Continuing to trace the roots of the reading and preaching of Scripture in Christian Worship, Hughes Oliphant Old analyses Moses’ sermons in Deuteronomy, describing them as “the first series of sermons that has come down to us from the biblical tradition.” (p28)
Old makes these points about preaching as highlighted in Deuteronomy:
- teaching and preaching was a cardinal function of the Levitical priesthood (Deut.33v10)
- the reading and preaching of Scripture has liturgical significance; it is on the basis of the covenant that Israel is able to worship and is received into the presence of God and enjoys communion with God
- the concept of the Word of God appears – God revealed himself not as a visible form but through the sound of words that were heard and written down (Deut.4vv10-13)
- here are the first attempts to establish the reading of Scripture in worship (e.g Deut.6, 31)
The components of preaching were:
- Remembrance – the retelling of sacred history; telling the story of God’s faithfulness. “Remembering is the essence of worship, and especially in preaching the congregation worships by remembering the mighty acts of God…Remembering leads to thanksgiving and thanksgiving to faithfulness.”
- Interpretation – the elaboration and application of the law to the concrete situations of the day. “The interpretation is not a matter of historical reconstruction but rather of contemporary application.”
- Exhortation – “God has loved us, preserved us, and been gracious to us; therefore let us live according to his commandments.”
Deuteronomy describes, in Old’s words, “a priesthood ministering to God’s people in days of apostasy….this apostasy was all too often to be found in the priesthood as well as in the palace.” So today, in similar times, we need a similarly clear and bold exposition of God’s Word. One that calls God’s people to remember the mighty acts of a faithful God; one that applies the word in faithful and relevant ways; and one that exhorts God’s people to lives of consecration and obedience.”
