Give ear, and hear my voice;
give attention, and hear my speech.
Isaiah 28:23[ii]
Clear hearing of the words others speak is a precious gift. I cannot imagine a world where sound is absent. I have learned, however, to appreciate, if only in a small way, the life of those who cannot hear. I have experienced, as the author of Ecclesiastes noted, “the sound of grinding is low…” (Ecclesiastes 12: 4). Yes, the sounds reaching my ear have gone low, most noted in the lower ranges. I needed to get hearing aids. Now, for the challenge of learning to process sounds that have been absent for a while.
Part of hearing is listening. I listen to the crickets at night, the bird song in the morning, the chime of my clock, the harmony of the hymns, and the joyful voices of children playing. Last evening at church I heard the most delightful sound from the voice of a one-year-old. We had just finished singing a hymn, when the little baby voice sang the tune perfectly. Her sweet voice brought tears to my eyes. What a joy to hear!
Let’s go back to when Jesus healed the deaf man in the Decapolis.
They brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Mark 7: 32-35
Oh my! What a wonder to hear the voice of God in the flesh! What delight to sing praise to God for His mercy and grace! Through this miracle we are brought to the place where we need to keep an ear out for God to speak to our own hearts. Indeed, give ear, and hear my voice; give attention, and hear my speech, Isaiah 28:23.
How do we give Him our ear?
- God tells us what we need to know in the Bible. Consistent reading and memorizing the Scriptures should be a part of our routine. We listen with our eyes and our minds.
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2: 15 (KJV)[iv]
- God speaks to us, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit within us. We need to practice His presence, pray for understanding and guidance. We listen with our spirit.
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. John 16: 13
God tells us what we need to know through the regular preaching of His Word. Regular attendance to worship and preaching is not negotiable, barring incapacitating circumstances.
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10: 24-25
Ah, but there is another Listener who has perfect hearing.
God gives us His ear.
He hears our prayers and our longings we don’t even have words to express. He delights in listening to us as we pray.
Because He has inclined His ear to me,
Therefore, I shall call upon Him as long as I live. Psalm 116:2
Challenge: Listen up to what God is saying from His Holy Scriptures, in your spirit, and from the pulpit. Practice His presence and bare your heart to Him. If you have not trusted in Jesus as your Savior, He will hear you as you confess, repent, and trust Him.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Eternal Son, and ever-present Holy Spirit, help me to listen with all my senses to what you have to say. Thank you for listening to me even when I don’t know how or what to pray. In Jesus Name, Amen.
[i] https://cdn.britannica.com/04/14304-050-1A5E3289/structures-outer-ear.jpg
[ii] All scripture from English Standard Version unless otherwise indicated
[iii] https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.XKVy7qGKXVXAMcc1D7i5twHaHa?w=200&h=200&c=7&r=0&o=5&pid=1.7
[iv] King James Version KJV
