Well TIL that I know the “pop” version of this Psalm – Psalm 95:8. “If today you hear His voice harden not your hearts”. Turns out the “real” scripture is something less sing-songy but more impactful:
Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
8 Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah,
as on the day of Massah in the desert.
9 There your ancestors tested me;
they tried me though they had seen my works.
I’ve always wondered why if you heard God’s voice why the reaction would be to harden your heart. Shouldn’t hearing His voice open up your heart to such love that it essentially explodes in love?
To harden one’s heart would mean to see what God is offering (love) and decide against it. That seems crazy! …And then I realize I pretty much do this all the time. Eek.
God’s Word is Truth and Truth can be hard to hear. Beyond hearing you actually have to then “do” it – live it out the way God calls you to live it out. That is seemingly simple since His words are “spirit and life” but our ways in this world are so far below His ways that we just can so readily not “get it”. It is much easier to hear and ignore than to hear and embrace – especially if it is something that challenges us or will cause us to change our ways.
To read about the people at Massah and Meribah – you see that they see God, they know God, they have physical evidence of His works, and they should be able to recognize His work and that God’s way is the only way. And yet they hardened their hearts and turned from Him. They actively chose against God rather than embracing Him.
I guess I can see there is hope for me in that — I am flawed and fail just like so many other people have done, do, and even do so repeatedly AND YET I can continue to strive. As long as I keep my heart open despite my failings maybe the next time I hear His voice I will choose God. And then I’ll hear his voice again and choose Him again — constantly striving to soften my heart, actively preventing it from hardening.
He is the potter and I am the clay. He forms me. He knows me. He guides me. He shapes me and I should respond to His touch. If I harden myself I could choose to solidify myself as a misshapen cup rather than the beautiful perfect one He is trying to help me become.
It is sad to think about having a hardened heart towards God. I should be open to His voice, His love, His guidance. If today I hear His voice I should soften my heart – become the vessel He wants me to be – full of His Word and His love so that I can pour out His Word and love; let it spill out of me and into this world and hopefully soften the hearts of those His love touches all simply because I remembered to let God work in me and through me -as He created me to be: a vessel for His work in the world.
So if today you hear His voice, let it soften it even if it’s just a little bit. Let God continue to mold you and form you; do not harden yourself prematurely. Simply by listening to Him and being open to recognizing His works you will continue to be crafted into who God wants you to be.
Give God Your Yes 