Hearing the Word of God

Hearing The Word Of God is an ordinance of divine appointment (Ro 10:17; Pr 8:4-5; Mr 4:24). Public reading of the Scriptures was a part of synagogue worship (Ac 13:15; Ac 15:21), and was the practice of the Christians in primitive times. Under the former dispensation there was a public hearing of the law at stated seasons (De 31:10,13; Ne 8:2-3). It seems, therefore, that it is a duty incumbent on us to hear, and, if sensible of our ignorance, we shall also consider it our privilege.

(1) As to the manner of hearing, it should be constantly (Pr 8:34; Jas 1:24-25); attentively (Lu 21:38; Ac 10:33; Lu 4:20,22); with reverence (Ps 89:7); with faith (Heb 4:2); with an endeavor to retain what we hear (Heb 2:1; Ps 119:11); with an humble, docile disposition (Lu 10:42); with prayer (Luke 18).

(2) The advantages of hearing .are information (2Ti 3:16); conviction (1Co 14:24-25; Ac 2); conversion (Ps 11:7; Ac 4:4); confirmation (Ac 14:22; Ac 16:5); consolation (Php 1:25; Isa 40:1-2; Isa 35:3-4). SEE PREACHING.