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Hear God’s Word
Question 1:
What are some things you love to listen to?
THE POINT
Seize opportunities to hear God’s Word proclaimed and explained.
THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE
For most of us, listening is our most frequently used communication skill. Listening is an important part of communication. One study points out that upwards of 70 to 80 percent of our time can be consumed with some type of communication—and 45 percent of that time involves listening.1 That means that on any given day, we absorb an abundance of words! We listen to the opinions of our friends and family. Perhaps you take in the views of your favorite television or radio talk show host. Or maybe you subscribe to podcasts or listen to audiobooks. Regardless of the platform, it’s likely you, like most of us, listen to a volume of information from multiple sources.
But what are we really hearing? Amid all our listening, God desires that we do more than hear a collection of nouns and verbs; we also are to hear and internalize His Word. And just as we might intentionally record a favorite television show or subscribe to a particular podcast, God wants us to regularly and purposefully hear His Word faithfully taught.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
Nehemiah 8:1-3
1 All the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel. 2 So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. 3 He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.
God chose the nation of Israel to be His “set apart” people before all other nations. Throughout their history, though, the Israelites embodied a roller-coaster relationship with God. They enjoyed the blessings of obedience, and they suffered punishment from disobedience. Because of the people’s persistent disobedience, the city of Jerusalem suffered an invading army’s destruction, and the people experienced the Babylonian captivity. After seventy years, the surviving remnant returned from captivity. When they came back, they endeavored to rebuild the temple, Jerusalem, and the walls around it. When they had completed rebuilding the walls, “all the people came together” and “they told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses” (v. 1). The Israelites were desperate to hear God’s Word again, and they were intentional in putting themselves in a position to listen to it.
You and I are also desperately dependent upon God’s Word. Thus, we should exercise the same intentionality our spiritual forebears demonstrated. We take in volumes of information daily. To be sure, some comes to us by chance, but we intentionally seek out much of what we see and hear. First and foremost, we should purposefully listen to God’s Word read and taught.
Question 2:
What are some obstacles to hearing God’s Word?
The ancient Israelites gave us a great example of how to put ourselves in a position to hear God’s Word.
Be intentional together. You and I clearly have a personal responsibility to read God’s Word in private devotion. At the same time, the Scriptures point us to a responsibility to meet with other believers to hear God’s Word read and taught.
Be intentional in time and place. We must be intentional about gathering to hear God’s Word read and taught. In Hebrews 10:25, the biblical writer exhorted God’s people not to neglect gathering together. While most believers are intentional about gathering on Sundays, the key principle is for us to meet to hear God’s Word on a regular and systematic basis.
Nehemiah 8:7-8
7 The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. 8 They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.
While the basic truth of God’s Word is clear enough that a child can understand it, God has always provided leaders and teachers to help His people understand “the whole will of God” (Acts 20:27). In the Old Testament, a group of those leaders were “Levite.” In this setting, they read God’s Word, explained it, and translated its meaning “so that the people understood what was being read” (v. 8). This is exactly what should happen when the church gathers for worship. A pastor leads the congregation through a passage of Scripture and links God’s truth to everyday life. That is His God-given responsibility.
Nehemiah 8 also highlights the congregation’s responsibility. As they assembled to hear God’s Word taught, “all the people listened attentively” (v. 3). Whenever we hear Scripture read and taught, we should do so with engaged hearts seeking to understand God’s Word. Combining the responsibilities of both the pastor and the congregation, we learn the basic components for a spiritually fruitful assembly of God’s people. On the one hand, those who shepherd the church faithfully present the Scriptures so God’s people can understand them. On the other hand, God’s people come with an attentive spirit ready to understand what is taught.
Consider the following recommendations for better engaging and understanding what we hear:
Engage
A HEARING TEST
Circle ways you prefer to listen to God’s Word being taught or preached.
Then answer the question.
Church serviceSunday SchoolPodcasts
Online Worship ServicesFamily DevotionsChristian Radio
Other
Thinking about the last lesson or sermon you heard, describe some spiritual lessons that you recall:
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
Pray. Pray the psalmist’s prayer, “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law” (Ps 119:18). Ask God to help you see what the text is teaching. Pray also for the one teaching God’s Word.
Open your own Bible. Open your own copy of God’s Word to follow along with the preacher or teacher. Resist depending only on any screens up front. You’ll find great advantage in interacting with the text right in front of you.
Take good notes. Grab a notebook exclusively for sermon and Bible study notes. I often challenge my own congregation to take notes in such a way that they could teach the sermon to someone else later in the week.
Immediately talk about it. Meet with others for a conversation around this question, “What truth(s) stood out to you most from the sermon (or Bible study)?” Talking about what you heard reinforces what you heard!
Take it with you. Resist the temptation to “close the book” once the sermon or study is over. Review and add to your notes during the week as you continue thinking through what God taught you.
Question 3:
When have you gained deeper understanding by hearing Scripture explained?
Nehemiah 8:9-12
9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. 10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 11 The Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for this is a holy day. Do not grieve.” 12 Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.
Putting yourself in a position to hear God’s Word is not an end in and of itself. We are called to do more than merely listen. When we truly hear God’s Word, it produces a spiritual effect. Through the Spirit’s work, He leads us toward a two-pronged response: repentance and celebration.
Notice the people’s response as Ezra and the Levites instructed them: “All the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law” (v. 9). As the people heard and understood the Scriptures, God’s truth confronted the people’s sin. It reminded them of their waywardness and His holiness. And for that reason, the Israelites grieved over their sin. The people’s response was indeed appropriate.
Question 4:
How can we better position ourselves to hear God’s Word?
That’s what God’s Word does to us. As we hear God’s Holy Word, we should recognize immediately where we don’t measure up or how we fail to obey. But in the good news of God’s gospel, conviction is only half the story.
Though the Israelites’ grief-filled response was appropriate—“For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law”—their leaders immediately pointed them in a different direction. They said, “Do not mourn or weep” and “Do not grieve.” Why? Because that day was a holy day of celebration. God was renewing His relationship with His people. This is God’s amazing grace at its most amazing. Through His gospel, there is forgiveness. God’s presence is with you. There is no more condemnation. His joy will be your strength.
Question 5:
What are some ways our group can celebrate God’s Word together?
LIVE IT OUT
How will you grow in hearing God’s Word? Choose one of the following applications:
Respond to Scripture. When you read or hear God’s Word and you’re convicted, deal with it. Confess your sin and turn from it. Thank God for forgiving you and setting you free. Balance your repentance with a celebration of God’s forgiveness and grace.
Be intentional. You cannot become a better listener by accident. Review the recommendations for how to become a better listener when you hear God’s Word preached or taught (p. 80). Commit to following these practices for several weeks and see how they positively affect your retention and obedience to God’s Word.
Find community. God expects you to personally read His Word, but you’re also expected to hear it in the context of Christian community. Make a commitment to be part of a Bible study group or class. Commit to helping each other discover and live out God’s Word.
There are plenty of sounds and voices vying for our attention in our culture. But let’s thank God for providing the many means to regularly hear His Word taught!
