Read to Learn and Observe

Read to Learn and observe 

Deut.17.18-19 "Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, 

God gave His instructions and guidelines for would be kings in Israel long before they got to the promised land.  God had presept and instructions for every stage and category of men especially the leaders.  One of His instructions is that novices should not be made kings or leaders. Kings should marry many wives and shouldn't accumulate wealth for themselves at the expense of their citizens. 

Leaders should be readers, they should have personal copies of the Law and read daily all the days of their lives.  Anyone who can't read can't lead. Because,  according to the word of God,  they will learn  to fear God and be careful to observe His words when they read.  Reading broadens our horizon. It helps deep thinking and wise observation. Reading brings information. The word of God is available that we might read it and thereby learn to fear God and observe His ways. 

The idea of writing came that we might read and re-read for us never to forget any important message.  As good as it is to memorise and learn to store the word of God at heart,  writing and reading is much more effective because of the limitations of the human brain. There's a limit to what can be memorised and for how long our brain can store information. What we memorise can be distorted but the written word can't be manipulated. 

God command regular reading of the word in the temple by the scribes to the people during worship, He also mandated kings and leaders to read the book of the law. This is the first reason God gave the written laws that His people might not forget his word.  One of our Sunday School lyrics says 

'Read your bible,  pray everyday, if you want to grow'. 

Our growth and development depends on how much time you have to read the scriptures. This is to be done daily and for the rest of our lives. Only a dead man stops reading. Pick up a book today and read. Give more time to reading each day and you will become a better version of yourself. 

Readings: Deut. 17:14-20; Neh. 8:1-18; Acts 8:27-40.

Prayers: 

I re-dedicate myself to reading Your words daily that I may learn to fear You and that I may be careful to observe Your word all the days of my life.  Amen