Clint Harper

Isaiah prophesied to Jerusalem and Judah in a time when Babylonian captivity was on the horizon. He spoke of and pointed out the heresies and abominations that the Jews were guilty of. He told them of their impending punishment over and over. He spoke to them of the possibility of forgiveness if they would repent of their wickedness. And then God said, "Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed" (Isaiah 6:9-10).

Jesus used this prophecy in speaking of the Jews of his day. He said, "Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them" (Matthew 13:13-15). Many times Jesus would say, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear" or something similar (Matthew 11:15; 13:8; 13:43, et al.). Jesus desires us not only to hear the words that are spoken, but also to understand the meaning as it is conveyed (2 Timothy 2:15).

Jesus could look inside a person and see what was truly there: emotions, desires, intentions, and the absolute truth. Jesus told the woman of Samaria about her marital relationships (John 4). He said that Nathanael possessed no guile within him (John 1:47). Time and time again he caught the Pharisees and Sadducees in their trickery and turned the tables against them. Jesus, being God, knows the thoughts and intents of us all (Genesis 6:5; Matthew 9:4; 12:25; 1 Corinthians 3:20). However, we do not and cannot know the "thoughts and intents" of another person’s heart until or unless they are revealed to us through the use of listening.

Then, how can we "Listen With God’s Ears" to God and to man?

Listen with patience. Peter said, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). In the context Peter is explaining that God has not forgotten us, but that He is being patient with humanity, giving all who will, time to repent. It seems as though many have misinterpreted God’s patience even today.

There is an old saying, used many times in negotiating, which says, "It will take as long as it takes." When we are listening to others, trying to understand problems, fears, likes, dislikes, et al., we need to listen with the understanding that it will take as long as it takes. It seems that many times we rush into trying to answer someone’s problem before we really know what the problem is. You know the feeling you get when someone interrupts you in mid sentence and attempts to, not only finish your sentence, but also to give you the answer to the question you were not going to ask. Try not to do that to other people. God knows what we are going to ask before we ever ask. But even He doesn’t interrupt us while we are praying. So, listen with God’s ears.

Listen with the intent to understand. Paul tells of a time when some would not listen to the truth but would turn their ears away from the sweet Gospel of Christ (2 Timothy 4:1-4). When Stephen was stoned to death, the people did not want to hear what he said, so they "stopped their ears" (Acts 7:57). And many are doing the same thing today because they do not want to hear the truth. When Jesus was taken before the High Priest and the council, there was no intention of understanding what Jesus said. They simply wanted to find some way to have Him killed.

But if I am going to understand my brother, I must listen with the intent to understand what he has to say. That means more than simply listening to the words, but also listening to what the person is trying to actually say. Sometimes it’s hard to put into words what a person is feeling, thinking or experiencing. Therefore, we may need to ask question for clarification. Try to put the best possible explanation on things people say instead of trying to find fault. Many of the problems, many of the accusations, many of the misunderstandings that the church is faced with today are simply products of brethren not listening with the intent to understand. Paul’s admonition was this, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" (Philippians 4:8). In other words, listen with God’s ears.

Listen more than we speak. The last record of God (the Father) speaking verbally from Heaven is when Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James and John and the Father said, "This is my beloved Son: hear him" (Matthew 17; Mark 9; Luke 9). It is Jesus who speaks to us today, "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds" (Hebrews 1:1-2). Jesus accomplishes this through the inspired Word. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The revelation of God’s will is complete (Jude 3). It is perfect (James 1:25). Therefore, there is not a need for, nor have there been any new revelations from Heaven since the New Testament was completed. God now listens.

There are many reasons why we should listen, as the old proverb goes, "twice as much as we talk." There are very few things, however, that we can learn while we are talking. God is omniscient. However, we are not. Therefore we need to listen more than we talk in order to gain knowledge, not only from God but also from men. Paul said, "Study (i.e., listen, CH) to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). It is near impossible to "study" while either talking to or carrying on a conversation with another person. The only thing you will learn is that you learned nothing.

God has wisdom without end. We do not. We are told to ask for wisdom (James 1:5). But then James tells us not to be impatient with the way that God sets forth to give us wisdom. Many times we simply need to sit down, close our mouths and listen to the wisdom of some older Christian.

God does not need a counselor. But sometimes man does. It doesn’t take much training to sit down and listen to someone’s problems. However, sometimes simply listening is all someone wants and/or needs you to do. You don’t need to know a whole lot of psychology to sit and listen to someone’s problems. You don’t need to offer wonderful explanations of why this or that happened. You don’t need to "wow" them with your poignant advice.

Just listen with God’s ears.