Go! And Listen for His Voice - Proverbs 8:34
Introduction: Grabbing Attention
Let me begin with a question: When was the last time you truly stopped, stilled your heart, and listened—not to the clamour of the world, not to the endless stream of social media notifications, not even to the opinions of friends—but to the voice of God?
We live in an age where noise is constant. Opinions are loud. Distractions are everywhere. And yet, Proverbs 8:34 speaks a timeless word into our 21st Century world:
“Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home!” (Proverbs 8:34, NLT).
Here, in the words of Solomon, wisdom itself is personified—standing at the gates, calling out to any who will hear. In the Old Testament, wisdom is often personified as a woman, but in the New Testament, we come to understand that true Wisdom is revealed most perfectly in the person of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:24, 30).
So today, as part of our “Go! And…” series, the message is this: Go! And Listen for His Voice.
The Hebrew word translated “listen” is shama?—not simply to hear sound, but to heed, obey, and respond. This is not passive listening, but active, obedient hearing.
The word “watching” comes from shaqad, meaning to be alert, to stay awake, to remain vigilant.
And “waiting” speaks of expectation, hope, longing.
So the verse could be rendered: “Blessed is the one who attentively listens, who remains vigilant, who eagerly waits in expectation at the threshold of wisdom’s house.”
This is not a casual listening; this is a daily posture of the soul.
And just as Israel was called to listen to the voice of Yahweh—“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4)—we too are called to incline our ears to the voice of Christ, the embodiment of divine wisdom.
John 10:27 (NLT): “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27, NLT).
Jesus makes it plain. The mark of His true disciples is that they listen to Him. The Greek word used for “listen” here is akouo—again, more than hearing sound. It is hearing with understanding, leading to obedience.
Charles Stanley once said: “God is always speaking. The question is: are we listening?”
And that is the challenge for us. Are we so tuned to the noise of the world that we can’t discern the still, small voice of our Shepherd? Or do we daily wait at His gates, eagerly seeking His guidance?
Psalm 46:10 (NLT):
“Be still, and know that I am God!”
The Hebrew word raphah—translated “be still”—means to let go, to relax, to cease striving.
Tim Keller commented: “To know God is not the achievement of the restless, but the gift given to those who will stop, surrender, and receive.”
In our busy world, this verse calls us to silence the inner noise. If we want the joy of Proverbs 8:34, we must cultivate the discipline of being still before God, so His Spirit can speak.
Hebrews 3:15 (NLT): “Remember what it says: ‘Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled.’”
This is a sobering warning. Hearing is not enough. Israel heard God’s voice at Sinai. They saw His miracles in the wilderness. Yet many hardened their hearts in unbelief.
John Piper notes: “Every time you hear the Word of God, your heart either softens a little more toward Him, or it hardens a little more against Him.”
So the question is not whether God is speaking, but whether we will respond with humble obedience or stubborn resistance.
The Radio Signal
Imagine a radio station broadcasting music all day. The signal is constant, but unless you tune your receiver to the right frequency, you’ll never hear it.
God’s Word and Spirit are constantly speaking. But if your life is tuned only to the frequency of entertainment, social media, or worldly ambition, you won’t hear the Shepherd’s voice. The invitation of Proverbs 8:34 is to daily tune our hearts to His frequency.
Revelation 3:20 (NLT): “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”
Jesus is not distant. He is not silent. He is knocking at the door of your heart. He is calling you to relationship.
Max Lucado beautifully said: “God loves you just the way you are, but He refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus.”
That transformation begins with listening. With opening the door. With daily fellowship with Christ.
The Father and the Child
Picture a child lost in a crowded marketplace. The child is frightened, surrounded by strangers. But then—above the noise—he hears his father’s voice calling his name. Immediately, relief washes over him. He runs toward that voice.
That is what it is like for the believer. The world is noisy, confusing, and often frightening. But when we hear the voice of our heavenly Father through His Word and Spirit, our hearts find peace and direction.
The Gospel: The Voice That Saves
Let’s not miss this: the greatest call we must hear is the call of the Gospel.
Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, left heaven’s glory and entered our world. He lived a perfect life, fulfilling the law we could never keep. He died upon the cross, bearing the punishment for our sins. He was buried, and on the third day, He rose again—defeating sin, death, and hell forever.
The Gospel is God’s voice to humanity, saying: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28, NLT).
The question is: will you respond? Will you repent of your sin and place your trust in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord?
Call to Action for Believers:
Believers, Proverbs 8:34 invites us into a rhythm of listening. This is not a one-off event but a daily discipline.
Listen through His Word. Make Bible reading not a duty but a delight.
Listen through prayer. Don’t just speak to God; leave room for silence.
Listen through His people. God often uses fellow believers to speak wisdom into our lives.
Listen with obedience. Don’t just hear; obey.
As R.T. Kendall wisely observed: “The degree to which the Holy Spirit leads you is the degree to which you are willing to obey Him.”
Invitation to Salvation:
If you are here today and you have never truly listened to Jesus’ call of salvation, hear Him today. He is knocking. He is calling your name.
Repent. Turn from your sin. Place your faith in Christ. Don’t harden your heart. Today is the day of salvation.
Conclusion and Benediction:
Brothers and sisters, joyful are those who listen—those who daily wait at His gates, eagerly seeking His voice.
So I say to you: Go! And Listen for His Voice.
May the Lord tune your heart to His frequency, may His Word dwell richly in you, may His Spirit guide you in every decision, and may His voice lead you to joy, peace, and eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amen.
