Removing Blindness to Wisdom

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2015 10:33 pm Post subject: Removing Blindness to Wisdom

Removing Blindness to Wisdom

Scripture:

For thus said the Lord: Rejoice in the joy of Jacob, and neigh before the head of the Gentiles: shout, and sing, and say: Save, O Lord, your people, the remnant of Israel. Behold I will bring them from the north country, and will gather them from the ends of the earth: and among them shall be the blind, and the lame, the woman with child, and she that is bringing forth, together, a great company of them returning hither. They shall come with weeping: and I will bring them back in mercy: and I will bring them through the torrents of waters in a right way, and they shall not stumble in it: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. (Jeremiah 31:7-9)

For every high priest taken from among men, is ordained for men in the things that appertain to God, that he may offer up gifts and sacrifices for sins: Who can have compassion on them that are ignorant and that err: because he himself also is compassed with infirmity. And therefore he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. Neither doth any man take the honor to himself, but he that is called by God, as Aaron was. So Christ also did not glorify himself, that he might be made a high priest: but he that said unto him: You are my Son, this day have I begotten you. As he said also in another place: You are a priest for ever, according to the order of Melchisedech. (Hebrews 5:1-6)

And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho, with his disciples, and a very great multitude, Bartimeus the blind man, the son of Timeus, sat by the way side begging. Who when he had heard, that it was Jesus of Nazareth, began to cry out, and to say: Jesus son of David, have mercy on me. And many rebuked him, that he might hold his peace; but he cried a great deal the more: Son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus, standing still, commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying to him: Be of better comfort: arise, he calls you. Who casting off his garment leaped up, and came to him. And Jesus answering, said to him: What will you that I should do to you? And the blind man said to him: Rabboni, that I may see. And Jesus said to him: Go your way, your faith has made you whole. And immediately he saw, and followed him in the way. (Mark 10:46-52)

Reflection:

They were a people who became wise in their own eyes and began to follow false prophets. The Lord sent warnings through His anointed prophets, but their ears were closed. They only heard what they desired to hear and blamed His anointed prophet for that to which they desired to remain deaf.

The people were warned to turn from worshiping false gods. They were warned to turn from their evil ways and their evil works. The people were given an opportunity to repent so that they may restore their relationship with God, so that He would not leave them to the consequences of their deeds.

They were encouraged to do that which is right and just. Through His anointed prophet, the leaders of the land were told that if they led the people to follow His commandments, all would be blessed; but if they ignored His Word, they would be left to destruction. They failed to listen, continued to pursue their own desires and fell to suffer the consequences.

It was not until the people began to listen to His true prophet, repent and seek God in prayer that they became reconciled to Him. Throughout the generations, this is the unfortunate cycle. The people fail to see the blessings of His Word. The people are deceived to believe His commandments are a burden. The people are tempted to believe their wisdom prevails over His and they begin to wander from Him. Though the people are warned, the people are encouraged by false prophets and corrupt leaders such that the people do not listen and the people fail to see the consequences of evil they bring upon themselves.

As the people endure the fruits of their corruption, the eyes of the remnant faithful see the calamity before them and they cry out in sorrow and mourning to Him. Blessed are they for He hears their cry and listens with compassion. He gathers in those who repent and turn to Him. Through His mercy, their tears are turned to joy.

Our challenge is that in our ignorance, we are tempted to follow those who claim wisdom. In our ignorance, we are unable to separate those who God has gifted with true wisdom from those who are merely wise by their own estimation. In our ignorance, we are tempted to follow those who justify our worldly desires. In our ignorance, we are blinded to the path of what is right and just. In our ignorance, we are seduced to the path of wickedness and the consequences to which it leads. In our ignorance, we allow ourselves to be led to believe that what is wrong is right and what is right is wrong. In our ignorance, we are blinded to the reasons for His commandments and are led astray by false prophets and corrupt leaders.

We cannot remove our ignorance if we do not seek Him. We cannot remove the ignorance of communities and nations if we do not share Him. We cannot know when we are deceived by false prophets and corrupt leaders if we do not study His Word and ask Him to guide us in wisdom and understanding. We must avoid the temptation to believe we may remove our ignorance through those who are as blind as we. Instead, we must pray He will heal our ignorance, and the blindness which it brings, so we may see the blessings of His truth.

Just as the blind man cried out to Jesus, ?Son of Dave, have mercy on me,? so must we cry out to Him. We must have faith that as He healed the eyes of the blind, He too, may heal the sight of our soul. Just as the blind man would not be silenced by those who surrounded him and who rebuked him, we must not allow our prayer to be silenced. We should not only cry out for ourselves, but we should encourage others to join in our prayer so that all might see and all might know the true blessings and wisdom of His Word. In daily prayer, we should cry out for His mercy and compassion so we may be healed and protected from all which may blind us to the blessings and truth of His Holy Word.

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier