"Can you hear me?" signed, "God."

In Psalm 50, God calls his people back from their evil ways.  They “hate instruction” (v. 17), “throw in their lot with adulterers” (v. 18) and “use their mouth for evil” (v. 19). A rather sorry picture of a nation belonging to God! Yet there is help because in verse 17 of the same Psalm, the author provides one of those clear and strong directives that when followed will change everything for the good. The verse says, “Listen, my people, and I will speak” (v. 7). Granted, it has a specific context in the Psalm, but like all trans-temporal statements it works in other contexts as well. Let’s see how it applies in our cultural setting.
       It is clear that God’s people need to listen. So much of our life has to do with our narrow involvement with what affects us at the moment. “How did I do?” “Did you hear what I said?” “ I’d like to show you what I bought? What the Psalmist is saying to all of us is that it’s time to shift focus: We need to set aside fixation on self and turn our attention to concerns of greater importance. We need to listen – to others, but most importantly, to God.  
       And why is it that we seem to leave God out of so many of our learning experience? While we turn to him in difficulties that we recognize as humanly impossible to solve, we operate as though everything else can be solved without “bothering” God. I don’t want to repeat myself too often, but there is one basic reason lying behind every one of our problems and that is who we are by nature. In short, we are made in God’s image but we’re still rebels. It is reflected in everything we do. Not that it is necessary – as believers we also have a new nature –­ but who we are seems to determine what we do. That the devil himself is constantly at work trying to maintain control over all that we do, makes every situation something “humanly impossible to save.” I know that sounds a bit morose, but it isn’t the whole story. The bright side is that our real problem is not what we think it is, but what caused it in the first place. And that is what God would have us address. In our Psalm for today he says.“Listen.” He wants us to bring him into problem, recognize that he is with us in all that we face throughout the entire day. He has the answer, and says to us as we babble along, “Listen,” I have  something to tell  you about solving that problem.
       When we “listen,” God will “speak.” It is important to remember that God is a gentleman and does not interrupt. He, as it were, sits there ready to say something, but we seldom give him the chance. So God, through Isaiah told the nation to listen to him and he would restore them from their desolate condition. He tells us to listen and he will show each of us how to solve that irritating problem while at the same time, be  pleasing to God. Back in Navy days we would hear a phrase that alerted to something our superiors wanted us to hear – “Now Hear This!” And we paid attention. In your troubled moment, God is saying to you, “NOW HEAR THIS!
       Can you hear him psalm 50 when he was calling his covenantal people to prepare for the coming judgment. As ruler of the universe he had no need for animal sacrifice. Can you hear him right now as he would like to direct you in that big decision you are about to make? “Listen,” He says.

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​The God of gods now speaks to the earth  
From sunrise to where it sets;
He comes in a storm of raging fire 
To judge, he never forgets.
 
The heavens declare how just he is
So listen to the charge he brings;
With your offerings I find no fault
With sacrifice or similar things.
 
I don’t need the honor of animals on an altar
I’d rather you honor me with praise;
When trouble comes if you call I will rescue
May honoring like fill your days.
 
Now to the wicked God has said  
Don’t recite my laws;
You refused the discipline that I give
So your life is full of flaws.
 
When you acted that way I said not a word  
But now you must listen to me;
Honor me now by giving thanks
Praise is to heaven the key.