J3-2: The Hebrew Scriptures Were NOT Meant To Be Read, They Were Meant To Be Spoken Out Loud

“Y’hoshua got up early in the morning, and they left Sheetim and came to the Yarden, he with all the people of Israel; they camped there before crossing.”-Joshua 3:1

The very first little phrase “Joshua got up early in the morning” leads us to a very important discussion about how we are to read and interpret the Bible.

Here’s something you’ve got to understand.

You’re NOT to approach the Scriptures as if you’re reading some fast-paced Stephen King novel.

And you shouldn’t approach Scripture study as if you’re scrolling through your Facebook feed either.  

The bottom line is it is a big mistake to view the Bible through the lens of modern culture (especially Western culture) period.

In fact, I really think on a cultural level, there are some parts of the Scriptures that are simply going to be easier for Asians to understand even though the Bible is considered to be a Western religious book.

For example, consider the first foreign languages the Bible was first translated into.

It was first translated into Greek, then Latin, and then after that English.

However, here’s the thing.

Greek, Latin and English are what we would consider linear or rational-based languages.

However, Hebrew is totally different.

In fact, Hebrew is much closer to the Asian languages.

It is very circular and organic.

Do you wanna know why the Western church has given birth to so much rigid and mistaken doctrines?

Simply because it is interpreted through the eyes of Western culture when what we really have to do is adopt the mindset and culture of an ancient Middle Easterner when reading Scripture.

There’s another really important point you’ve just got to grasp.

The Hebrew Bible (the “Old” Testament) was actually never meant to be read.

That’s right homies.

All of the great Bible stories we’ve loved ever since we were young children were actually handed down via word of mouth.

And they were crafted in a way more suited to storytelling around the campfire than to be read out loud like liturgy. 

Scripture was meant to be spoken out loud, not read.

A ton of nuance and intended meaning is lost if we don’t grasp this point.

We’ll continue this discussion the next time we meet.