Ears and Eyes

O. T. #1877  "Ears and Eyes"

Feb. 9, 2021

Ezekiel 12

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. (1 Corinthians 2:9)

LET IT GLOW

Reading our key above, seeing Jesus in all His majesty and splendor, as well as the beautiful heaven, which await those who love Him is indescribable.

Now, Tony Evans says this is not in reference to heaven but to God's work in the life of the believer; that it indicates God can help believers understand things that they cannot learn through natural means. He reveals these things to us by the Spirit. (2:10)  This is called illumination. This is the work of the Holy Spirit, through the Word of God, within the mind of a Christian that causes him to supernaturally learn, understand, and apply the things of God. It becomes personalized to us. The believer understands the meaning and application of the Scripture in the midst of his own experience.

Our key verse comes from Isaiah 64:4, which is a little different in that it uses the word waiteth in place of loveth. In 65:17, God says, For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

How wonderful it will be, sweet friend, when there will be no more tears, pain, harsh words, nor evil and sin! Do I hear an amen to Jesus?

Billy Graham said in his devotional, Wisdom for Each Day, "The Bible tells us that we have two sets of eyes. We have physical eyes-but we also have spiritual eyes. with one set we see the physical world around us, while with the other we discern the spiritual truths God has set forth for us in His Word. When we come to Christ, He comes to live within us by His Holy Spirit-and He then opens our spiritual eyes to God's truth. This is one reason why the Bible is important, because God uses it to help us discern His truth."

Reading verse 2 in our chapter, those exiled with Ezekiel would not hear nor see the truth that Jerusalem would be destroyed. God was longing for the Jews to repent of their sins, but they would not because of their hard hearts and rebellion.

LET IT GROW

Rebellious means bitter, bitterness, in the Hebrew language. In the Webster Dictionary, says it means opposition to one in authority or dominance; defiance or resistance.

God calls Israel a rebellious house five times in this chapter. They had heard the truth and the consequences of her disobedience many times, but the unregenerate heart invariably twists the truth or rejects it. It was an act of grace, God longing for them to repent. ((The Liberty Bible Commentary)

They are not seeing and hearing the truth of their situation. Rebellion and bitterness of their captivity had blinded their eyes and stopped up their ears. In spite of that, God's will was going to be carried out using the Babylonian army. The purpose was so Israel/Judah would know God is the only God to be worshiped.

Those rebels made their choice willfully to be blind and deaf to God's Word. How about you and me? Are our hearts, ears, and eyes open to what God has to say to us in His Word? Faith comes by hearing the Word of God.

LET IT GO

Help us accept what You have to say to us, Jesus.

Keep our ears open to the Holy spirit speaking to us today.

May our spiritual eyes be open to see where You are working and then join You.

And keep our hearts tender and surrendered to You, Sweet Jesus.