Devotional: Active Listening: Deuteronomy 12:28

“Be careful to listen to all these words which I command you, so that it may be well with you and your sons after you forever, for you will be doing what is good and right in the sight of the LORD your God” (Deuteronomy 12:28, NASB).

When I was in nursing school we took classes on communication. One of the concepts that we learned was “active listening.” Active listening meant that you paid attention to what was being said to you. Part of active listening was being in an environment in which you could concentrate entirely on the person speaking to you and mentally blocking out any other sounds. The purpose of active listening was that you heard correctly, and therefore, you were able to do what you were supposed to do without any error. Active listening also meant that you made every effort to keep what was said in your mind so that you would not forget what had been said to you. If the nurse misunderstood the patient he/she might make a medication error, give the physician, or other persons involved in the care of the patient incorrect information. The patient could suffer harm including death.

Deuteronomy 28 Moses was giving instructions to the Israelites instructions on how they were to live in Canaan, the land that they were going to possess. After he had given them instructions , he said, Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God” (Deut. 12:28, KJV). Moses gave the people the reason that they should listen actively to what he was commanding them to do.

They would encounter people that lived by other standards of ethics and morality that displeased the Lord. If they listen to the other people they would began to live as they lived. If they did not watch over God’s word, protect them, and preserve them, they would not pass them to their children and grandchildren. Their children would not live in ways that pleased the Lord. These were the final words of Moses in Deuteronomy 12: “‘Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; and you shall not add to nor take away from it’” (v. 32, NASB).

Prayer: Lord, we ask that you help us to practice active listening when you speak. Amen.