Hears

“For the Lord hears the needy and does not despise His who are prisoners”.   Psalm 69:33

Hears – Hebrew shama.  Used over 1000 times in the Old Testament, this verb has an umbrella of meanings that are extended from the basic root.  It can be translated to hear, listen to, pay attention, obey, examine and understand depending on the context and the changes to the root word.  In its basic use, it has the same meaning as the English translation – to comprehend a sound or message.  When it is used in connection with God’s commandments, it usually carries the stronger sense of listen to, obey, respond to or answer. 

There is an important connection between God’s proclamations to us and our perception and response to His words.  Jeremiah tells us that refusing to listen to God carries the consequence of finding God silent when we try to seek Him later.  True hearing entails understanding that is exhibited in action.  This Old Testament context was foremost in Jesus’ mind when he said those peculiar words, “He who has ears, let him hear”.  In this verse, the Psalmist declares that the Lord is not like men who hear the sound of affliction and desperation but do not respond.  The Lord hears and acts.  He pays attention to our cries for help and demonstrates His care by rescuing us.  He is not put off by the fact that we are prisoners to ourselves. 

This is a tremendous promise.  Anyone who has every struggled with destructive behavior knows very well what it means to be despised.  It doesn’t have to be public.  We have constructed solitary confinement cells around ourselves because of our inner disgust and hatred.  We didn’t like anything that we saw in the mirror because we knew what we were really like.  But God does not despise us.  He hears our desperate cry and reaches into our lives to save us.  What we could never do, He willing does.

Keep this promise locked away in your heart.  God hears you.  God treasures you.  God can’t wait to rescue you.