God's Providences

God's Providences

We are not permitted to view the future providences of God; we know not whither its wheel may next turn. But looking back upon the past providences of God we can know with full assurance that those yet to come will be for our best.

“Hear Him”

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“Hear Him”                                                                                                          

Mark 9:7 “And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.”

Much has been written, and much has been said and preached regarding following Christ, but little is heard regarding hearing Him. It seems fitting at the beginning of a New Year to consider this most important subject, and the command given in the text, for Jesus plainly stated that before we can follow him we must first hear his voice. (John 10:4, 27)

Yet before we can look at hearing Him, there is the subject of our personal salvation that must be considered. If we are to “hear him”, it is necessary that we belong to him. John 10:27 “My sheep hear my voice”. Throughout John chapter 10, Jesus makes it clear that his sheep hear his voice and follow him; he also made it very clear that those who are not his sheep do not hear his voice – “Ye believe not because ye are not of my sheep”. 2Pet. 1:10 says, “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.” There is little use in studying how to follow Jesus unless we are first certain that we are his; for we cannot follow him rightly unless and until we truly know him.

To hear means to give audience or allowance to speak. It means to attend favorably to, to regard; to listen to. In the text, it carries with it the assumption of obedience. To hear means to learn, to approve, and embrace. It means to lend, turn, or incline the ear.

God said to “hear” Jesus. That is, we are to attend favorably to him; we are to approve and embrace his words. If we are to “hear him” we must be listening. We are always listening for the voice of one we love; and when we hear them speak, we listen to them, eagerly desiring to catch every word. Are we listening for the voice of Jesus? If to hear means to give allowance to speak, then are we devoting time to listening for our Saviour? Or do we only speak to Him? When he would speak to us, when the Spirit prompts to prayer, do we incline our ear to him? Or do we offer some excuse of inconvenience (Songs 5:3)?

We are told to “hear him”. We are not told to hear any other but Jesus. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice”; and in John 10:5 he said that, “they know not the voice of strangers.” How sad that so many of God’s professed people better know the voice of others, yet cannot even hear the voice of the One who loves them and gave his life for them! The apostle Paul said that there are “many kinds of voices in the world”; how true that is! There are voices of friends and foes; voices of family and loved ones; voices of employments and cares. These can be true and right, or they may be false and wrong. However, the reality is that the many kinds of voices may be categorized into two: the voice of the Word, and the voice of the world. The many kinds of voices are constantly calling, and if we are not listening for and to his voice, the “many kinds” will so distract us that we will not be able to hear him when he calls. And if we cannot hear him when he calls, then we will not follow.

In the command to “hear him” there is the suggestion that we are not to hear others. We are not to listen to them, we are not to give them allowance to speak, we are not to regard or obey them, nor even give them the time of day. We are only to “hear him”. And this thought suggested by the text is verified by Jesus himself when he said, “for they know not the voice of strangers.” Yes, it is true that God can and does at times speak through some or all of these; only if we know him will we be able to discern when it is his voice through others, and when it is the voice of others. The Scriptures are the rule to give us discernment in this.

While no specific time of hearing is stated, and while we know that we are always to “hear him”, listening for his voice, yet the text suggests a particular time of which it is helpful to note. The text says, “And there was a cloud… and a voice came out of the cloud”. God is not always so near when the sun is shining, for then we do not feel our need of him; and J.R. Miller rightly points out (speaking of Luke 24:28, 29) that Jesus “loves to be constrained. He does not go where he is not really and earnestly desired, where his presence is not eagerly sought after.” When life is dark and the clouds seem to hang low, then, as much as ever, we ought to “hear him”. Many times we are tempted when facing some trouble to think that Jesus is not near, that he does not care; we often feel alone and forsaken. Yet this is not so, and it is during the cloudy days that the Lord’s gentle leading may be the most evident, when he speaks most tenderly to his sheep. Jesus is near on cloudy days.

This year, whether it be one of sunshine or clouds, triumphs or troubles, may we “hear him”; not just with the hearing of the ear, but of the heart and life. May we hear the Word and not the world. May we hear him in obedience and faith, and not in rebellion and unbelief.

May it be the resolve of God’s people to “hear him” in 2013!

PBC