Listen to Obey
“I gave very specific instructions!”
How my children dreaded hearing their dad say this. It meant he was displeased because they had failed to properly carry out his instructions in some way. I doubt this ever happened because of outright disobedience. Sometimes it was because, by the time he’d finished the phrase, “I want you to go,” the child was already on his way. Somewhere. Without any real idea what he should do when he got wherever he was going. Once in a while, because Dad is human, even very specific instructions couldn’t be carried out because the tool he wanted brought to him wasn’t where he was sure he’d left it. But most often, the child couldn’t obey because he hadn’t listened carefully enough.
The writer of Hebrews warns us, “We must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it” (Heb. 2:1 ESV). Later he says that he would like to say much more to the Hebrews, but “it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.” The mature are those who have trained their “powers of discernment” (Heb. 5:11, 14 ESV).
Looking at the Greek words, there’s an interesting connection between obedience and hearing properly. “For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution . . .” (Heb. 2:2 ESV) In the word used here for disobedience, parakoe, we can see the root of the English word acoustics. “In its strictest sense, it means a failing to hear or hearing amiss, with the notion of active disobedience which follows this inattentive or careless hearing.”[1].
In the next chapter, the Hebrew writer warns us not to be like those Israelites who provoked God in the wilderness by hardening their hearts. Who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Who were those to whom God swore they wouldn’t enter his rest? They were the disobedient, the apeitheo. We get the word apathetic from this word. Peitho means to be persuaded. They were disobedient because they wouldn’t allow themselves to be persuaded. “For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened” (Heb. 4:2 ESV).
In Hebrews 11, the anonymous writer recounts a list of Old Testament people known for their faith. Among them is Noah, who built the ark because of his reverent fear (v. 7). Reverent fear, eulabetheis, means to receive well. Noah heard God’s warning, received it rightly, and acted accordingly.
When Abraham was called to leave his home, he obeyed (Heb. 11:8). He hypekousen; he obeyed because he heard.
Because Rahab, the prostitute from Jericho, gave a friendly welcome to the Hebrew spies, she didn’t perish with the disobedient (Heb. 11:31). Again, the disobedient are the apathetic, the unpersuaded. This gentile heard rightly and was obedient.
How does the writer want us to respond to the examples of these heroes of faith whose right hearing resulted in obedience? “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:1-2 ESV).
The founder and perfecter of our faith also had something to say about the importance of right hearing. In Luke 8, Jesus tells “The Parable of the Sower” to a large crowd. At the close of the story, he says, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (v. 8 ESV).
When the disciples ask Jesus what the parable means, he says, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand’” (Luke 8:9 ESV).
He continues,
“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience” (Luke 8:9-15 ESV).
Lord, Jesus, by the power of your Spirit, give me an honest and good heart in which to hold your word fast. Lead me to maturity. Teach me to bear fruit with patience. Amen
Scripture for Reflection
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5 ESV)
“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Phil. 1:9-11 ESV)
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15 ESV)
Reach for More
It’s easy to get used to being busy and feeling rushed to get through prayer and devotion time. Perhaps you need a day to change your routine. Set aside your checklist, be quiet, and listen to what the Spirit has to say to you today. Ask God to show you where you need to hear his instructions more clearly. And then, listen.
[1] Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary
Through the gift of a faithful mother and grandmother, grew up knowing Jesus as a friend. Married for nearly two-thirds of her life, there has been time for several seasons, from homeschooling to owning a coffee shop. She has three grown children and eight grandchildren. An element of this season is writing about literature and life at Plumfield and Paideia.
Photograph © Kiwihug, used with permission
Enjoyed this post ma’am. A habit I’ve tried to develop and adhere to is what I call “question-based hearing.” As sometime is speaking to me, I try and formulate questions, and when possible ask them to clarify and ensure my understanding. At the end of our conversation, I like to repeat “what I heard”, which often times requires clarification, but it also sets expectations for each party. It isn’t perfect, but it does help.