Listening

Who we listen to is so critical.

At first, Adam and Eve listened to God’s voice. 

But then Eve listened to the voice of the serpent.   

And Adam, in turn, listened to Eve.  Genesis 3:17 - To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life.  

Cain failed to listen to God’s warning about sin crouching at the door.  He killed his brother. 

Noah listened to God, obeying him and preparing an ark for the rescue of Noah, his family, as well as the animals. 

Abraham listened and believed God’s promise.  

When Sarah suggested to Abraham that he take Sarah’s servant, Hagar, and have a child with her, Abraham listened to Sarah.  And Ishmael was born – not the child of promise. 

Sarah listened from the tent when the Angel of the Lord spoke, but laughed, thinking her circumstance was too hard for God.   

Who we listen to, and how we listen, makes all the difference. 

Romans 10:17

 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

Psalm 119:25 I am laid low in the dust; preserve my life according to your word.

God is the giver of life and the one who sustains our lives also.His word comes to the rescue when the dryness and dust of life under the sun threatens to become all that we can see.

Another version says, "My soul cleaves to the dust."  I am reminded of the verses that talk about marriage.  "A man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."  Our groom, Jesus, has called us to leave our dryness and dust and to cleave now to him.  His love rescues us, makes us his own.  

Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.

The Holy Spirit is called a the Counselor, the Comforter.  He is an advocate.

Jesus, too, is called counselor.

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

How appropriate!  He is the Word of God!

Psalm 119:23

Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.

Psalm 119 also has these additional verses that mention those in positions of rulership:

• I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame, 
• Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words.

  Authority was ordained by God to punish evil and to reward good.  But even in those times when authority itself is dominated by evil, a heart anchored in God;s word will find light.

Psalm 119:22

Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies.

Whose opinion matters?  In the grand scheme of things, contempt and scorn from others does not change the facts.  Truth is still truth.

“One and God make a majority.” - Frederick Douglass

Psalm 119:21

You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments.

Insolent
Now there is a word I don't use very often (or ever).  In listening to Psalm 119 today, I did notice that the insolent are mentioned a number of times.  In addition to verse 21, above, here are the other mentions:

 Psalm 119:51 The insolent utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from your law.

Psalm 119:69 The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts;

Psalm 119:78 Let the insolent be put to shame, because they have wronged me with falsehood; as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.

Psalm 119:85 The insolent have dug pitfalls for me; they do not live according to your law.

Psalm 119:122 Give your servant a pledge of good; let not the insolent oppress me.

So a total of six mentions in this Psalm....I wonder how many times all together in the Bible?

...16...

So, not all that common.  I feel better about not having a totally firm grasp on the word's meaning.  I could tell from the verses that insolence is not a virtue!

Dictionary.com to the rescue!


 in·so·lent
[in-suh-luhnt]

adjective
1. boldly rude or disrespectful; contemptuously impertinent; insulting: an insolent reply.

noun
2. an insolent person.

Next: how to picture insolence...

I have worked in computer support, and I have seen both ends of the spectrum...from humble servant leadership...to arrogant, insolent, rudeness. God rebukes the insolent.

 1 Timothy 1:12-14 English Standard Version (ESV) Christ Jesus Came to Save Sinners  I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service,  though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Grace trumps insolence.