An aesthetics of hearing

"Seeing is believing."

This cliche reveals one of our standard commitments: seeing takes precedence over other senses when it comes to knowing what is true.

Another version of the same cliche: "I'll believe it when I see it."

But this is not the Biblical order of things.

This morning I read what the psalmist says, "As we have heard, so have we seen ..."

So hearing precedes seeing. This is an enormous challenge to our culture, which is so colored (colored!) by the glitz and sensuality of the visual.

Our culture is driven by an aesthetics of sight.

But in truth an aesthetics of hearing is much more beautiful.

This morning I read about Ahab, King of Israel, wondering whether to go to battle. 400 prophets say YES! But one prophet, Micaiah, says NO. How would you like to be Micaiah? What you see are 400 prophets saying YES! What you see is a king decked out in all his royal regalia, wanting you to say YES. That is what you see.

But what you hear says NO. That's 401 to one. Those are tough odds. What would you do?

Micaiah was faithful to report the NO, which is what he heard. And he proved right.

I think of the crowd at Jesus' trial that cried "crucify him, crucify him!" This was much the same crowd that saw Jesus perform his miracles. Seeing for them did not result in believing.

And so Jesus always said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

How is this hearing accomplished?

Well, this morning I read Paul saying that we have a spirit that receives not from this world of sight, but from the world of the Spirit of God.

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

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Psalm 48.8 As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts in the city of our God, which God establishes forever.

Romans 10.17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

1 Kings chapter 22 recounts the discernment of Micaiah.

Mark 15.13-14 And they cried out again, Crucify him. Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.

"He who has ears to hear, let him hear" Matthew 11.15; 13.9; 13.43, Mark 4.9; 4.23; 7.16. Luke 8.8; 14.35

1 Corinthians 2.9-13 But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him" - these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God's except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual.