Minimum Daily Requirement of Bible Reading

Everything that is good for you has a minimum daily requirement. Consider air, water, food, sleep, etc. Yes, you can get too much of these. But it is vitally critical to get at least the minimum requirement. Or else you will die of suffocation, dehydration, starvation, or exhaustion. Did you know there is a minimum daily requirement for Bible reading?

So Moses wrote this entire body of instruction in a book and gave it to the priests, who carried the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant, and to the elders of Israel. Then Moses gave them this command: “At the end of every seventh year, the Year of Release, during the Festival of Shelters, you must read this Book of Instruction to all the people of Israel when they assemble before the LORD your God at the place he chooses. Call them all together—men, women, children, and the foreigners living in your towns—so they may hear this Book of Instruction and learn to fear the LORD your God and carefully obey all the terms of these instructions. Do this so that your children who have not known these instructions will hear them and will learn to fear the LORD your God. Do this as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy.” (Deuteronomy 31:9-13 NLT)

This is a special command for a special time at a special place. And understanding this back story makes it even more important for us to follow this minimum daily requirement.

• This was a special place, at The Feast of Tabernacles, which is a significant Jewish festival with rich spiritual meaning. Described in Leviticus 23:33-43, this festival commemorates Israel’s 40-year journey in the wilderness and God’s faithful provision during that time. It involves dwelling in temporary shelters (sukkot) for seven days. This serves as a reminder of the believer’s journey through the spiritual “wilderness” of this world, reliant on God’s provision and protection. It encourages thanksgiving, trust in God, and the anticipation of Christ’s return.
• This was a special time, at the seventh year of release, also known as the Sabbatical year or Shemitah, which holds significant spiritual and practical meanings. This law, found in Deuteronomy 15:1-2 and Leviticus 25:1-7, mandated that the Israelites should forgive debts, release slaves, and let the land rest every seventh year. It’s a reminder to trust in God’s provision, to care for the less fortunate, and to take times of rest and reflection. This should inspire Christians to align their lives more closely with the principles of mercy, justice, and reliance on God.

From this perspective of setting aside a special time for remembrance and reflection, Moses commanded that the Book of Instruction be read aloud. Fast-forward 962 years to when this was done by Ezra in Nehemiah 8, after the restoration of the temple. On the first day, “They read in the book, in the law of God, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading.”  This remembrance and reflection caused them to confess their sins to God and make a new commitment to serve the Lord.

I strongly encourage you to add a minimum daily requirement of Bible reading into your life by developing a systematic daily practice of spending time in God’s word. There are many easy ways to read the Bible every year, or even easier, to listen for 13 minutes and 50 seconds per day. Here are some of the positive outcomes of this prescription:

1. Deepen Your Understanding of God: Regularly reading the Bible allows you to grow in your knowledge of God, understanding His character, promises, and plans for your life. This deepened understanding strengthens your relationship with Him.
2. Strengthen Your Faith: “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). Consistent exposure to God’s Word builds and fortifies your faith, enabling you to trust God more fully in all circumstances.
3. Guidance and Wisdom for Life: The Bible is a treasure trove of wisdom. It offers guidance for every aspect of life, helping you to make decisions that align with God’s will, leading to a fulfilling and purpose-driven life.
4. Experience God’s Blessings: Obedience to God’s Word often leads to spiritual blessings. As you align your life with Scripture, you open the door to experiencing God’s favor, peace, and joy.
5. Impact Your Community: By reading the Bible and applying its principles, you become a light in your community. Your life can serve as a testimony of God’s grace, influencing others towards a relationship with Christ.
6. Preserve Spiritual Truth for Future Generations: Your commitment to Bible reading sets a strong example for those around you, especially younger generations, ensuring that the truth of God’s Word is passed down and remains alive in the hearts of future believers.

Let this be an encouragement to you: as you dedicate time to reading and meditating on God’s Word, you are not only growing personally in your walk with the Lord but also impacting those around you and building a legacy of faith for generations to come.

Finally, let’s consider what happens if you fail to get the minimum daily requirement of Bible reading as described in Deuteronomy 31:14-39.

1. Loss of Biblical Knowledge and Understanding: Regular public reading of Scripture is vital for maintaining a deep and accurate understanding of God’s Word. Without it, there’s a risk of drifting from the truths and principles in the Bible, leading to ignorance or misunderstanding of God’s instructions.
2. Weakening of Faith and Obedience: Hearing God’s Word is closely tied to faith (Romans 10:17). The lack of public reading can lead to a weakening of faith and a decrease in obedience to God’s commands, as the community is not regularly reminded of His laws and promises.
3. Decline in Moral and Spiritual Standards: Regular exposure to Scripture helps maintain high moral and spiritual standards in a community. The absence of this practice can lead to a gradual moral decay and a departure from the values and principles that God has set.
4. Loss of Blessings and Increase in Judgment: From an evangelical perspective, obedience to God’s Word brings blessings, while disobedience brings discipline or judgment. Neglecting the public reading of Scripture can lead to a community missing out on the blessings associated with obedience and potentially incurring God’s correction.
5. Generational Impact: Failing to read the law publicly impacts not just the current generation but also future generations. It can lead to a cycle of ignorance about God’s Word, leaving each successive generation less knowledgeable and less inclined to follow God’s ways.

In summary, from this perspective, the public reading of Scripture is essential for maintaining a vibrant, obedient, and God-fearing community. It ensures the continuous transmission of Biblical knowledge, sustains faith, upholds moral and spiritual values, invites God’s blessings, and impacts future generations positively.

Digging Deeper

• The Bible Changes Everything – The grand themes of the Bible changes everything: God’s infinite past, humanity’s present, and our future eternity.
• The most important New Year’s Resolution – Make a resolution to read the Bible quietly, carefully, and prayerfully, God will speak to you through his Spoken Word and the Holy Spirit will guide you.
• Obedience to God’s commands leads to blessings and rewards – Discover why obedience to God’s commands leads to blessings and rewards that come from living in accordance with His will.
• 7 important reasons to study the Bible – Thy word, Jesus’ prayer of thanksgiving, Jesus’ rebuke to study, learning from examples, assurance of salvation, encouragement to do what the Bible says.
• Where do I start reading the Bible? – Start by reading about Jesus Christ in the gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and read the letters to the Philippians and Colossians
• Failure to read and apply the Bible causes spiritual wasting disease – Failure to read the Bible and failure to apply the Bible results in a progressive spiritual wasting disease that can be eternally fatal.
• A crisis in Bible literacy cannot distinguish right from wrong – Without Biblical literacy, gut feelings, myths, legends, traditions, and society control our ability to distinguish between right and wrong.