Resources/Articles
"Obey My Voice"
“Obey my voice, and I will be your God.”
Jeremiah 7:23
The expression “obeying the commandments” is very seldom used in scripture. Most often the expression is “obeying Me”, “obeying”, or “hearken to my voice”. With the commander of an army, the teacher of a school, the father of a family, it is not the code of laws, however clear and good, with its rewards or threats, that secures true obedience; it is THE PERSONAL LIVING INFLUENCE, and the voice of the one who speaks to us. It is the joy of ever hearing the Father’s voice that will give the joy and strength of true obedience. It is the voice that gives power to obey the word; the word without the living voice does not avail.
How clearly this is illustrated by the contrast of what we see in Israel. The people had heard the voice of God on Sinai, and were afraid. They asked Moses that God might no more speak to them. Let Moses receive the word of God and bring it to them. They only thought of the commands. They knew not that the only power to obey is in the presence of God and His voice speaking to us.
Learn a great lesson from Jesus, “who learned obedience” by every moment waiting to hear what the Father wanted Him to do (John 8:29). It is only when we, like Him, listen to the voice of Jehovah that we will forever walk with God.
