In numerous places in both the Old and New Testaments, we read the phrase: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” – from Deuteronomy to the Gospels. That kind of seems like a duh. It is possible to actively prevent yourself from hearing, so I suppose that might qualify as not having ears to hear, but in general you cannot NOT hear nor un-hear once something is heard. If noise occurs, you are going to hear it. So this phrase seems at best redundant.
But of course, there is more than meets the proverbial eye. Isn’t there always with God?
I am currently reading “The Listening Life” by Adam S. McHugh. The subtitle “Embracing Attentiveness in a World of Distraction” was compelling enough for me to order the book. In it, he points out that the words “listen” and “obey” have the same root in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew.
WHAT?!? Well now that puts a different spin on the above phrase.
Howard Hendricks says that to hear and not to do is to not hear at all. When I think about this, then having “ears to hear” becomes an active engagement with God. If I have truly LISTENED to God, I will be compelled to OBEY God. It is not the mechanical/tactical use of our ears that is referenced here but rather the listening with our soul and our heart. Our ears may be one way of conducting that listening into our soul and heart. But certainly not the only way.
What are your “ears” and how clean are they? Are your “ears” allowing and helping you to LISTEN to God?
Just Sayin' 