The summary of ‘On Listening’

00:00:00

In this part of the video, the speaker reflects on his long tenure at Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS), mentioning that he has been there for a third of the seminary’s history. He introduces the morning’s speaker, a retired professor and former Bible department chairman who taught at DTS for 47 years and has a long history in pastoral roles and expository preaching. The speaker’s wife, Maxine, is also acknowledged. The guest speaker, who feels honored to be part of Heritage Week, reminisces about having been taught by Dr. Chafer, the seminary’s founder, and shares a light-hearted anecdote about their time as Chafer’s students.

00:03:00

In this part of the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of grace and the clarity of the gospel. He discusses how Old Testament saints were saved through faith, with their salvation realized at Calvary. The speaker also highlights the significance of Bible-centric education, referencing a seminary established in 1924 that places the Bible at the core of its curriculum. He mentions the goal of teaching students the Bible thoroughly. The speaker decides to focus on Psalm 19, underscoring the critical need to listen to God’s words as He has revealed Himself in various ways, including history, dreams, visions, miracles, and supremely through Jesus Christ. The importance of understanding God’s moral governance of nations and His supreme revelation through His Son is also noted.

00:06:00

In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the depiction of the Lord Jesus as the exact image of God, referencing various scriptures such as John 14, Hebrews 1, and Colossians 1. The speaker emphasizes that seeing Jesus is equivalent to seeing God. The focus then shifts to Psalm 19, outlining its structure around the revelation of God. Psalm 19 has three points: the revelation of God in the skies (verses 1-6), the revelation of God in the scriptures (verses 7-11), and the response of the psalmist (verses 12-14). The speaker elaborates on the continual nature of God’s revelation in the skies, emphasizing its constant presence, both day and night, using the imagery of a starry sky to illustrate this ongoing revelation.

00:09:00

In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses the concept of seeing God in the skies and how this revelation is constant, continual, and universal. The speaker mentions that the skies communicate a universal language that transcends speech barriers, allowing everyone to sense God’s presence through the sun, moon, and stars. An anecdote is shared about the speaker’s difficulty in finding a barbershop in Mexico due to the language barrier, emphasizing the universal nature of God’s message in the skies. The speaker compares the sunrise to a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, noting the cultural importance of the groom in biblical times versus contemporary Western culture.

00:12:00

In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses the symbolism of the groom in the Bible, paralleling it with various natural phenomena. The groom, representing Jesus, is seen as the center of attention, much like the groom in a wedding. The speaker likens the groom to the sun rising and running its course from sunrise to sunset, emphasizing its continuous and universal presence. Additionally, the revealment of God through the skies is highlighted, suggesting that nature itself provides evidence of divine existence. The speaker transitions to the idea of God’s revelation through scriptures, noting a change in vocabulary and emphasizing the significance of verses from the Bible.

00:15:00

In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the significance of the term “LORD” when written in all uppercase, which typically translates to Yahweh or Jehovah. They emphasize the recurrence of this term in several verses, highlighting its importance. The speaker marvels at the idea that the same God who created the universe inspired the Bible. Six names for the Bible are mentioned: the law of the Lord, the testimony of the Lord, the precepts of the Lord, the commandment of the Lord, the fear of the Lord, and the judgments of the Lord. Each name underscores different facets of the Bible’s teachings and their divine origin. The speaker also notes seven qualities attributed to the Bible, including its perfection, reliability, and righteousness, and explains how these qualities have a profound impact on believers, offering comfort and guidance, as illustrated through personal anecdotes.

00:18:00

In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the importance of the Word of God in providing wisdom, rather than increasing intellectual intelligence (IQ). They reference teaching a course at Dallas seminary where a student argued that walking with the Lord would raise one’s IQ—which the student later abandoned after seeing their final grades. The speaker emphasizes that while God’s Word may not make someone smarter, it does make them wise. They illustrate this by highlighting how joy, a fruit of the Spirit, frequently appears in the book of Acts as evidence of a victorious and joyful church. Additionally, they explain that the commandment of the Lord can give ‘bright eyes’, metaphorically indicating health and vitality, illustrated through a biblical account involving Jonathan, Saul, and the Philistines.

00:21:00

In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the spiritual benefits of the Word of God, comparing its effects to that of a vitamin box that brings spiritual vitality and vigor, as opposed to the lack of brightness in the eyes of those without it. The Word of God is described as clean and enduring forever, unlike some writings from other religions that are deemed filthy and non-enduring. The speaker highlights seven benefits the Bible provides, including warning and great reward. The commandments of God are depicted as more desirable than gold (symbolizing materialism) and sweeter than honey (symbolizing pleasure), illustrating that the Word of God surpasses both material wealth and hedonistic pursuits. The speaker shares a personal anecdote about tasting honey directly from a honeycomb in northern Minnesota, emphasizing its unparalleled sweetness.

00:24:00

In this part of the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of responding to God’s word. He highlights that while God’s words are precious, our response to them is crucial. The speaker explores different types of sins, including hidden faults and presumptuous sins, and asserts that recognizing these sins is essential. He references biblical figures like Isaiah and Job to demonstrate the transformative power of encountering God, which leads to an acknowledgment of one’s sinfulness. The segment concludes with the notion that an open heart towards God and scriptures leads to humility and self-awareness.

00:27:00

In this part of the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of how one listens to and engages with the Word of God. Key points include the need to internalize the message deeply rather than just intellectually, and the danger of becoming prideful with mere knowledge. The speaker outlines three possible attitudes towards the Bible: dismissing it as a mere human book, selectively accepting parts based on personal or societal preferences, or fully submitting to its teachings. The desired attitude is one of humble submission, as exemplified by the biblical figure Samuel. The segment concludes with a call for all listeners—students, staff, and faculty—to embrace the Word of God genuinely and avoid hypocrisy.