What other scriptures emphasize the importance of listening to wisdom? Job 34:2—An Invitation to Hear “ ‘Hear my words, you wise men; give ear to me, you men of learning.’ ” Elihu’s opening sets the tone: wisdom begins with attentive ears. Wisdom’s Call in Proverbs • Proverbs 1:5 – “Let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel.” • Proverbs 1:20-23 – Wisdom “calls out in the street… ‘If you had repented at my rebuke, then surely I would have poured out my spirit on you; I would have made my words known to you.’ ” • Proverbs 8:1-6 – “Does not wisdom call out… ‘Listen, for I speak of noble things.’ ” • Proverbs 12:15 – “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel.” • Proverbs 13:1 – “A wise son heeds his father’s discipline, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.” • Proverbs 19:20 – “Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days.” Foundational Listening in the Law and the Prophets • Deuteronomy 6:3-4 – “Hear, O Israel… Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One!” • Deuteronomy 30:20 – “Love the LORD your God, obey His voice, and hold fast to Him.” • 1 Samuel 3:10 – “‘Speak, for Your servant is listening.’” • Isaiah 55:2-3 – “Listen carefully to Me… Incline your ear and come to Me; listen, so that your soul may live.” Jesus—Wisdom Incarnate • Matthew 7:24-25 – “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” • Mark 4:23-24 – “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear… ‘Pay attention to what you hear.’” • Luke 10:39-42 – Mary “sat at the Lord’s feet listening,” and Jesus said she “has chosen the good portion.” • John 10:27 – “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.” Early Church and Epistles • Acts 2:42 – “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching…” • James 1:19-22 – “Everyone should be quick to listen… humbly accept the word planted in you… Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” • Hebrews 2:1 – “We must pay much closer attention… so that we do not drift away.” • Revelation 2:7 – “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Living It Out • Cultivate silence before God; remove distractions so His Word can sink in. • Seek counsel from Scripture-saturated believers; wisdom is often spoken through them. • Respond promptly—link hearing to obedience; Scripture never separates the two. • Revisit passages regularly; attentive listening is a lifelong habit, not a one-time event. |
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