Consider first the centrality of teaching in corporate worship. As a society, Israel was oriented around the Word of God. It was the custom in the synagogues each Sabbath to read portions from the Old Testament Scriptures and then to invite a rabbi or teacher to comment upon the text. Whereas other cultures were oriented around images or idols as the means of communing and communicating with their deity, Israel was oriented around the Word. When the Israelites met Yahweh at Mount Sinai, they saw no shape or form; they only heard His voice. Consequently, Israel was to orient herself around the
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