As Southern Baptists, I can imagine that many of us are comfortable with the idea of reading the Bible. It is a discipline that many of us throughout all generations grew up doing and is a primary way by which we grow in godliness, wisdom, and understanding. However, what if I presented a different way to engage with Scripture?
Have you ever considered “listening” to God’s word? The culture of biblical times was oratory in nature (they passed on and embraced teachings that were heard rather than read). The King James Version of the Bible itself was a version meant to be read aloud, which is partially why the Psalms read so beautifully from it. Don’t get me wrong, there are many good things that come from reading the Bible. You can journal, underline, and record your thoughts as you read verses over and over again. However, there are also many auditory learners in our flock (you may be one of them). Two things come to mind as to why listening to God’s word is a helpful alternative to “reading” the Bible.
1. Having the Word of God read over us exhorts us when we cannot exhort ourselves.
Every Sunday morning, we have someone read a Psalm to the congregation with inflection and direction to their voice. Does that not encourage you? This can also be said about listening to the Word of God. I personally use a Bible application on my iPhone called, “Dwell.” It’s 30 dollars a year, giving me access to different voices, ambient background music choices, and different Bible listening plans. If you don’t want to pay for a plan, you can always listen to the YouVersion application for free. When someone, other than yourself, reads the Word of God over you, there is encouragement that comes unlike when you read it yourself. It is not as if you are reading it for information. Instead, it is as if you are listening to God’s grand narrative story. If you aren’t getting a whole lot out of your Bible reading, it may just be that you need a different approach. Try listening to it instead of reading.
2. Having the Word of God read over us eliminates excuses not to be in God’s Word.
Since I started listening to God’s Word, I have gotten through more of my Bible than I had in previous years. I can listen to it as I’m driving, as I’m walking, or as I’m doing something else (which I wouldn’t recommend unless you are a gifted multitasker or are doing a menial task). I always used to say, “I just don’t have time to sit down and read God’s Word. I have to be somewhere.” With an audio Bible at my fingertips, I can listen to it as I get to that somewhere I have to be. I can be exhorted with Scripture as I exercise or get work done. We have opportunity in the midst of a busy schedule to be in Scripture with the technology we have. If you are using the excuse that you are too busy to be in God’s word, consider listening to it in the midst of your busyness. Who knows, in the midst of your busyness, you may even find spiritual rest.
So what do we do with this? If you have struggled to be in God’s Word, consider your methods. Why do you not engage with His Word regularly? More often than not, our excuse is that we don’t feel like it or don’t have enough time. If that’s the case, try listening to the Word of God. Start a Bible listening plan and try it out for a few weeks while you exercise, work, or are simply waking up in the morning. With the technology we have, we always have the opportunity to, “literally,” hear from God’s Word.