Dull of Hearing

Heb 5:11  Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 

When you have something you want to tell someone, something you consider important, and yet you know your target audience is not one to really listen to you, how does it make you feel?

Do you contemplate not talking at all, even though you really have something important to tell them? Do you preface your talk with exhortations to please, this time really listen? It's not easy trying to talk with someone who listens to you only superficially catching a few words here and there and then piecing together only part of what you've said thinking they understand it all. Watching eyes glaze over in that look which tells you their mind is elsewhere- is never pleasant. Watching the wheels turn in their brains, so to speak, you know they've already gone off thinking things on their own- maybe even things they now want to say, rather than continue to listen to you and what you're trying to convey.

There is every day conversation- bantering back and forth, talking about things that are in the long run non-consequential, and there is serious discussion on matters that might be life threatening. Also, let's not leave out the middle of the two, the conversations we have that are important to us but not life threatening.

When the person you talk to is dull of hearing, it's hard to speak to them, isn't it? And I don't mean dull in the sense of being deaf (though that makes it hard too.) I mean their ability to comprehend and really listen with the desire to understand you is dull, they just don't care enough to be attentive.

Isa 6:8  Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. 

Isa 6:9  And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. 

Isa 6:10  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 heart, and convert, and be healed. 

By going and preaching, prophesying as the Lord would have him, Isaiah knew in advance that the majority of people who would hear him speak would hear but not understand….they would see but not perceive. The listeners would have fat hearts, heavy ears, and closed eyes-  selfish hearts, no true comprehension, no desire to be enlightened.  IF they did have those things they would be converted from their lives of sin and ruin and be healed by God. Most people fall into the category of not wanting to hear, of stopping their ears and shutting their eyes, while their hearts are filled fat with their own lives not wanting anything to upset their way of believing, their way of living.

Just imagine for one single moment how significantly the Savior's three year ministry affected lives. Beliefs that had been in place for years and years, generation after generation, were challenged. The majority of those listeners of Jesus did not want their worlds changed, their beliefs altered, and they were among those yelling for Him to be crucified.

Today there is still a majority that would yell for His crucifixion rather than believe in His truths if He came and tried to open the eyes of the spiritually blind. He does come, and He does try, with the Holy Spirit in His place. And yet we know few will find the way.

God help us find the way.

Mat 13:15  For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 

Mat 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 

Jesus' words from Isaiah applied to Him and His offered healing.

May our eyes see, and our ears hear and may we understand with our hearts.

Mar 8:17  And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? 

Mar 8:18  Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? 

PLEASE help us see, hear, understand and remember all that You would have us know, Lord!

Luk 24:25  Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 

Luk 24:26  Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 

PLEASE let our hearts NOT be slow, let us believe!

Lord we need the Holy Spirit! We need to buy of You - gold tried in the fire of faith. We need to be clothed with the white raiment of Your righteousness, we need the eye salve of comprehension, of understanding, of being able to see spiritually all You would have us see! Bless us, Lord, please, bless us and keep us in You and Your love and far from the evil that surrounds us on every side!

All in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, now and forever!!!!!!!