DEAF EARS, BLIND EYES, HARD HEART ROSS SMITH

DEAF EARS, BLIND EYES, HARD HEART, THICK HEAD,              ROSS SMITH 161215

(ALL REFERENCES TAKEN FROM THE AMPLIFIED VERSION)

Mark 8:18                            Having eyes, do you not see [with them], and having ears, do you not hear and perceive and understand (no discernment ) the sense of what is said? And do you not remember?

What an indictment this verse contains, and more particularly if we qualify, and we know if we qualify by the manner of living we engage in as aligned to what the Lord has been saying to us through His word.  I ask the question, Why do these scriptures regarding deafness and blindness continue to surface in many different contexts?  Is it because there is a “disability’ evidenced in our relationship to the Lord, a disability which is not genetic, as in the natural, but a disability through lack of exercise of those spiritual faculties of seeing and hearing.

The Lord has much to say, but few to listen. IT IS NOT ENOUGH FOR US TO REGARD THE WORD OF GOD AS TRUE, IT HAS TO INFLUENCE OUR BEHAVIOUR.

The faculties of eyes and ears are the organs of learning, the teacher in the schoolroom puts the information on the black/white board and then goes on to explain the subject. In the natural, a defect in one faculty is often made up for by the acuteness of the other. Communication and mobility are the two areas most affected by a loss of sight and hearing, a “knock on effect”.  A person who cannot hear or see is essentially alone, unless someone is in actual physical contact, which creates a feeling of isolation and loneliness.

EYE:  3788 Vision from 3708 to gaze (that is, with wide open eyes, as at something remarkable; G2334, signifies an earnest but more continued inspection             SINGLE: 573 folded together 4120 to twine or braid

How parallel this is to the spiritual experience, without that communication from the throne of Grace, there is such an isolation, a feeling of “aloneness”, made more acute because the Word says:-

Ecclesiastes 3:11               He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also has planted eternity in men’s hearts and minds [a DIVINELY IMPLANTED sense of a purpose working through the ages which NOTHING UNDER THE SUN BUT GOD ALONE CAN SATISFY], yet so that men cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.(notice the “knock on effect here!)

Sight and sound defects also directly affect “mobility”, and it would seem that with spiritual deafness and blind eyes, we go nowhere and face danger, but also incur a penalty, there is a hindrance to spiritual progress. This spiritual deafness and blindness is often due to neglect or ambivalence, and leads to death.

The eye sees only when it receives light, and light has two essential characteristics, “Intensity” (brightness)and “Frequency” (wavelength), and the ears hear only when there is sound, and sound has two characteristics, “amplitude”  (volume) and “frequency” (wavelength).

The science of sound is quite profound.

If there is any deficiency in these faculties, or receptors, then either the light has to be brighter or the sound louder before we can assimilate the information brought to us, but the frequency or wavelength is not a component that can be changed, it is the character and is a constant that makes up the quality of the message (it is the inspiration of the Spirit). The degree of the “deficiency” determines our learning ability, and our learning ability contributes to our opportunity  to participate, or to understand, or change our attitude. A deaf and blind person will sit motionless in a class because they do not have an ability to participate, and so cannot learn, THIS IS THE SAME IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM.

The function of the eye is as an instrument to receive light, it does not create light.  It has to be “single” meaning undivided or “one eyed”. If you are seeing double then there is a problem, and that problem is as bad as being blind. Likewise the ear, it does not create sound but reacts to SOUND PRESSURE, but most of our natural accurate information comes from a visual perception process, but the auditory process contributes a large amount of information. This is also true of God’s Word, as found in

Hebrews 2:1                       SINCE ALL this is true, we ought to pay much closer attention than ever to the truths that we have heard, lest in any way we drift pas[them] and slip away. (See also Acts 8:6 and Luke 8:18 as examples).

Isaiah 6:9-10                       And He said, Go and tell this people, Hear and hear continually, but understand not; and see and see continually, but do not apprehend with your mind. (The sound doesn’t resonate and the light doesn’t penetrate, and we become spiritually illiterate   … comments mine) Make the heart of this people fat; and make their ears heavy and shut their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEARTS and turn again and be healed.

Much of the church has only a head knowledge of the Sovereignty of God, and those faculties in their head are obviously defective, for if they were functioning as intended, their hearts would be in rhythm with Father’s heart. Isaiah says we have to understand with our HEART, and it will show in our ATTITUDE.

