Ouvir: o que a Bíblia ensina sobre a escuta

O que significa ouvir na Bíblia

Na Bíblia, ouvir significa muito mais do que registrar sons: ouvir a Deus é prestar atenção, crer e colocar a mensagem em prática. Tanto no hebraico (shama) quanto no grego (akouo), o ato de ouvir está inseparavelmente ligado à obediência.

A fé cristã nasce dessa escuta atenta. Paulo explica que a confiança em Deus não surge do nada, mas de ouvir a mensagem de Cristo proclamada:

17 So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.(Romans 10:17)

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in him whom they have not heard? How will they hear without a preacher?(Romans 10:14)

9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear."(Matthew 13:9)

Ouvir e colocar em prática

Ouvir a instrução divina sem agir é considerado autoengano nas Escrituras. Jesus e Tiago insistem que a maturidade espiritual não se mede pela quantidade de ensino acumulado, mas pela disposição prática de edificar a vida sobre o que foi ouvido:

22 But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves.(James 1:22)

24 "Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it didn’t fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 Everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell—and its fall was great."(Matthew 7:24-27)

28 But he said, "On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and keep it."(Luke 11:28)

9 Do the things which you learned, received, heard, and saw in me, and the God of peace will be with you.(Philippians 4:9)

4 But he answered, "It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of God’s mouth.’"(Matthew 4:4)

Como reconhecer a voz de Deus

Jesus usa a relação entre o pastor e o rebanho para ilustrar como os discípulos aprendem a discernir a sua voz. Esse reconhecimento depende de convivência constante, apego à palavra revelada e atenção à ação de Deus:

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27)

24 "Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. 25 Most certainly I tell you, the hour comes, and now is, when the dead will hear the Son of God’s voice; and those who hear will live. (John 5:24,25)

20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)

4 You shall walk after Yahweh your God, fear him, keep his commandments, and obey his voice. You shall serve him, and cling to him.(Deuteronomy 13:4)

5 He therefore who supplies the Spirit to you and does miracles among you, does he do it by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?(Galatians 3:5)

A certeza de que Deus ouve a oração

A escuta bíblica é uma via de mão dupla. Deus não é indiferente às aflições humanas: Ele inclina os ouvidos para atender o clamor sincero dos que o buscam com humildade e confiança:

1 I love Yahweh, because he listens to my voice,

and my cries for mercy.

2 Because he has turned his ear to me,

therefore I will call on him as long as I live.(Psalms 116:1,2)

15 Yahweh’s eyes are toward the righteous.

His ears listen to their cry.(Psalms 34:15)

6 In my distress I called on Yahweh,

and cried to my God.

He heard my voice out of his temple.

My cry before him came into his ears.(Psalms 18:6)

14 This is the boldness which we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he listens to us.(1 John 5:14)

15 And if we know that he listens to us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him.(1 John 5:15)

12 You shall call on me, and you shall go and pray to me, and I will listen to you.(Jeremiah 29:12)

3 ‘Call to me, and I will answer you, and will show you great and difficult things, which you don’t know.’(Jeremiah 33:3)

1 Behold, Yahweh’s hand is not shortened, that it can’t save;

nor his ear dull, that it can’t hear.(Isaiah 59:1)

3 Yahweh, in the morning you will hear my voice.

In the morning I will lay my requests before you, and will watch expectantly.(Psalms 5:3)

8 Cause me to hear your loving kindness in the morning,

for I trust in you.

Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,

for I lift up my soul to you.(Psalms 143:8)

Sabedoria para ouvir os outros

A Bíblia também orienta a escuta nas relações humanas diárias. Precipitar-se para falar antes de ouvir é sinal de insensatez, enquanto a paciência para acolher conselhos, correções e dialogar em momentos de conflito preserva a paz e edifica o próximo:

19 So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;(James 1:19)

13 He who answers before he hears,

that is folly and shame to him.(Proverbs 18:13)

20 He who heeds the Word finds prosperity.

Whoever trusts in Yahweh is blessed.(Proverbs 16:20)

17 He is in the way of life who heeds correction,

but he who forsakes reproof leads others astray.(Proverbs 10:17)

9 He who turns away his ear from hearing the law,

even his prayer is an abomination.(Proverbs 28:9)

5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools.(Ecclesiastes 7:5)

15 "If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother. 16 But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembly. If he refuses to hear the assembly also, let him be to you as a Gentile or a tax collector. (Matthew 18:15-17)