“My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.”
If you are a parent I have to believe at some point in your life you have said this or something similar. I imagine as a child many of us heard it said to us. As a highly ADD person I often needed to be called back into a conversation or instructions and told to focus. Sometimes it worked. When my daughter was 3 years old little I remember one particular time that she was telling me something vitally important. I suspect it had to do with a doll situation or something similar. I was nodding and saying uh huh and making all the appropriate listening responses. Everything except actually focusing on what she was saying. Mid conversation she said, “daddy, lean down”. I did and she grabbed my face in her little hands, turned it toward hers about 4 inches away and looked directly in my eyes. She certainly got my undivided attention and resumed her conversation about whatever. I heard every word. Responded appropriately and was greatly enlightened, not only about her specific issue but more importantly about how a person centered, caring individual listens, truly listens. How to be a dad. Solomon is making the same point my daughter did. Becca taught me to lean into her words and hear her heart. Solomon tells us God wants the same thing. The literal picture in this verse is of a person leaning in and turning their ear to hear clearly. God is always speaking to us through a variety of ways. First, through His word but then innumerable other ways as well. Today listen and really hear. #BeTheEdge
“As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.””Hebrews 3:15 NIV
