The Heart of Inquiry: Seeking God's Voice in Community
"Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother, What hath the LORD answered? and, What hath the LORD spoken?" - Jeremiah 23:35

In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, amidst responsibilities and distractions, we may unintentionally drift away from the essential task of listening to the voice of God. Jeremiah 23:35 invites us into a deeper engagement with the divine wisdom that He offers us and calls us to foster a communal culture of inquiry. "Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother, What hath the LORD answered? and, What hath the LORD spoken?"
At first glance, this verse commands a simple inquiry among community members—a dialogue that goes beyond mere social niceties into the realm of spiritual sharing and growth. Within this inquiry lies a critical principle: the necessity of seeking and acknowledging God’s words. The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah delivers this message against a context where many false prophets mislead the people, causing them to falter in their faith and connection to God. Thus, Jeremiah's words prompt us, not just to ask, but to genuinely listen for the answers to a fundamental question: ***What has the Lord spoken?***
To engage with this inquiry is to recognize the divine distinctiveness of communication from God. Asking "What hath the LORD answered?" implies an expectancy that God speaks. In our busy lives, we much prefer quick answers and passive faith; yet, God desires us to dive into a relationship with Him that is infused with question and trust. The act of questioning opens our hearts and minds, allowing us to embrace the knowledge that God desires to be in conversation with us. To knowingly ask our neighbors, our brothers, or sisters in faith: ***What has God spoken to you recently?*** fosters an environment rich in spiritual discovery and community bonding.
This call to inquiry also emphasizes community responsibility. In the Kingdom of God, we are not solitary individuals wandering aimlessly; we are partakers in a shared faith journey. When we reach out to one another with the questions posed by Jeremiah, we engage in an enriching dialogue that embodies the very essence of what it means to be the Body of Christ. This collective pursuit of God’s answers strengthens bonds and builds unity. In a world where differences often lead to division, our shared quest for God’s voice can unite us beyond doctrinal splits and denominational boundaries.
Yet, there’s a crucial aspect here: God’s answers do not always come immediately or in the forms we expect. Therefore, as we open ourselves to these inquiries, we must also cultivate patience and discernment. It might take time before we recognize how the whispers of the Lord manifest in our lives. The verse implicitly teaches us the value of expectation and attentiveness—how blessed are those who wait and watch for God’s revelation.
What ought we to maintain in our questions to God? We must be prepared for the answers to displace our comforts and challenge our assumptions. Just as Jeremiah stood amidst a people captivated by falsehood, we must be vigilant against the messages that do not align with the truth spoken by God. As we converse with one another, we must ground each question in humility, openness, and readiness to accept God’s truth, even when it contradicts our preferences.
As we move through our week, let’s make a deliberate effort to engage in questions of faith with our neighbors and loved ones. What has God been revealing to you in your prayer life? What scriptures have resonated in your heart recently? How has the Lord answered your cries? When we actively seek to hear one another's experiences of God's work in their lives, we become conduits for His truth.
In conclusion, let us embrace this call from Jeremiah as a beautiful invitation not just to dialogue but to deepen our devotion to God. Through inquiry, we cultivate a spirit of community, enrich our worship experiences, and collectively partake in the wondrous adventure of discovering the heart and will of God among us. May we always echo the profound inquiry, ***What hath the LORD answered? and, What hath the LORD spoken?*** and may our lives bloom with the beautiful answers He graciously imparts.
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Jeremiah 23:35 Artwork
Jeremiah 23:35 - "Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother, What hath the LORD answered? and, What hath the LORD spoken?"
"Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother, What hath the LORD answered? and, What hath the LORD spoken?" - Jeremiah 23:35
Titus 2:3-5
Titus 2:3-5
Titus 2:3-5
Jeremiah 35:12 - "¶ Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying,"
Salmo 45, 2-3. 5-6. 8-9
2 Chronicles 35:23
"¶ Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying," - Jeremiah 35:12
Jeremiah 35:1 - "The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying,"
2 Samuel 23:35 - "Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,"
Jeremiah 35:3 - "Then I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, the son of Habaziniah, and his brethren, and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites;"
Jeremiah 33:23 - "Moreover the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying,"
Jeremiah 25:35 - "And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape."
Leviticus 23:35 - "On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein."
Jeremiah 49:35 - "Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might."
Genesis 35:23 - "The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:"
Jeremiah 23:23 - "Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off?"
Jeremiah 13:23
Jeremiah 23:16,17
Jeremiah 23:18
"Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite," - 2 Samuel 23:35
Jeremiah 35:9 - "Nor to build houses for us to dwell in: neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed:"
Jeremiah 35:10 - "But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed, and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us."
Jeremiah 50:35 - "¶ A sword is upon the Chaldeans, saith the LORD, and upon the inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon her wise men."
Psalms 35:23 - "Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord."
Jeremiah 48:35 - "Moreover I will cause to cease in Moab, saith the LORD, him that offereth in the high places, and him that burneth incense to his gods."
"Moreover the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying," - Jeremiah 33:23
Jeremiah 35:19 - "Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever."
Jeremiah 35:5 - "And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pots full of wine, and cups, and I said unto them, Drink ye wine."