Hear God’s Word

                As I read the scriptures in Isaiah 1:10 quoted below, a verse in Romans came immediately to my mind:

Romans 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Isaiah, as did Paul understood the need to “Hear the word of the LORD.”  In the times both men were speaking, there was no King James Bible available for an individual to read.  The Temple Priests of Isaiah’s time had access to the Pentateuch, and the Apostles preached through letters, based on Jesus’ teachings.  All of the Apostles except Paul were uneducated.  Both Peter and Paul were the leaders, yet Paul, the educated one became the most prolific writer of them all.

              So now that we have a Bible, why do we have to “Hear the word of the LORD?”  When we read, our comprehension and retention isn’t as high as when we “read and hear.”  (We get double duty, retain more, and have a better understanding of the studied scripture.)

              This is why it is imperative that we read our Bible at home, bring it to Church, and read the scriptures as they are given.  The Preaching, the reading, and the hearing makes for a better and more secure understanding of God’s Word.

              Notice in Isaiah 1:10 that we are told “…Learn to do well…,” not in terms of the world, but on God’s terms “…give ear unto the law of our God,..”  As Christians, our primary failing is in the thought, “I am doing alright, not into sin too much.”  The question is if we know we are intentionally sinning, then “How much sin is too much?”  We as Christians are going to sin, (it is our nature) given to us by Adam.  Our task through the Holy Spirit and looking toward Jesus is to sin as little as possible.  When we realize we have sinned, we must go to our knees and ask Jesus to forgive us.  In that prayer we must be repentant, (sorry and willing to not repeat that sin,) and ask Jesus to forgive us and help us not to repeat that sin. 

              Does your heart want “to do well?”  Are you “hear[ing] the word of the LORD?”  Have you forsaken the “…the assembling of ourselves together…?” (Hebrews 10:25)  Are you growing in the Lord?  Are you exhorting others without a complete understanding, or because of your absence from church are you  “…learn[ing] to do well…?”

Acts 9:6  “… astonished [Paul] said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?...” 

Have you asked?

Bro. John R. E Chastain

Isaiah 1:10  Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.

Isaiah 1:16b-17  … cease to do evil;  (17)  Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.