This week's study is in Hebrews 5:11 - 6:12 and I would like to focus on verse 11.
NASB "Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing."
HCSB "We have a great deal to say about this, and it's difficult to explain, since you have become slow to understand."
I want to share two personal stories that might illustrate this "dull of hearing" and "slow to understand"
The first is a common problem that we all have tendency to fall into, but which frequently strikes the male half of the population. On more the one occasion, it has been revealed that I might be going a little deaf. While hearing tests have proved that I have a "small" loss of hearing in my left ear, it does not explain my inability to hear. The reason I am "dull of hearing" sometimes is because I have a lack of attention, or I get distracted.
It's is the same in our Christian walk, our "dullness of hearing" comes from the distractions in our lives and our inability to focus on what God has revealed. If we neglect to "Be still and know that I am God," we will miss many things God wants to share. If we don't start removing the distractions when we approach God in prayer, Bible Study, worship, and fellowship; then we can't hear what God wants to say.
The second story is about what happened to me after my back surgery. I have constant nerve pain, but after my surgery it was particulary intense for over a year. In order to function daily, the doctor prescribed a medication for nerve pain. However, the medication had several side effects. Besides reducing the nerve pain, it affected my ability to think. My thought processes became very slow, and it was difficult to mentally function. I literally became "slow to understand."
This is also true in our Christian walk, our "slow to understand" comes from sin in our lives. Sin acts as a barrier to the Holy Spirit's work in our hearts and reduces the full effects of the Word of God.
The word "dull" is translated from the Greek word "nothros", which literally means "no push", "sluggish", or "lazy." Our laziness is the reason why we get distracted, why we don't focus, and why we allow sin to remain unconfessed in our lives.
It is extremely important that we fully understand "the elementary teaching about the Christ" (6:1); so that we can teach them to others, show them the way of salvation, and allow God to bring us into maturity.
It's important that we see the Great Physician for regular hearing tests. Because "the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths." (2 Tim 4:3-4).
I have some Q-tips I can share (not ones that I have already used) and I admit that I might need a hearing aid (at least for my left ear.)
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