Matthew 13:13-15           This is the reason that I speak to them in parables: because having the power of seeing, (so it is not spiritually genetically impaired  … comments mine) they do not see; and having the power of hearing, they do not hear, nor do they grasp and UNDERSTAND. (Notice that “understanding is a critical and important component in this equation  … comments mine) In them indeed is the PROCESS (There is a “PROCESS” involved in “PROGRESS”, and it will continue until we pass away  …   comments mine) of fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah, which says: You shall indeed hear and hear but never grasp and understand; and you shall indeed look and look but never see and perceive.  For this nation’s heart has grown gross (fat and dull), and their ears heavy and difficult of hearing, and their eyes they have tightly closed, lest they see and PERCEIVE with their eyes, and hear and COMPREHEND the sense with their ears, and GRASP AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART, and turn and I should HEAL them. [A repetition of Isaiah. 6:9, 10, and consequently is now New Testament instruction]

 The word “heal”, above, comes from the Greek (G2390) and actually means “free from error”.

The “eyes and ears” are in the head, but the understanding is in the HEART.

There are three components in verse 10 that are required that we might successfully attain to the position we have been called to, firstly there is “PERCEPTION”, which means becoming aware of something by our senses, and also called “DISCERNMENT”, not “gut feeling” but an awareness in the spirit. Then there is “COMPREHENSION”, which is an ability to recognise the importance or meaning of something. But then comes the critical component, we have to GRASP it, that is , take it on board, and then by contemplation, discipline, obedience, begin to “UNDERSTAND”, evidenced by our application of what we have perceived and comprehended.

A Doctor may have the ability to perceive what is wrong with us, he might know about, and recognise all the important symptoms, but if he doesn’t UNDERSTAND  how to treat us for that condition, then we cannot be “healed” by that Doctor. Matthew has stated that with all three components there is spiritual healing.

The fact that Jesus used parables (verse 13)  has its reflection into today’s church, and we can paraphrase this verse as follows:-

“I speak I to them in parables, because, despite having eyes, they can’t see, and they turn a deaf ear. And as a consequence of this general rule, I don’t give more knowledge to this people, because they don’t use that which they have already been given: having all the means of seeing, hearing, and understanding, they don’t use those faculties; they do not effectually see, or hear, or understand anything, THEY HAVE SEVERE HEART TROUBLE, AND DON’T REALLY WANT TO BE HEALED”.

Jeremiah 17:9-10              The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly perverse and corrupt and severely, mortally sick! Who can know it [perceive, understand, be acquainted with his own heart and mind] (“heart and mind” speaks of “attitude” )  I the Lord search the mind, I try the heart, (This is the testing required )even to give to every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.(“Search” and “Try” are two different things )

 The fruit of his doings can be his “undoing’s”  …   See how Jeremiah sums it all up, firstly indicating the SEVERE HEART TROUBLE, then looks for the “PERCEPTIVE” individual, a person who “GRASPS AND UNDERSTANDS”, and lastly “COMPREHENDS” the importance of the deficiency.

A thick head is related to a hard heart, but need not be a terminal condition. Although Jeremiah says the heart is “mortally sick” it is not necessarily incurable. Scripture refers to “hardness of heart” as “impenetrable, lacking understanding, deceitful above all things.”  (Jeremiah 17:9) The heart is affected by what it contains, and if we turn our hearts towards God, He will reward accordingly.

 

Ephesians 4:18-24            Their moral UNDERSTANDING is darkened and their reasoning is beclouded. [They are] alienated (estranged, SELF-BANISHED) from the life of God [with no share in it; this is] because of the ignorance (the want of knowledge and perception, the WILLFUL BLINDNESS) that is deep-seated in them, due to THEIR HARDNESS OF HEART [to the insensitiveness of their moral nature]. In their SPIRITUAL APATHY they have become callous and past feeling and reckless and have abandoned themselves [a prey] to unbridled sensuality, eager and greedy to indulge in every form of impurity [that their depraved desires may suggest and demand].  But you did not so learn Christ!                 ASSUMING —– that you have really heard Him and been taught by Him, as [all] Truth is in Jesus [embodied and personified in Him], Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion; (Delusion originates in attempted self vindication, and the person deluded is SELF )And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness.

All is not lost however as the Lord renews His compassions every morning (Lamentations 3) and so the promise of Ezekiel can be embraced by those who will respond, but Paul has told the Ephesians that they also need to “be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind”, so that we can receive the “new compassions” every day.

