In Malachi 2:1-2, God delivers a serious command to the priests of Israel. He tells them, “Listen… and honor my name,” a charge that reaches far beyond just hearing words. To listen in the context of God’s Word is more than simply receiving sound; it’s about actively taking His message to heart and aligning your life with it.
The connection between the words listen and silent is not coincidental. Alfred Brendan, a classical pianist, poet, and composer, reminds us that “Listen” shares the same letters as “Silent.” Listening to God requires us to pause, be still, and create space to hear Him. The Psalmist writes in Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.” God calls us to quiet our hearts, clear the distractions, and intentionally focus on His voice. In this silence, we begin to hear Him more clearly, without the interference of the noise that surrounds us.
But listening is only the first part. The next crucial step is to honor God’s name—and that involves taking His Word to heart.
In Hebrew, the term heart (lēb / lēbāb) refers to the center of one’s life. It is the seat of knowledge, decision-making, and planning. To “take it to heart” means to allow God’s Word to penetrate deep into the core of our being. It’s where we determine the direction of our lives based on the truths we hear. As the commentators Richard A. Taylor and E. Ray Clendenen explain, the phrase “place upon the heart” means to make a deliberate decision to change your actions in response to knowledge.
Application:
- Create space to listen: Do you regularly make time to “be still” before God? Silence isn’t just an absence of noise—it’s an intentional practice of focusing on God and listening for His voice. Set a ‘Do Nothing’ appointment with God. Sit outside & look at Creation for 30 minutes. “Speak Lord, your servant is listening.” Whether through prayer, Scripture reading, or worship, take time to sit in silence and let God speak to you.
- Honor God with action: Listening to God is not passive; it leads to action. Do you take God’s commands to heart in a way that leads to tangible change in your life? To honor Him means to reflect His truth in your choices, relationships, and every part of your life.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to listen attentively to Your voice and honor Your name in all that I do. Open my heart to receive Your Word deeply and guide me to live according to Your truth. May my life reflect Your glory in every decision and action. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Remember: True listening involves both quieting our hearts and acting upon what we hear. Take God’s Word to heart, and let it transform your life.