View source for Your ear has not been open!

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<p>"You have neither heard nor understood; from of old <strong>your ear has not been open!</strong>" Isaiah 48:8 <br>
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  "You have neither <strong>heard </strong>nor understood!" It is painful to remember that, in a certain degree, this accusation may be laid at the door of believers, who too often are in a measure, <em>spiritually insensible</em>.<br><br> We may well bewail ourselves, that we do not hear the voice of God as we ought, "You have not heard!" There are gentle motions of the Holy Spirit in the soul which are unheeded by us. There are whisperings of divine command and of Heavenly love—which are alike unobserved by our <em>leaden intellects. </em><br>
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  Alas! We have been <em>carelessly ignorant</em>, "You have neither heard nor <strong>understood</strong>!" There are matters within our hearts which we ought to have seen: corruptions which have made headway unnoticed; holy graces which are being blighted like flowers in the frost, untended by us; glimpses of the divine face which might be perceived—if we had not walled up the windows of our soul. But we "have not understood." <br>
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  As we think of this—we are humbled in the deepest self-abasement. How must we adore the grace of God as we learn from the context—that all this folly and ignorance, on our part, was <em>foreknown </em>by God, and, notwithstanding that foreknowledge, He yet has been pleased to deal with us in a way of saving mercy!<br><br> Admire the marvellous sovereign grace which could have chosen us—in the sight of all this! Wonder at the price that was paid for us—when Christ knew what we would be! He who hung upon the cross, foresaw us as unbelieving, backsliding, cold-hearted, indifferent, careless, lax in prayer—and yet He said, "I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour! I have loved you!"<br><br>
  O redemption, how wondrously resplendent do you shine—when we think how <strong>black </strong>we are! O Holy Spirit, give us henceforth the<em>hearing ear</em>, and the <em>understanding heart!
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