Isaiah 3 - CEVUS06 & MB

Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

Hearing the voice of God is a central theme throughout Scripture. From the gentle whisper to the thunderous proclamation, God’s voice guides, comforts, and instructs His people. Understanding how to hear His voice is crucial for anyone seeking to follow His will. Here are seven Bible verses that highlight the importance of hearing and recognizing God’s voice.

1. John 10:27 – “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

Jesus uses the metaphor of sheep and a shepherd to describe the relationship between Himself and His followers. Just as sheep recognize and respond to the voice of their shepherd, believers are called to recognize and follow the voice of Jesus. Hearing God’s voice is not just about recognition, but also about obedience. When we truly hear Him, we follow where He leads.

2. 1 Kings 19:11-12 – “And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.”

God’s voice is not always found in the loud and dramatic. Instead, He often speaks in a “low whisper” or “still small voice.” Be still and quiet your hearts, creating space to hear the subtle yet profound voice of God. It teaches us that God often communicates in ways that require us to listen carefully and attentively.

3. Isaiah 30:21 – “And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.”

God provides guidance, even in the midst of uncertainty. As we navigate life’s decisions, God’s voice directs us, showing us the right path. This promise of divine guidance encourages us to trust that God will speak to us when we need direction, leading us on the path He has set before us.

4. Psalm 46:10 – “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

In the busyness and noise of life, it can be challenging to discern God’s voice. However, by intentionally being still and acknowledging His sovereignty, we create an environment where we are more likely to hear Him speak. Stillness allows us to focus on God and tune in to His voice.

5. Hebrews 3:7-8 – “Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness.’”

Hearing God’s voice requires not only listening but also being willing to act on what we hear. A hardened heart can prevent us from fully receiving God’s message and guidance. This verse calls us to be open and responsive to the Holy Spirit’s promptings.

6. Jeremiah 33:3 – “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”

We are encouraged to seek God actively, knowing that He desires to reveal deep and profound truths to us. It emphasizes the relational aspect of hearing God’s voice, where we engage in dialogue with Him, confident that He will respond.

7. Revelation 3:20 – “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”

Jesus stands at the door of our hearts, knocking and speaking. The invitation is clear: if we hear His voice and open the door, He will come in and fellowship with us. This verse highlights the personal and relational aspect of God’s communication, emphasizing that hearing His voice leads to deeper communion with Him.

Conclusion

Hearing the voice of God is a profound and essential part of the Christian life. These verses remind us that God speaks in various ways—sometimes in a whisper, sometimes in guidance, and always with a heart of love. To hear His voice, we must cultivate stillness, maintain a receptive heart, and be willing to respond in faith. As we do, we draw closer to God, following His lead and growing in our relationship with Him.

Judgment on Jerusalem and Judah

1 The mighty Lord All-Powerful

is going to take away

from Jerusalem and Judah

everything you need—

your bread and water,

* 2 soldiers and heroes,

judges and prophets,

leaders and army officers,

3 officials and advisors,

fortunetellers and others

who tell the future.

4 He will let children and babies

become your rulers.

5 You will each be cruel

to friends and neighbors.

Young people will insult

their elders;

no one will show respect

to those who deserve it.

6 Some of you will grab hold

of a relative and say,

“You still have a coat.

Be our leader and rule

this pile of ruins.”

7 But the answer will be,

“I can't do you any good.

Don't make me your leader.

There's no food or clothing

left in my house.”

8 Jerusalem and Judah,

you rebelled against

your glorious Lord—

your words and your actions,

made you stumble and fall.

9 The look on your faces shows

that you are sinful as Sodom,

and you don't try to hide it.

You are in for trouble,

and you have brought it all

on yourselves.

The Wrong Kind of Leaders

10 Tell those who obey God,

“You're very fortunate—

you will be rewarded

for what you have done.”

11 Tell those who disobey,

“You're in big trouble—

what you did to others

will come back to you.”

12 Though you are God's people,

you are ruled and abused

by women and children.

You are confused by leaders

who guide you

down the wrong path.

13 The Lord is ready to accuse

and judge all nations.

14 He will even judge

you rulers and leaders

of his own nation.

You destroyed his vineyard

and filled your houses

by robbing the poor.

15 The Lord All-Powerful says,

“You have crushed my people

and rubbed in the dirt

the faces of the poor.”

The Women of Jerusalem

16 The Lord says:

The women of Jerusalem

are proud and strut around,

winking shamelessly.

They wear anklets that jingle

and call attention

to the way they walk.

17 But I, the Lord, will cover

their heads with sores,

and I will uncover

their private parts.

18-23 When that day comes, I will take away from those women all the fine jewelry they wear on their ankles, heads, necks, ears, arms, noses, fingers, and on their clothes. I will remove their veils, their belts, their perfume, their magic charms, their royal robes, and all their fancy dresses, hats, and purses.

24 In place of perfume,

there will be a stink;

in place of belts,

there will be ropes;

in place of fancy hairdos,

they will have bald heads.

Instead of expensive clothes,

they will wear sackcloth;

instead of beauty,

they will have ugly scars.

25 The fighting men of Jerusalem

will be killed in battle.

26 The city will mourn

and sit in the dirt,

emptied of its people.

