Learning to Really Listen

 

How frustrating when words are clearly spoken, the other person nods in response, but in reality, they were not listening. Your words went in one ear and out the other. God is not like that; He HEARS when we speak.

HEAR and its variations occur thousands of times in the Bible. As my dad often said, God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason. However, we often hear from God, our parents, others, yet fail to grasp what they say. Again, God is not like that. His ability to hear and act on what He hears distinguishes Him from idols and from many people.

Psalm 66:17–19. I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.

The OT says there is one reason God does not give attention to our cries. This happens when we are not repentant of our sin . . .

Isaiah 59:1–2. Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

For this reason, faith in Christ means forgiveness and a relationship with God where we can come to Him in confession of sin and keep those lines of communication open. I can think of nothing more distressing than not being heard by God.

In the NT, the common term for “to hear” has at least five nuances pertaining to the way people hear (or not): literal hearing, legal hearing, learning hearing, obedient hearing, and understanding hearing. In one passage, the importance of hearing to learn, understand and obey is described. As I read it, I thought of the times I’ve felt sleepy during a sermon or noticed someone else had dozed off.

Romans 10:14–18. How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have . . . .”

Yesterday our church service was not the normal singing then a sermon. One pastor talked about a witness to the resurrection, Cleopas and an unnamed travelling companion. The pastor introduced ‘Cleopas’ (played by our senior pastor who had grown a beard for the role) and the story begins . . .

Luke 24:13–16. That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.

The two pastors sat on two chairs with the younger man asking ‘Cleopas’ questions about the experience. During their conversation, the Gospel was clearly presented, along with some humor but with faithfulness to the Bible text. No one dozed off. This ‘sermon’ made the narrative fascinating! At the end, ‘Cleopas’ left and his portrayer came back a few moments later (clean-shaven) to end the service.

GAZE INTO HIS GLORY. While gimmicks are not wise, sharing the good news does not have to be boring to the hearers. This presentation made me realize that when I look at and listen to the Word of God, there are ways to hear that bring it alive. First, I need to remember that God hears, understands, and acts on everything He hears. To be a godly person means to pay attention to what I am hearing. One way to do that is by vividly imagining the scene in Bible narratives as was displayed yesterday. Another is thinking beyond the words and focusing on human emotions; how did the original readers think and feel when they first heard what I am hearing? Another, and perhaps the most important, is listening intently because faith comes by hearing — and I don’t want to miss any opportunity to grow in my faith by dozing off.