Of Messages and the Telling Thereof in Ancient Days

In the days of old, before the sound of the printing press and the swiftness of the electric wire, the spreading of word and wisdom was wrought by hand, by voice, and by the diligent foot of the messenger. The Scriptures bear witness to the sacred duty of those who bore tidings — whether of kings, prophets, or the Lord Himself.

The Voice of the Herald

The herald was among the first to carry forth announcements. In ancient Israel, as in the kingdoms of Egypt, Assyria, and Rome, proclamations were cried aloud in the streets and marketplaces. As it is written, “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet” (Isaiah 58:1), the prophet was also a messenger — not only of news, but of God’s eternal truth.

The herald would travel from city to city, often on foot or by beast, to declare decrees, victories, or warnings. Their words reached ears before scrolls could reach hands.

The Scribe and the Scroll

In more enduring form, scribes preserved knowledge upon parchment and papyrus. Moses, at the command of the Lord, wrote the Law:
“And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord” (Exodus 24:4).
So too did kings and prophets pen histories, genealogies, prophecies, and psalms — that generations to come might know the works of God.

Scrolls were read aloud in synagogues and schools. The faithful gathered to hear, for few could read, and even fewer possessed a written copy. Thus the Word was spread by voice, committed to memory, and treasured in the heart.

Messengers on the Road

Letters were also borne by trusted hands. Paul, servant of Christ, wrote epistles to the churches, sending them by faithful brethren.
“I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea” (Romans 16:1).
These epistles, read aloud to the assembly, became living words — circulated from house to house, city to city, until they were written upon the soul of the early Church.

Markets, Wells, and City Gates

The gathering places of life — the city gate, the marketplace, the well — served as places where news passed from mouth to mouth. Travelers brought tales from distant lands. Judges sat at the gate, where disputes were heard and judgments announced. It was here, amid the bustle, that many first heard of battles, births, or heavenly signs.

Though the methods were slow by modern reckoning, they were rich with reverence. Every word was costly, every message sacred. In a world without screens or wires, the heart and memory bore the weight of truth — and the Word of God, once spoken, could not be silenced.

“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” (Isaiah 40:8)