Hearing…

 Hearing…

As my father got older, he began to lose his hearing…I could hear his tv blaring as I drove into the driveway…every word clear outside…I dreaded going inside as it got louder and louder each time I visited…

We got a couple of aides for him, but he refused to go and get hearing aides…so he was captive to his lack of hearing as were those around him…I remember vowing to myself that I would not hold others captive if my hearing began to go away…

So now I have new hearing aides…I was starting to ask others , “could you repeat that?”….or watch their lips or avoid people, gatherings …

I put my new aides in the other day for the first time  at the loudness at which I should be and it was too loud for my brain…and we had to turn them down to get used to the sounds again…

I hadn’t realized how silent I had let my world to become…

Not hearing reminded me of Ezra in the book of Nehemiah…

“all the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. 

They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel. 

So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. 

He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. 

And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law. Ezra the teacher of the Law stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion. 

Beside him on his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; and on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam. Ezra opened the book. 

All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. 

Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” 

Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. 

They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read. 

Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. 

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. 

This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” The Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for this is a holy day. Do not grieve.” 

Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.”

Neh.8.1-12

Or the many times in the New Testament, Jesus says, “he who has ears, let him hear”….he wanted those around him to understand what he was saying…take it to heart, do it…

 “This is why I speak to them in parables:“

Though seeing, they do not see;though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 

In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 

For this people’s heart has become calloused;they hardly hear with their ears,and they have closed their eyes.

Otherwise they might see with their eyes,hear with their ears,understand with their heartsand turn, and I would heal them.’ 

But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 

For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

Matt.13:13-17

 So, as the Holy Spirit says:“Today, if you hear his voice,     do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion,during the time of testing in the wilderness,

Heb.3.7-8

 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

Rev.1.3

Thank YOU… 

I can hear your voice…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPLxlygShNU