And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above the people, and when he opened it, all the people stood up. Nehemiah 8:5
One of my grade seven schoolteachers, named Mary Murray, loved to tell her classes stories of all aspects of her childhood. One day, she was speaking about the church she attended when she was a little girl, and how different the attitudes of people were back then. For example, she related, in those early days, people would remain seated when singing hymns. But when the Bible was being read, the congregation would stand up, to show their reverence and respect for the Word of God. It was a denominational church, so there was obviously considerable error in that church regarding a number of things. But it seems to me they had one thing right, the showing of respect for the reading of the Scriptures. We could all do with more of that, just as the people in Jerusalem did when Ezra the scribe did his famous reading.
Am I suggesting that we have everyone stand while the Word of God is read in our Assembly meetings? No, although it would probably not be a bad move. But we do need to have impressed on our hearts the greatness of the Word of God and of the importance of showing it proper respect. And it should begin early in life. Long before they can even make an attempt at reading them, little children love to carry their Bibles to Sunday School. A little more self-conscious about carrying a Bible, young people like to have smaller or extra-slim editions. Older Christians like to have their Bibles in easy-to-carry cases that will hold other things they will need, such as pens, highlighters, or even a pocket concordance. The Bibles that we take to meetings say much about us, and sometimes indicate our attitude toward the Word of God itself. A Christian posted a question on the Gospel Hall forum about the proper way to dispose of a Bible that has deteriorated from use to the point where it can no longer be used. I pointed out to the poster that a Bible that is falling apart usually has an owner whose life is not. And I added that such a Bible probably deserves a place in a trophy case. We know that the leather cover, the paper, and the ink are not holy in themselves, but it is the words that are printed in the Bible that are holy.
We have all had new Bibles at one time or another. But the Bible itself is certainly not new. In the first century, the Scriptures as we know them were completed and available to be translated into the languages that we use today. Before the time of Christ, the Scriptures included only the Old Testament. But before the Books of the Law were written by Moses, and before the record of Job was inscribed on parchment, the Word of God existed, just as it will always exist. As the Word of God, it is as eternal as God, it is as unchangeable as God, it is as true as God, and it is as faithful and trustworthy as God. Surely such a Book is worthy of our deepest reverence and respect. -Jim MacIntosh