Ezekiel 11:19                      And I will give them ONE HEART [a new heart] (Father pioneered the “HEART TRANSPLANT” procedure, He is expert in every sense of this new lease on life   …   comments mine)  and I will put a new spirit within them; and I will take the stony [unnaturally hardened] heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh [sensitive and responsive to the touch of their God]

The “ONE HEART” refers to an undivided heart, which is a heart that has no accommodation for idols, a heart that has no double mindedness, is unwavering and stable, a heart that “is sensitive and responsive to the touch of their God.

“And I will take THE STONY heart out of their flesh”. These are hearts hardened by sin, not necessarily blatant sin but often ignorant or complacent and neglectful sin, destitute of sensitivity and responsiveness, stubborn and inflexible, on which no impressions are made by corrections, admonitions, instructions and commands, and so an impenitent heart, A STONY HEART.

 

All these deficiencies originate and are classified under “DEAF EARS AND BLIND EYES”. But Jesus specialised in these conditions, you will recall that the two blind men called out to Jesus, “Have mercy on us” (Matthew 20:30) and He did, and then there was the deaf man with the speech impediment (Mark 7)

Mark 7:32-35                      And they brought to Him a man who was deaf and had difficulty in speaking, (in other words, his deafness had caused him some learning difficulty ..  comments mine) and they begged Jesus to place His hand upon him.  And taking him aside from the crowd [privately], He thrust His fingers into the man’s ears and spat and touched his tongue; (About as unconventional method as one can imagine, a departure from what is/was expected .. comments mine) And looking up to heaven, He sighed as He said, Ephphatha, which means, Be opened!  And his ears were opened, his tongue was loosed, and he began to SPEAK DISTINCTLY and as he should. (the learning difficulty that caused his speech defect was also healed, he didn’t have to learn to speak “distinctly”, it was part of his healing, the same benefit we can accrue when we begin to “HEAR AND LISTEN” ..   comments mine)

The eye sees only when it receives light, and light has two essential characteristics, “Intensity” (brightness) and “Frequency” (wavelength). The ears hear only when there is sound, and sound has two characteristics, “Amplitude” (volume) and “Frequency” (wavelength). A whisper has “frequency” but very little “amplitude” and consequently lacks the timbre of normal sound.

If there is any deficiency in these faculties, or receptors, then either the light has to be brighter, or the sound louder before we can assimilate the information brought to us, but the frequency is not a component that we can change, it is constant quality created by the source, and in spiritual terms it is the “INSPIRATION”.

The degree of deficiency determines our learning ability, and our learning ability contributes to our ability to participate. A DEAF and BLIND person will sit motionless in a class because they do not have the ability to participate, and so they cannot learn, THIS IS THE SAME IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM.

The function of the eye is to receive light, it does not create it. It has to be “single” meaning undivided or “one eyed”. If you are seeing double then there is a problem, and that problem can be almost as bad as being blind. Likewise the ear does not create sound but reacts to SOUND PRESSURE, but most of our natural, accurate information comes from the visual perception process, but the AUDITORY process contributes a large amount of information. It would seem that the SOUND PRESSURE of the spirit does not have sufficient amplitude or volume for some folk to hear, maybe because so many Christian have their head in the sand!!!!

One of the “Thoughts for Today” some many weeks ago was ”CONTEMPLATE YOUR GOD” — TO CONTEMPLATE IS TO THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT SOMETHING FOR A LONG TIME, OR, TO LOOK AT OR VIEW WITH CONTINUED ATTENTION.”

Proverbs 1:24-33              Because I have called and you have refused [to answer], have stretched out my hand and no man has heeded it, And you treated as nothing all my counsel and would accept none of my reproof, (A sorry tale and description of those who have chosen  poor hearing and poor vision … comments mine) I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when the thing comes that shall cause you terror and panic– When your panic comes as a storm and desolation and your calamity comes on as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. (Sometimes Father has to allow a DISASTER to occur before we will begin to take notice, but not before He has given us every chance to shape up  …   comments mine) Then will they call upon me [Wisdom] but I will not answer; they will seek me early and diligently but they will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord, would accept none of my counsel, and despised all my reproof, therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way and be satiated with their own devices. For the backsliding of the simple shall slay them, and the careless ease of [self-confident] fools shall destroy them. But whoso hearkens to me [Wisdom] shall dwell securely and in confident trust and SHALL BE QUIET, without fear or dread of evil.

How characteristic is that of spiritual things, and we have been the objects of the intensity of God’s love, and every day He renews His compassions in an attempt to have us responsive to the stimulus of His light of His Word as in:-

Psalm 119:130                    The entrance and unfolding of Your words give light; their unfolding gives understanding (discernment (we have used the word “perception” previously  …  comments mine) and comprehension) to the simple.

Every day He speaks to us and has said in John 10:27 The sheep that are My own HEAR AND ARE LISTENING to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me. (But not from afar off, but stick close to the shepherd   … comments mine)

The expression of the Psalmist brings into focus the criteria of this whole subject, hearing ears and seeing eyes lead to “UNDERSTANDING”. Here are some scriptures to add to your study process, to expand and extend the exploration of the integrity of our spiritual faculties.

Proverbs 1:2                       That people may know skilful and godly Wisdom and instruction, discern and comprehend the words of understanding and insight, (Notice that discernment, comprehension ,understanding and insight  are the result of learning, and if we are deaf or blind, then we will never “Know”, and if we never know we will never see, never get that “INSIGHT” . How do we achieve this, the first step is “BE STILL AND KNOW”, (Psalm 46:10) have we learned that lesson?)

Proverbs 1:7                       The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning and the principal and choice part of knowledge [its starting point and ITS ESSENCE]; but fools despise skilful and godly Wisdom, instruction, and discipline. (It follows that if we do not hear or see, we will be grossly deficient in “KNOWLEDGE”, and we could deduce that the “essence” refers to that sweet smelling aroma”  and Proverbs comes to the conclusion that despisive  people like that are “FOOLS”)

 

Psalm 111:10  Repeats the thrust of Proverbs 1:7, but then goes on to include “a  good understanding, wisdom, and meaning have all those who do [the will of the Lord]. Their praise of Him endures forever.”

 

Job 28:28                             But to man He said, Behold, the reverential and worshipful fear of the Lord–that is Wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

 

Jeremiah 6:10                    To whom shall I [Jeremiah] speak and give warning, that they may hear? Behold, their ears are uncircumcised [never brought into covenant with God or consecrated to His service], and they cannot hear or obey. Behold, the word of the Lord has become to them a reproach and the object of their scorn; they have no delight in it.

 

“uncircumcised” — closed against the precepts of God by the foreskin of carnality.

 “They have no delight in the word”, more is implied than is expressed; they have an antipathy to it; it exasperates them, and enrages their corruptions, and they are ready to fly in the face and pull out the eyes of their reprovers.” And how can those expect that the word of the Lord should speak any comfort to them who have no delight in it, but would rather be anywhere than within hearing distance?

 

The study of this subject will continue to expand as you explore the depths of meaning of scripture like those below, and as you add your insight and understanding to the subject.

 

Jeremiah 7:27 (ISV)         “You will tell them all these things, but they won’t listen to you. You will call out to them, but they won’t answer you.

 

Ezekiel 2:7                           You are to tell them whatever I have to say to them, whether they listen or not, since they are rebellious.”

 

Act 20:27                              for I never shrank from telling you the whole plan of God.

 

Isa 30:15                               For this is what the LORD GOD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest you will be saved; in staying calm and trusting will be your strength. But you refused.

 

That is the obvious result of a “hard heart”, or a lack of understanding, a distorted attitude in other words, but Jesus healed deaf ears and blind eyes, but His methods were unusual.

 

Matt. 15:8                           “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me”

 

A definition of “disability” might be that it is a lack or limitation of competence.

 

Psalm 95:8                           Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

 

Philippians 1:9-10              And this I pray: that your love may abound yet more and more and extend to its fullest development in knowledge and all keen insight [that your love may display itself in greater depth of acquaintance and more comprehensive discernment], So that you may surely learn to sense what is vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value [recognizing the highest and the best, and distinguishing the moral differences], and that you may be untainted and pure and unerring and blameless [so that with hearts sincere and certain and unsullied, you may approach] the day of Christ [not stumbling nor causing others to stumble].

Psalm 40:6                           Sacrifice and offering You do not desire, nor have You delight in them; YOU HAVE GIVEN ME THE CAPACITY TO HEAR and obey [Your law, a more valuable service than] burnt offerings and sin offerings [which] You do not require.

 

oOo