The Strand Study Bible

II SAMUEL II SAMUEL the enemy’s voice, lest we obey the wrong voice and suffer for it (II Sam 24:10-17). David, like Peter (Mt 16:21-23), became proud of his accomplishments, and in so doing failed miserably to recognize the real voice of God. Failing to keep yourself humble keeps God from speaking to you. THE ADAGE IS TRUE: God speaks clearly to those who walk humbly 2. Remember who G O D is ( Jn 8: 44- 47 ) If you don’t know who God is, how are you going to recognize His voice when He speaks? Jesus said in John 8:47, “ He that is of God heareth God’s words. ” When the Jews under Judaism rejected Jesus’ claim to deity (that is, they rejected who God is – Jn 5:17-18 & 8:57-59 & 10:30-33), they closed their ears to what God was saying. In order to insure that the voice that we are hearing is truly God’s voice, we must know who God is. According to Genesis 1:1c ,26, God exists as three “distinct” co-eternal persons called the Godhead (I Jn 5:7, Rom 1:20, Colo 2:9 and Acts 17:29). They are not three Gods; rather they are three “separate” persons, all equally God, who works as one. The reason they are “separate one from another” is because they each possess a “separate” personality. They each possess the three essential characteristics that make up a personality: mind (intellect); heart (emotion); and will (choice). Why? Because if we really understood who God is, we would better listen when He spoke. Unger’s Bible Dictionary notes: God as revealed through the Scriptures is the one Infinite and Eternal Being. He is purely spiritual, the Supreme Personal Intelligence, the Creator and Preserver of all things, the Perfect Moral Ruler of the universe; he is the only proper object of worship; he is the tri-personal – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit constituting one Godhead (Gen. 1:1; Exod. 34:14: Psa. 90:1,2; 139:7-12; Job 26; Jer. 23:2-4; Matt. 3:16,17; 28:19; John 4:24; I John 4:16, etc.). 1 *Metaphysically God is self-existent, eternal and unchanging *Intellectually God is omniscient, faithful and wise * Ethically God is just, merciful, and loving * Emotionally God detests evil, is long-suffering, and is compassionate * Existentially God is free, authentic, and omnipotent The second precautionary step to insuring that the voice that we are hearing is truly God’s voice is to know who God is, and what makes Him who He is ( Psa 138:2 ). Thus, in order to insure that the voice we are hearing is truly God’s, we need to remember who God is, and that He is always connected to His Word. Failing to know who God is keeps you from knowing what God says. 3. Remember how God’s Word works (Colo 3:16 and Eph 5:18) According to Scripture, there is a direct correlation between God and His Word. Thus, to ignore one is to ignore the other. In essence, your relationship to God’s Word determines God’s relationship to you ( Prov 1:23 ). Giving God the “last say” ( Turn you at my reproof ) results in being SPIRIT -filled ( I will pour out my SPIRIT unto you ) and Word-led ( I will make known my words unto you ). Mark it down! God works through His Word. Are you working to know it? Failing to know how God’s Word works keeps you from hearing how God speaks. THE ADAGE IS TRUE: To know His Word is to know His voice 4. Remember, the better you hear (obey – Jn 17:7) God’s Word the better you’ll recognize God’s voice (Ezk 2:1-2) Ninety-eight percent of the will of God is found within His Word. Thus, to ignore His Word is to ignore Him. Failing to connect His Word with His will keeps you from hearing His voice. God’s Word works His will. THE ADAGE IS TRUE: Those who will hear His Word will know His voice 5. Remember to keep your relationship with God simple ( II Cor 11:3 and I Cor 1: 26- 27-28 ) God works through those who keep things simple. Although no one was more intellectual than Paul (Acts 22:1-3), Paul determined not to know anything, “ save Jesus Christ, and him crucified ” (I Cor 2:1-2). Thus, the depth of a Christian’s concern for the lost will become the measure of his/her Christianity. 6. Remember to surround yourself with the right kind of biblical counsel ( Mt 5:21 -22) Those who surround themselves with the right kind of biblical counsel have studied for themselves first ( I Ki 22 :5- 12 ). If you want to make sure that the voice you’re hearing is truly God’s voice, even when you hear it from others (II Sam 13:1-3), then you better be in the Book for yourself… a lot! Had David followed the instructions for a king (Deut 17:14-20), he would have stayed humble and not numbered the people for the sake of self-glory ( I Chro 21:3 & 27:23-24). Failing to keep yourself in the Book keeps you from hearing the right kind of biblical counsel when you need it most. 7. Remember to wait on God ( Isa 40:31 and Rev 1: 1- 3 ) Those who desire to make sure that the voice they’re hearing is truly God’s voice need to learn to “wait” on God (serve Him) while waiting for God to bring to pass what He has told them to do (Jere 32:1-2,6-8). Those who tend to insist on knowing the why before they do what God wants them to do fail to understand what faith is all about (Heb 11:1-6). Jeremiah “waited” on God while He waited for God to fulfill His purpose. You’ll know God’s voice when you serve God’s purpose (Jn 8:31-32). 570

1 Unger’s Bible Dictionary . Chicago, ILL, Moody Press, 1957. Print.