Week 26: Honour the Living Word

 

And the eyes of all of them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him (Jesus) Luke 4:20

This is instructive. We can liken synagogue to today’s church. People go to church for various reasons, not all of them pious. It may be a custom (as in the case of Jesus), and it is a good thing that elders train children in the habit of going to church Sundays. They, in their time will do likewise and the church of God is never wanting for people.

And why do people go to church?

The primary reason ought to be Worship. Of course, you can worship anywhere; the vital aspect being that you must worship God in spirit and truth (John4:24). But there is something to be said for congregational or collective worship. When a multitude comes together with one mind – putting aside the differences of its individual components – the sight is simply glorious (Rev. 7:9).

Yet what is more glorious is that all the eyes should be focused on Jesus.

To be sure there are distractions aplenty. Your eyes can wander amidst a congregation: Jane’s gorgeous silk saree and Jill’s outrageous hair colour beg for attention. But learn from that synagogue in Nazareth of Galilee.

But we should not overlook the fact that that while the people there were doing the right thing, the motive of some of them was suspect. They were cavil and were waiting for Jesus to trip up – in word or action.

All eyes on Jesus.

Those familiar with rowing jargon in competitive racing would know that the coxswain from time to time has to rhythmically yell “eyes on the boat” to arrest the oarsmen’s eyes straying to the boat on the next lane overtaking yours by a canvas length.

And why does he/she do it? You’ve got to be attentive to the work on hand. Concentrate. Forget about the outside world.

Does that describe your attitude to worship?

Let’s read the preceding portion.

17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written…

Do you know your way around the Bible? Can you navigate without stumbling through its 66 books? Familiar as you are with the letters of the alphabet, do you look for the book of Zephaniah just before the back cover?

Stand up

Oh, … as His custom was, He ……. stood up to read. 

What’s your posture when the Word of God is read? Time and again we see in the Old Testament that the congregation stood when the scribe read, sometimes for many hours.

It is a good thing that the church fathers built this aspect into the Order of Worship.

Once He finished reading the Scripture which was inevitably – not coincidentally – about Himself, Jesus spoke. And what were His words like?

Gracious!

Dare we ask ourselves what kind of words proceed from our mouths? Would to God, they are not angry words breathing fire and damnation, curse words, derisive words. Oh, the power of the tongue! Apostle James rhapsodizes over its various effects. The great Tamil sage Thiruvalluvar (திருவள்ளுவர்) –an Indian poet and philosopher comes pretty close. He wrote on various subjects in his  Tirukkuraḷ (திருக்குறள), a collection of couplets on ethics, political and economic matters, and love – and for good measure dealt with the Tongue extensively. Here is an example

நாநலம் என்னும் நலனுடைமை அந்நலம்
யாநலத்து உள்ளதூஉம் அன்று

A tongue that rightly speaks the right is greatest gain,
It stands alone midst goodly things that men obtain.