Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts. (Psalm 85:8)
In English we distinguish between listening and hearing.
We might listen passively. Like a school child on a sunny day we may be preoccupied and miss much of what is said. To hear suggests to understand and to truly engage what is said.
Hebrew makes a similar distinction.
In this verse the psalmist asks for shamah: to listen attentively, to consent to, and to obey. This is a hearing that is also a doing. We turn to God with our heart, with our inner being, and original self.
We seek to hear the way of wholeness, of completeness, of purposefulness. We seek to fulfill God's intention for ourselves and our world.
In English we distinguish between listening and hearing.
We might listen passively. Like a school child on a sunny day we may be preoccupied and miss much of what is said. To hear suggests to understand and to truly engage what is said.
Hebrew makes a similar distinction.
In this verse the psalmist asks for shamah: to listen attentively, to consent to, and to obey. This is a hearing that is also a doing. We turn to God with our heart, with our inner being, and original self.
We seek to hear the way of wholeness, of completeness, of purposefulness. We seek to fulfill God's intention for ourselves and our world.
posted by Didymus | 5:10 AM
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