March 8, 2024
There Are None So…
Pt. 2, Deaf
Continuing in the theme of, “There are none so… blind”, I want to consider another gift of God: the sense of hearing. Solomon wrote, The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them(Proverbs 20:12). And just like there are none so blind as those who will not see (the obvious), I suggest that we can also assert, “There are none so deaf, as those who will not hear (obviously speaking of God’s wisdom) and then DO or IMPLEMENT it!” In this installment, I want to discuss a common ailment that plagues all of the human race: that tendency to ignore advice, roll our eyes at instruction, and stiffen our necks when admonished.
Human beings—ALL human beings—have a problem with self-will, self-importance, and self-knowledge (i.e., what we think we know)! We think we know what is best, we want to do things our way, and woe to the person or being who gets in our way! Truly, one of the most valuable achievements of life is to learn enough humility and wisdom—or at the very least, temporary acquiescence—to follow good advice, to learn from those who have walked the path before us, and to obey our authorities. But admittedly, it is also one of the most difficult lessons to learn… because we are prideful!
God says that the causative agent of every problem ever faced by the human race, has been a prideful heart, a willful soul that will not listen to instruction. Solomon wrote, Only by pride cometh contention…(Proverbs 13:10). That word contention means a quarrel, fight, or conflict. We all tend to live by the mantra that Sinatra made famous, “I did it my way!” We all, by our very nature, tend to close our ears when given advice that is contrary to our way of thinking, to stiffen our necks when we are instructed, and to outright rebel when we are corrected or disciplined.
God’s books of wisdom literature (Ecclesiastes, Proverbs, and Psalms) are chock-full of admonitions to hearinstruction. But the Hebrew word translated “hear” as a command, means much more than just to listen politely and then go about to consider your options. No, the word shaw-mah´ literally means “to hear intelligently”, with the implication that there should be obedience. There are 11 scriptures alone in the book of Proverbs where God commands us to HEAR (listen to) our authorities and DO (implement) their instruction. Here are a few…
Prov 1:5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels…
Prov 1:8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother…
Prov 4:1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
Prov 4:10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.
God hates the pride that causes us to shun and ignore wise instruction! The Preacher wrote, These sixthings doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look… (Prov 6:16, 17). Pride is the first thing mentioned; it is public enemy #1! God hates pride because it will destroy us in this life AND in the life to come! It is pride that will prevent us from entering into that Heavenly rest that Jesus has prepared for all who will bow their knee and cry out in humble faith for His divine forgiveness.
Therefore, we are wise to HEAR and obey the admonitions of all of our God-ordained authorities, but especially the admonitions of our Creator and Owner! Jesus will either be our Judge or our Redeemer/Savior; it depends upon whether or not we will LISTEN! Our Creator cries out, Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else (Isaiah 45:22).
So, we have heard God’s admonition and warning. The only question that remains is, “What will we do with it?”
God bless and consider!