again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”
When someone quotes the bible do we hear the Lord speaking to us?
When we read a bible quote, do we hear the Lord speaking to us?
Here in Hebrews the idea of hearing His voice is dependent on the word if. It is not a sure thing. If is an unknown event that can be influenced by experience. If we have never heard Him before, we might not recognize it as Him if we do hear something. Then there is the issue of expectation. If we have heard Him before we might expect to hear Him again. The danger there is in being insistent.
When we harden our hearts even before we read the bible or hear a sermon doesn’t that inhibit our listening in the spirit? When we allow our focus to be on these troubled times, that might be a distraction making it difficult to hear clearly.
We are told to go to our prayer closet for privacy, away from noises and distractions but bible study is not prayer. It is a form of worship, isn’t it?
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!
Our attitude can affect our attention and our ability to listen clearly.
Matthew 5:23-24 English Standard Version
23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Do any of these passages quoted here today speak to anyone?
Do not be convicted if they do not. The message might be for someone else. That is an “if”.