Ŋgagburu Yerusalema ya

1 Yauono Opi, OPI Mbaraekye, ka oye lidri cini ndi ŋga cini se lidri kabe ori sina be onane zwi ni Yerusalema ndi Yuda be yasi. Nda ka oye ŋgaonya ndi gyi ànyaro be onane zwi, 2 màno mbaràekye ànyaro ndi kyila'bai ànyaro be, vureope'bai ànyaro ndi nebii ànyaro be, taäŋgu'bai ànyaro ndi 'di 'desii ànyaro be. 3 Dri'bai kyila'bai ro ndi dri'bai lidri robe, tavouni'bai ndi 'dicini se tetedri'bai kayi beni pa ta cini ro ätina iyi be. 4 Ago OPI o'bana ŋgàga giṛiŋwà 'da dri'bai ro; ago ŋgwai luruŋwa mirina lidri 'da. 5 Ago lidri ezana azi 'da, ago 'dialo ezana oriazi iro 'da. Ŋgàga ombato'diro uninayi kote ànya se 'desii ro orone, ago lidri se takaciako iyi unina ko 'dise orooro ro iyi orone.

6 Tu ana si mano alo uruna ädrupi modo ndaro se ni katidri täpi ndaro ro yasi 'do ago atana 'da ndäri ekye: “Mi orivoya dhudhu aza be osone, ka'do inye nya'do dri'ba amaro, ago tandro ono a'dona te drikaca miro zele.”

7 Ndana ozana tadri 'da tu ana si ekye: “Märi ami opane i'do! Ma ŋgaonya ca boŋgo ako zo maro ya. Mì'ba ma ko dri'ba ro lidri dri.”

8 Owo, tana Yerusalema lapate ago Yuda 'dete! Tana tase cini ànya kayibe atana ago kayibe oyena te orivoya koziro OPI ri; ànya kayi Lu andivo lo'da teṛo ŋbelero. 9 Taoye ànyaro edrena tazevo gini ànya lomvo; Ànya kayi takozi oye ṛote ŋbelero oso lidri Sodomo ro koyeyibe ronye; ànya da'doyi kote. Ànya te kandrakozi be! Tana ànya eziyi rriti te andivo ànyaro dri.

10 Nyata taŋgye'bai ri ŋga cini a'dona ndi kadoro ànyari. Ànya njäkyina 'da doŋgo taoye ànya ro rosi. 11 Oko takozi'bai te kandrakozi be ta a'dona ndi koziro ànyari, ŋgase ànya koyebe azii ri iyi ago ayena 'da ayani ànyari.

12 Ombato'di ka teni lidri maro eza ago 'ditoko ka teni ànya miri.

Ami lidri maro, dri'bai amiro kayi ami lepe koziro, ago kayi liti se urune amiri wirina.

OPI ka Vure Lidri ndaro ro Opena

13 OPI orivoya nja vure ndaro tana itine, nda orivoya nja vure lidri ndaro ro opene. 14 OPI kate 'desii ndi dri'bai lidri ndaro robe ezina vure ya. Nda ka ànya kicu nonye ekye: “Nyòtopa ämvui kono rote, ago zo amiro gate twi ŋgase mìrube ni ati'bai rigyesi iyi si. 15 A'di ozo ta ni ämiri lidri maro ezane ago mi ati'bai ro ŋgoṛine gyini si ya? Ma, OPI Mbarapara Mbaraekye matani inye.”

Miomba Ozo Ndiriŋwa Yerusalema ro ri

16 OPI atate ekye: “Ndiriŋwa Yerusalema ro orivoya driuŋgyi be! Ànya kayi aba kembe eŋga eŋga ro. Ànya a'doyi alo yereŋwà voondrevoya. Ànya abayi alo lele, ago araca pà ànyaro ro ye alo ciṛiciṛi. 17 Oko mezana ànya 'da, mävuna drî ànyaro 'da ago me'bena ànya 'da drî täkuṛä ro.”

18 Tu ana si OPI onana ŋgase cini ndiriŋwa Yerusalema ro kayibe driuŋgyi sina iyi 'da, araca pa ro ŋga drî ro ndi ŋga kyembero ànyaro robe, 19 ndi se kundu ànyaro yasi iyi be. Nda onana boŋgo ànyaro ovoro drî ya 20 ndi tagyia ànyaro be 'da; ŋga tetedri ro se ànya kayibe o'bana kufu ànyaro yasi ago kundu ànyaro yasi iyi ndi sänduku ŋga ŋgutruro robe; 21 mäŋgusi drì ro ndi iŋgyi konvo robe; 22 boŋgo cini runduṛuro liŋgyiekye ànyaro, boŋgo ovoro, boŋgo 'desi koloŋbo, boŋgo se vo drî ro ako, ndi gbolo parata ro ànyaro yibe; 23 boŋgo räŋgäräŋgä ro, fota drî ro, boŋgo oparo drî ya ndi boŋgo mi tako ro ànyaro yibe.

24 Vo ido tägyi ŋgutruro roya ànyaro ogo a'dona ro tägyi kozi be, ànya ogo embena te iba ekpe ayani vo kyini kunduro roya; vo drikyiri liŋgyiekye ànyaro roya, ànya ogo a'dona ṛo drî täkuṛä ro; ànya ogo osona te boŋgo nyakaca ayani, vo boŋgo liŋgyiekye ànyaro roya; liŋgyi ànyaro tozaruna 'da driupi ro!

25 Mànoago amiro, ca mànoago se mbaraekye iyi utufuna 'da kyila ya. 26 Dereŋwa 'bakici ro liyina ago o'bena ruṛu 'da, ago 'bakici modo a'dona 'da oso toko se äru ŋga cini na be ago koribe gyini dri 'do ronye.