Catechism Question 50
How is the Word of God to be read and heard?
The Word of God should be read and heard prayerfully with delight, humility, diligence, reverence, and submission, so that we may receive it in faith, store it in our hearts and apply it to our lives.
Focus and Purpose of this Question
This question reminds us that it is not enough to read and hear the Bible. Because it is nothing less than God’s Word to us, it must be attended to properly if we are to receive all of its many benefits. To approach the Scripture properly it requires that we approach it in the right posture and attitude (delight, humility, diligence, reverence, and submission) and that we also have the right goal in mind (receive it in faith, store it in our hearts and apply it to our lives).
This question serves as a way to ask ourselves and our children if we are merely going through the motions in reading the Scripture and listening to it being taught. If we are, it will only serve to harden our hearts. But if we approach it in the right attitude and with the right goals, it will be a source of endless blessing to us and it renews our mind and transforms our heart and will.
Additional Questions:
What attitude and goals should you have as you read the Bible?
What are the right attitudes we should have when receiving God’s Word?
How should we respond to God’s Word?
Scripture References:
Psalms 119:18
Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.
Psalms 1:2–3
But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
Acts 17:11
Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
James 1:21
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
Isaiah 66:2
“Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the Lord. “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.”
Joshua 1:8
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Deuteronomy 6:6–9
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Hebrews 4:2
For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.
Proverbs 2:1–6
My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, 2 turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, 3 and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, 4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Matthew 7:24–27
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.
John 14:21
Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.
James 1:22
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
Questions for Further Discussion:
What happens to us if we do not approach the Bible with the right attitude? Can we still receive the blessings it has for us? Will it leave us unchanged or will our hearts actually be hardened as we hear God’s Word improperly?
What is the danger of not applying God’s Word to our lives? If we continually read or hear the Word but do not actually apply it to our lives, can this hypocrisy make God’s Word of no effect in our lives? Why or why not?
Additional Information:
This question is based on question 90 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism and question 42 of the New City Catechism. Any resources you find on Westminster Shorter and New City Catechisms will have a good discussion on this question.
For additional information, see the teachings “God’s Penetrating Word” (June 16, 2019), “The Question of the Bible” (April 8, 2018), “Sola Scriptura – The Ultimate Authority of Scripture Alone” (October 1, 2017), “Shema – hear and Speak God’s Word” (January 1, 2017), “Devoted” (September 2, 2013), “God’s Word – Our Treasure” (January 1, 2012), and “Meditating on God’s Word” (September 2, 2012).
Suggested Worship Song:
Do You Tremble (Wes King, 2009)
Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2rvH0LQxmk&feature=kp
Have you counted the stars in the heavens
Have you walked the circumference of the earth
Have you measured the boundaries of the universe
Do you tremble at the Word of God
Have you uncovered the source of the thunder
Have you tamed the crashing mighty sea
Have you defied the force of gravity
Do you tremble at the Word of God
CHORUS:
The wise will hear Him and obey His word
Long and blessed will be their days upon the earth
The fool will perish in the folly of his ways
Do you tremble at the Word of God
Have you considered the scope of eternity
In the light of unwavering truth
Have you regarded the works of a strong and mighty hand
Do you tremble at the Word of God
Do you tremble, oh do you tremble at the Word of God?
CHORUS