In the Bible, the concept of listening is deeply intertwined with obedience, wisdom, and the relationship between God and His people. Listening is not merely the act of hearing words but involves an active engagement and response to God's voice and commandments.

Divine Listening

God is portrayed as one who listens to the prayers and cries of His people. In 1 John 5:14 , it is written, "And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us." This assurance of God's attentive ear is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, emphasizing His responsiveness and care for His creation.

Human Responsibility to Listen

The Bible frequently calls upon individuals to listen to God's voice. In Deuteronomy 6:4 , the Shema begins with, "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One." This command to hear is not just about auditory reception but involves understanding and obeying God's commandments. Listening to God is equated with loving Him and keeping His statutes.

Wisdom and Listening

Proverbs often highlights the importance of listening as a path to wisdom. Proverbs 1:5 states, "Let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel." Listening is portrayed as a virtue that leads to growth in understanding and discernment. The wise person is one who listens to advice and instruction, thereby increasing in knowledge and righteousness.

Jesus and Listening

In the New Testament, Jesus emphasizes the importance of listening to His words. In Matthew 7:24 , Jesus says, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." Here, listening is directly linked to action and the foundation of a life built on Christ's teachings.

The Role of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in helping believers listen to God's voice. In John 16:13 , Jesus promises, "However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth." The Spirit aids believers in discerning and understanding God's will, ensuring that they are attentive to His guidance.

Warnings Against Failing to Listen

Scripture also warns of the consequences of failing to listen to God. In Jeremiah 7:13 , God laments, "And now, because you have done all these things, declares the LORD, and because I have spoken to you again and again but you would not listen, and I have called to you but you would not answer." Ignoring God's voice leads to judgment and separation from His blessings.

Listening in the Community of Believers

Within the church, listening is vital for unity and edification. James 1:19 advises, "My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger." This instruction fosters a community where members are attentive to one another, promoting peace and mutual understanding.

In summary, listening in the biblical context is a multifaceted concept that encompasses hearing, understanding, and obeying God's word. It is essential for a faithful relationship with God, the pursuit of wisdom, and harmonious living within the body of Christ.191. akouo -- to hear, listen
... 1), hear (115), heard (216), hearers (1), hearing (24), hears (21), heed (2), listen
(24), listened (1), listeners (1), listening (14), listens (5), reached (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/191.htm - 11k8085. shama -- to hear
... 1), listen (226), listen attentively (1), listen carefully (3), listen closely
(1), listen obediently (2), listened (52), listening (12), listens (7), loud ...
/hebrew/8085.htm - 7k

7181. qashab -- to incline (ears), attend
... 1), give attention (3), give heed (9), give...heed (1), given heed (2), heed (2),
incline (1), listen (10), listened (2), listening (1), listens (1), make your ...
/hebrew/7181.htm - 6k

Whether Anger Requires an Act of Reason?
... Therefore anger does not require an act of reason. On the contrary, The Philosopher
says (Ethic. vii, 6) that "anger listens to reason somewhat.". ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether anger requires an act.htm

A Message from the Crowned Christ
... And he is standing and looking as he listens. ... So he listens. So we must listen.
So only can we get into the meaning of these words. ...
/.../iv a message from the crowned.htm

The Importance of Being Willing to Learn
... The lips of the wise speak knowledge, But the fool does not understand. A fool's
way seems right in his sight, But a wise man listens to advice. ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/the importance of being willing.htm

The Love that Makes Men Brothers
... Now the confidence that we have in God is this, that he listens to us
whenever we ask anything in accordance with his will. And ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the love that makes men.htm

Concerning Theurgy, which Promises a Delusive Purification of the ...
... Is there found a god who listens to the envious man, and frightens the gods
from doing good? and is there not found a god who listens ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 10 concerning theurgy which promises.htm

Love and Remorse
... David here, though he could be fierce and cruel enough sometimes, and had plenty
of the devil in him, listens to his nobler self, which listens to God, and, at ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/love and remorse.htm

"The Dust of the Actual"
... The goat subsides, the baby is now in its mother's arms; so we go on where we left
off, and I watch the bright young girl, and notice that she listens as one ...
/.../wilson-carmichael/things as they are/chapter vii the dust of.htm

Concerning Man.
... is without reason there are two divisions: that which does not listen to reason,
that is to say, is disobedient to reason, and that which listens and obeys ...
/.../john/exposition of the orthodox faith/chapter xii concerning man.htm

'Me a Christian!'
... IV. Lastly, we have here an example of a soul close to the light, but passing into
the dark. Agrippa listens to Paul; Bernice listens; Festus listens. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/me a christian.htm

The Sound in the Mulberry Trees
... can be sure that he has God's approval of his steps let me"by the mistake that many
have made, by the mischief that he will do himself unless he listens to me ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/the sound in the mulberry.htm

Listens (28 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Listens (28 Occurrences). ... If he listens to you,
you have gained back your brother. (WEB WEY NAS RSV NIV). ...
/l/listens.htm - 14k

Rejects (8 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Rejects (8 Occurrences). Luke 10:16 Whoever listens
to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me. ...
/r/rejects.htm - 8k

Disregards (3 Occurrences)
... Luke 10:16 "He who listens to you listens to me; and he who disregards you disregards
me, and he who disregards me disregards Him who sent me." (WEY). ...
/d/disregards.htm - 7k

Reproof (29 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). Proverbs 15:31 The ear that listens
to reproof lives, and will be at home among the wise. ...
/r/reproof.htm - 15k

Listen (441 Occurrences)
... (WEY). John 8:47 He who is a child of God listens to God's words. You do not listen
to them: and why? ... 1 John 4:6 We are of God. He who knows God listens to us. ...
/l/listen.htm - 34k

Doesn't (300 Occurrences)
... (WEB). John 9:31 We know that God doesn't listen to sinners, but if anyone is a
worshipper of God, and does his will, he listens to him. (WEB). ...
/d/doesn't.htm - 34k

Listening (47 Occurrences)

/l/listening.htm - 19k

Knocking (9 Occurrences)
... If any one listens to My voice and opens the door, I will go in to be with him
and will feast with him, and he shall feast with Me. (WEY DBY). ...
/k/knocking.htm - 9k

Obeys (17 Occurrences)
... John 9:31 We know that God does not listen to bad people, but that if any one
is a God-fearing man and obeys Him, to him He listens. (WEY). ...
/o/obeys.htm - 11k

Judgement (68 Occurrences)
... John 5:24 "In most solemn truth I tell you that he who listens to my teaching and
believes Him who sent me, has the Life of the Ages, and does not come under ...
/j/judgement.htm - 26k

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