Bible Reading Blog
“Listen Up”
Categories: Congregational Bible ReadingBIBLE READING: Micah 1
“Hear, you peoples, all of you; pay attention, O earth, and all that is in it, and let the Lord GOD be a witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.” (Micah 1.2)
Almost daily, I say to my kids, “Are you listening to me?” The question is essentially rhetorical. I’m asking because they’re obviously not doing something I’ve told them to do. The older they get, the harder it seems to be for them to hear me. They’re busy doing something they want to do and don’t understand the importance of my words and the value it can bring to their lives.
God begins every prophetic discourse with a call to listen for the same reason parents do: his children aren’t listening. He revealed himself to them in many ways. Powerful signs and deliverance from Egypt. Providence in the wilderness. He showed his presence on the mountain. He gave them written commands and expectations. He made it clear that he could be trusted, he should be feared, and that his words always came true. What more did his people need?
Scripture reveals the natural tendency of God’s people to become hard-hearted and dull of hearing over time. “Were I to write for him my laws by the ten thousands, they would be regarded as a strange thing.” (Hosea 8.12). Like children, there is a natural bend to challenge his words in the context of other thoughts and ideas. Over time this manifests as indifference, pride and disobedience.
God is long-suffering with this immaturity but will not endure it forever. God expects to be heard because he speaks intentionally. Everything he says will come to pass (Numbers 23.19) and he does nothing without revealing it through his messengers (Amos 3.7).
As we know, in the fullness of time “the word became flesh and dwelt among us” in a definitive period of communication for the salvation of the world (Galatians 4.4; John 1.14; 3.16-18). And yet many religious people still failed to listen. They had eyes that did not see and ears that did not hear (Matthew 13.15, cf. Isaiah 6.10; Jeremiah 5.21). Not because it wasn’t evident but because they did not want to hear or see.
The critical lesson we learn from the prophets is to listen to God the first time. He has graciously preserved his written word and sent prophets throughout history. Although largely ignored, God suffered long according to his steadfast love and faithfulness. But the advent of Jesus was a communication we cannot ignore (Hebrews 1.1-4; 12.25). His presence in this world is something we must not take lightly. God came down, not in judgment as he did in the days of the prophets (Micah 1.3, 12) but in hope of reconciliation.
Let’s open our ears, humble our hearts, listen to God’s communication and let it lead our life today.
“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son… see that you do not refuse him who is speaking to you.” (Hebrews 1.1-2; 12.25)
