"how's Your Hearing?"

“HOW’S YOUR HEARING? / PSALM 119:33-40 NLT

An old man was worried about his wife losing her hearing So he went to an audiologist to ask if he had any suggestions on how to convince his wife to have her ears tested. The audiologist suggested, “Try coming up from behind her about 10 feet away and, in your normal voice, ask her a question. If she doesn’t answer, come closer to her and ask the question again. Just keep repeating that until she finally gives you an answer.”

So the old man went home and gave it a try. He stood about 10 feet away from his wife and asked, “What are we having for dinner?” Hearing no reply he went closer and asked the question, “What are we having for dinner?” Still hearing no reply he went even closer and asked the question, “What are we having for dinner?” Standing right behind her he asked the question again, “What are we having for dinner?”

With the tone of exasperation his wife answered, “I’ve told you three times we’re having chicken and dumplings.”

Then there is the old man who got hearing aids. When he went in for cleaning, the audiologist asked, “What does your family think about your ability to hear?” The old fellow said, “I haven’t told them yet and I’ve changed my will three times.”

Well I, too, have a hearing loss. Oddly, it’s mostly in the range of the female voice. Often if the milieu of the area is noisy I have a difficult time understanding what people are saying.

When our daughter, Keri, was married the photographer was wandering around during the reception with the camcorder interviewing people. Our son , John, said something that I misunderstood. I looked at him with a puzzled expression and asked, “What did you say?”

He said, “I hope everything works out okay.” I said, “Oh, I thought you said ‘Don’t take all the forks out of the cake.’”

So I got hearing aids. Our son in law, Dean, said one time, “He’s not half as much fun as he was before he got hearing aids.”

Hearing. So how’s your hearing? There are two ways in which we can mean, “I can’t hear you.” In one way it means, not hearing any sound. You’re standing quite a ways away from some one and you know they’re obviously trying to say something but no sound gets to you. In the other way it means not comprehending the words you do hear.

Marlene and I have this ongoing thing. I’m in the kitchen and she’s in the bedroom and hollers something at me and I say “I can’t hear you!” Or, I will holler something to her from the kitchen when she’s in the office and she’ll say “I can’t hear you.”

Wouldn’t you think we’d learn to use the walkie talkies that I have in my drawer? Obviously we each heard the sound of the other’s voice, but not with the understanding of the words.

Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Well, there are more ways than one to hear. Our personal attitudes have something to do with how we hear something. So this morning let’s consider how we need to hear, especially with regard to the word of God.

The Psalmist gives us some insights: “Teach me your decrees, O LORD; I will keep them to the end. Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions; I will put them into practice with all my heart. Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found. Give me an eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money! Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word. Reassure me of your promise, made to those who fear you. Help me abandon my shameful ways; for your regulations are good. I long to obey your commandments! Renew my life with your goodness.” Psalm 119:33-40 (NLT2).

IF THE WORD IS TO PROFIT US:

I. WE MUST HEAR IT GLADLY:

A. “Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found. Give me an eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money! Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.”

1. Many don’t want to hear the Word and

a. They say, “I want to think my own thoughts and to come to my own decisions. I don’t want the Bible to interfere.”

b. It’s as they plug their ears and say, “Blah blah, blah.”

2. One minister at The Dalles was arguing with my senior pastor about some doctrine. My pastor said, “But the Bible says, ....” The other Minister cut him off and said, “I don’t care what the Bible says!”