Ezekiel 12:2 says, “Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.”
Living in todays world has created a lifestyle where the worlds information is at your fingertips. It has been found that the average American consumes 12 hours of information per day – OUTSIDE of work.
“Between the dawn of civilization through 2003 about 5 exabytes of information was created. Now, that much information is created every 2 days.” (Eric Schmidt – Former Google CEO)
We are connected now more than we have ever been, with communication happening every moment of the day. However, people today are more blind and unable to hear real truth.
Have you ever stopped and asked the question;
“Why do people not SEE the truth?” Or with truth so readily available, “Why do people not HEAR truth.”
In the English language we have two words – To Hear, and To Obey. In english these two concepts are separate words. To hear means to hear words. To obey means to do action.
In Hebrew, there is only one word for both concepts of hearing and doing, “Shema.”
Shema is the foundation to an obedient and faithful life in Christ.
Not only do we hear, but in hearing we respond by obeying.
As parents, there are many times that we try to get a response from our kids and will say. “Are you hearing me?” The child dutifully responds, “Yes, I can Hear you.” But as a parent, you realize that they have not truly heard you. Because, if they had fully understood what you were saying, they would have responded in active obedience.
This is “Shema” – To hear entirely, and to obey fully.
In the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 1, we find a heartbroken woman that is crying out to God. In her bitter tears, Hannah prays a vow to God, “O Lord of hosts, if thou will indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but will give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.”
This prayer is one of a sincere woman pleading with God for a child. In it you can hear the cry of a woman that is desperate for God’s blessing in her life.
The text says that “Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the Lord REMEMBERED her. Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceive, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord.”
Samuel.
Or in Hebrew: Shema El.
He who “hears and obeys, God.”
This boy at the age of six began to minister unto the Lord before Eli in the temple. One night while Samuel was sleeping, the Lord called Samuel; and he answered, “Here am I.”
In this story, we understand that Samuel at first did not understand who was calling him. After waking Eli the third time, Eli told Samuel, to “Go, Lie down; and it shall, if he call thee, that thou shall say, Speak Lord; for thy servant heareth.”
Samuel runs and lays down again waiting for the call to ring out in the night.
Suddenly in the darkness, “SHEMA El, SHEMA El,”
Than “SHEMA El answered and said, Speak; for thy servant SHEMA” (heareth).
This verse is a beautiful word picture of who Samuel was.
Samuel – Shema El. The one who hears and obeys God. Samuel is intently and readily to both hear and to obey God.
Samuel had a Hearing Heart (a “SHEMA” heart)
How is your heart to God? Can you hear Him now?
James 1:22 says, ‘but be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.’
Be SHEMA!