HOW TO AVOID A TRAGIC TURN OF EVENTS (LISTENING)

The importance of listening

More Perfect Illustrations: For Every Topic and Occasion Listening: Listening Well Leads to Success

Erik Weihenmayer is blind, yet on May 25, 2001 (Nepal time), he reached the peak of Mt. Everest. Suffering from a degenerative eye disease, he lost his sight when he was 13, but that didn’t stop him. On a mountain where 90 percent of climbers never make it to the top—and 165 have died trying since 1953—Erik succeeded, in large measure because he listened well.

He listened to the little bell tied to the back of the climber in front of him, so he would know what direction to go.

He listened to the voice of teammates who would shout back to him, “Death fall two feet to your right!” so he would know what direction not to go.

He listened to the sound of his pick jabbing the ice, so he would know whether the ice was safe to cross.

When we take a perilous journey, listening well can make all the difference.

Citation: Source: Time (6-18-01); Bill White; Paramount, California

To God’s word and his spokesmen

2 Ch 20:15; 20; Psalm 81:8

Psalm 81:8 NASB95

8 “Hear, O My people, and I will admonish you; O Israel, if you would listen to Me!

2 Chronicles 20:15 NASB95

15 and he said, “Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s.

2 Chronicles 20:20 NASB95

20 They rose early in the morning and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa; and when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, put your trust in the Lord your God and you will be established. Put your trust in His prophets and succeed.”

To Jesus Christ

Mt 17:5; Jn 10:27; Lk 10:16; Lk 10:39

Matthew 17:5 NASB95

5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!”

John 10:27 NASB95

27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;

Luke 10:16 NASB95

16 “The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”

Luke 10:39 NASB95

39 She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word.

To words of wisdom

Pr 19:20; Jas 1:19

Proverbs 19:20 NASB95

20 Listen to counsel and accept discipline, That you may be wise the rest of your days.

James 1:19 NASB95

19 This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;

See also Ps 34:11; Pr 5:7; Pr 7:24; Pr 8:32–34; Pr 12:15; Pr 13:1; Pr 15:31; Lk 2:46; Jas 2:5

Psalm 34:11 NASB95

11 Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

Proverbs 5:7 NASB95

7 Now then, my sons, listen to me And do not depart from the words of my mouth.

Proverbs 7:24 NASB95

24 Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, And pay attention to the words of my mouth.

Proverbs 8:32–34 NASB95

32 “Now therefore, O sons, listen to me, For blessed are they who keep my ways. 33 “Heed instruction and be wise, And do not neglect it. 34 “Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at my doorposts.

Proverbs 12:15 NASB95

15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.

Proverbs 13:1 NASB95

1 A wise son accepts his father’s discipline, But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

Proverbs 15:31 NASB95

31 He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof Will dwell among the wise.

Luke 2:46 NASB95

46 Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.

James 2:5 NASB95

5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

Believers should not listen to false prophets or ungodly suggestions

Jeremiah 23:16 NASB95

16 Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you. They are leading you into futility; They speak a vision of their own imagination, Not from the mouth of the Lord.

See also Dt 13:1–3; Dt 13:6–8; Je 27:9; Je 27:14–17; Je 29:8–9; Eze 13:19; 1 Jn 4:1; 1 Jn 4:5–6; 2 Jn 10

The wicked refuse to listen to God

Ezekiel 3:7 NASB95

7 yet the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, since they are not willing to listen to Me. Surely the whole house of Israel is stubborn and obstinate.

See also Ex 7:13 Pharaoh’s refusal to listen; 2 Ki 17:14; 2 Ki 17:40; 2 Ki 18:12; Ne 9:17; Ps 81:11; Is 65:12

It is a particular emphasis of the prophecy of Jeremiah that the people have refused to listen to God’s voice:

Je 7:13; Je 7:26–27; Je 12:17; Je 13:11; Je 17:23; Je 22:21; Je 25:3; Je 25:7; Je 29:19; Je 32:33; Je 34:14; Je 35:15; Je 35:17; Je 37:2; Je 38:15; Je 44:5; Je 44:16

Eze 20:8; Zec 7:11–12; Mal 2:2; Lk 16:29–31

Those who refuse to listen to correction are condemned

Matthew 18:15–17 (NASB95)

15 “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.

16 “But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed.

17 “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

God’s people must not only listen to God’s word but also put it into practice

Lk 11:28; Jas 1:22–24 In Hebrew and Greek the verb “listen” is related by the verb “to obey”.

See also Eze 33:32; Mt 7:24–27; Ro 2:13

Examples of people listening

Ge 18:10 Sarah at the tent entrance; Ge 27:5 Rebekah to Isaac; 1 Sa 3:9–10 Samuel to God; Pr 19:27 a son to instruction; Lk 2:46 Jesus Christ to the teachers of the law

The crowds to Jesus Christ:

Lk 5:1; Lk 20:45

Lk 10:39 Mary to Jesus Christ

People to the apostles:

Ac 16:14; Ac 16:25; Ac 26:29