Please read the following closely for they are words of life to those who have ears to hear. There are several places in the Old Testament where we find the Hebrew word for “hear” which is shama` used twice in a row- shama` shama`. FATHER wants us to pay very close attention when HE repeats the word shama`.
In Exodus chapter 15 THE SPIRIT wrote:
26 and said, “If you diligently heed (shama` shama` ) the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put (or permit) none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.”
FATHER wants us to know most assuredly that HE is JEHOVAH RAPHA (THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY OUR HEALER) and we should never forget this Truth. THE SPIRIT wrote in Deuteronomy chapter 11:
13 ‘And it shall be that if you earnestly obey (hearken to) (shama` shama` ) My commandments which I command you today, to love the LORD your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul,
14 then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil.
15 And I will send grass in your fields for your livestock, that you may eat and be filled.’
In this case FATHER once again describes HIMSELF this time as JEHOVAH JIREH, Our Provider, for HE gives and sends provision for us in our time of need. Now in Deuteronomy chapter 28 where we find the blessings of obedience, FATHER tells us to listen closely, harken diligently, or he who has ears to hear, let him hear what is about to be said:
1 “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey (shama` shama` ) the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth.
2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God:
3 “Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country.
4 “Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks.
5 “Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.
6 “Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.
7 “The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.
8 “The LORD will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you.
9 “The LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways.
10 Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they shall be afraid of you.
11 And the LORD will grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers to give you.
12 The LORD will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.
13 And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them.
14 So you shall not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right or the left, to go after other gods to serve them.
The next occurrence takes place in Jeremiah 17:24 concerning the Day of Rest. Each of us needs a Day of Rest during the seven day cycle. We should take the opportunity to take Holy Communion and keep its meaning before us the entire day without any major distraction. FATHER spoke to the Israelites concerning the Sabbath:
21 Thus says the LORD: “Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem;
22 nor carry a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day, nor do any work, but hallow the Sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers.
23 But they did not obey nor incline their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear nor receive instruction.
24 “And it shall be, if you heed Me carefully,” says the LORD, “to bring no burden through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, but hallow the Sabbath day, to do no work in it,
25 then shall enter the gates of this city kings and princes sitting on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their princes, accompanied by the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and this city shall remain forever.
FATHER’S promises to us are not hidden to only those who can find them through exhaustive study but instead FATHER emphasizes them by pointing them out to us in an obvious and clear fashion. “Hearken diligently” means to listen and pay very close attention. Let us ponder the above passages as we are reminded that FATHER changes not and HIS Love is consistent and reliable throughout all of Scripture. HIS promises are applicable today just as they were when THE SPIRIT wrote them for all to read and “shama` shama`”.
Reading the above out loud will be of additional benefit for we will read, see, and hear!