just and right, andfinally ...
  
  
• Pure
  
  Oh here's a great one .... everyone wants pure when it comes to apple juice, but purity seems to be less popular when it comes to our own moral choices!
  
  But here God's words reflect God’s character ... his commands provide a code of moral and ethical purity for staying in the right with Him.

But hold on now, because here come the four benefits ...

Four benefits

• preserves one’s life
  
  The hebrew says it 'restores the life' ... the point seems to be that the law preserves the life of the one who studies it by making known God’s will.
  
  
• imparts wisdom to the inexperienced
  
  The word means “the [morally] naive,” that is, perhaps but not necessarily, the one who is young and still in the process of learning right from wrong and distinguishing wisdom from folly.
  
  
• makes a person joyful
  
  It says 'makes happy the heart' - the point being that they bring a sense of joyful satisfaction to the one who knows and keeps them, for those who obey God’s law are richly rewarded
  
  
• gives insight for life
  
  Well, we all don't know where to turn from time to time ...
  
  Literally, 'they enlighten the eyes'!

The Point

It's no accident at all that in both the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 31:11) and in the New Testament (1 Timothy 4:13) provision is explicitly made for Scripture to be read aloud to all the people so that the illiterate or non-literate people do not miss out on the good things that the reading of Scripture brings to those who hear it.

Chrstianity is a religion of propositional truth passed accurately from generation to generation and embraced in life, buit it's there for everyone - excluding no-one.

Embracing that teaching in life gives insight, joy, wisdom and life ... in spite of widespread (but not exclusive) dislike of reading!

Those who don't read well or find it challenging for whatever reason must not be shut out of its benefits, and those who read well must share that privilege around, as well as using their privileges as good stewards of a good thing.

The Takeaway

God has given us in His word propositional truth that, when embraced in life, give us four benefits that serve us well.

Refusing to listen sours any relationship, whatever the reason, and so it is with people's relationship with God.

As a side-dish, we need to make sure that literacy skills are not a barrier to learning and walking in God's ways.

Now, modern technology has given us means to read God's Word and have it read to us ... the You Version Bible App is free to download and use HERE for smartphones tablets and computers ... and it's free!

And if you download that app and select the New International Version (NIV) from the drop down options available, the app will read it for you or your non-literate friend ... out loud, whenever and wherever you or they wish.

So let's get reading or listening and embracing God's Word - enjoying its benefits - in OUR life!