9/25/13- Purpose in Preaching

7 The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. 8 They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read. (Nehemiah 8:7,8)

Thoughts: Some scholars think that those listed above in verse 7 translated the Hebrew Ezra was reading into Aramaic, the language of the people.  Others would say these people preached or taught what was read extrapolating on the passages.   Verse eight clarifies this- they read, made it clear, and gave meaning.  Some say this is what preachers need to do- read, making it clear and applying it to our lives- making it meaningful.  So the purpose of preaching is to link the people to the scripture with understanding. 

Prayer: Help me to understand your word.  Give me grace to pass that understanding on to others.