My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
James 1:19-20 NIV
Quick to listen
Slow to speak
Slow to become angry
This is in the form of an aphorism or proverb. James is following a Jewish tradition of writing in short memorable statements in order to catch the reader's or listener's attention. The contrast between the first words of the trio of phrases is deliberate. In today's blog, we are going to reflect on the first two phrases and concentrate on the third phrase - Slow to become angry! in the next Day Share blog.
Quick to listen
James is not just providing sound advice in general terms that all of us should listen more than we speak. We have two ears and only one mouth so it seems sensible to listen twice as much as we speak. The Book of Proverbs in the Old Testament offers a similar message
Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues. [Proverbs 10:19 NIV]
[See Day Share entitled, "Too many words" (25/06/2022)]
However, a quick glance at the context in which James has made this statement, provides a clue as to James's meaning. When James advises, or perhaps more accurately, commands his readers to be quick to listen, he is referring to listening to the Word of God. In the previous verse James speaks about God choosing 'to give us birth through the word of truth [James 1: 18 NIV]. In the present verse (James 1: 19), he commands us 'to take note of this' and this might well refer back to verse 18 (or it could be James highlighting the need to take note of the proverb he is now introducing). James is telling those Jewish Christians that they should first and foremost pay attention to the word of God. He desires that they will make this a top priority in their lives. James wants them to hear and obey the word of God so that it becomes their guide in all aspects of their lives.
Hushed was the evening hymn,
The temple courts were dark;
the lamp was burning dim
before the sacred ark,
when suddenly a voice divine
rang through the silence of the shrine
This hymn by James Drummond Burns (1823-64) tells the story of God speaking to Samuel as a young child.
Here is the third verse:
O give me Samuel's ear,
the open ear, O Lord,
alive and quick to hear
each whisper of Your word -
like him to answer at Your call,
and to obey You first of all.
Verse 4 speaks about Samuel's heart described as 'a lowly heart that waits to serve etc.' The last verse speaks about Samuel's mind:
a sweet unmurmuring faith,
obedient and resigned
to you in life and death….
[Mission Praise 253]
Do we revere the Bible today? Are we listening for your voice like Samuel was? Are we ready to obey and trust completely in your wisdom and power? Are we like the writer of the longest Psalm?
“I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.”
Psalms 119:14-16 NIV
Slow to speak
There are two possible interpretations of this phrase in James chapter 1. The more obvious interpretation is that James is giving a general command similar to the proverb we quoted earlier.
Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues. [Proverbs 10:19 NIV]
This is a very important lesson which we covered in an earlier Day Share. I have confessed my weakness with regard to saying things I later regret. James will speak about the tongue in chapter 3 and he will expand on this lesson.
John MacArthur interprets this command as referring to the first verse of James chapter 3.
“Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.”
James 3:1 NIV
Here is what this expositor says:
"But at the same time, they should be cautious about becoming preachers or teachers too quickly."
Paul warns Timothy not to choose a recent convert as an elder with responsibility for teaching other church members and Paul supplies a valid reason - there is the danger that these new Christians will become too big-headed and this will lead to their spiritual downfall. God gives a warning to Ezekiel about the huge responsibility of being a 'watchman' who would have task of warning people of impending judgement. If the watchmen did not carry out this task conscientiously, he would be answerable to God for this failure.
““Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself.”
Ezekiel 3:17-19 NIV
This has made me feel very sober as I write this blog. Am I too eager to please and too reluctant to convey God's message when it is too challenging and possibly unpopular? This is a real danger for every preacher and Bible teacher especially in a society where the Bible is so disregarded and disliked because it contradicts popular culture. There is a temptation to water it down and package the Bible in a more attractive wrapping paper. Am I really warning 'the wicked person' to turn from their wickedness and their evil ways?
The next blog will deal with the third phrase - slow to become angry. I felt that it merited spending a bit longer on the subject of anger.
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