This post was last updated on May 1, 2026

Day 31 (Year 2)

Ears Opened and the Blind Seeing  

“On that day the deaf will hear words of a book, And out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see. The afflicted also will increase their gladness in the LORD, And the needy of mankind will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.” (Isaiah 29:18-19 NASB)

During Jesus’ public ministry, as recorded in the Gospels, the deaf heard and the blind saw. This can be understood as the fulfillment of today’s passage. The mission of Jesus is not only to open the eyes of the blind but also to restore spiritual sensitivity to the ears of our hearts, transforming our attitudes and thus bringing us joy because of His presence.

Today’s passage mentions that the deaf will hear “words of a book.” The word “hear” (shema in Hebrew) means “to hear, to listen attentively, to understand, and to obey.” Jesus’ gospel marks the beginning of God’s work in believers. When His miracles touch our hearts, we must respond in cooperation. Developing interest in the truth of Scripture sometimes requires deliberate effort, because the world offers many competing ideas. The teachings of the Bible are unique and distinct from other philosophies. Many people invest considerable effort at the beginning to understand Scripture. And before fully grasping the Bible’s message, many believers give much but seem to gain little. Yet after passing through this stage, we often find life-giving benefit in Scripture and experience divine joy rooted in faith, not merely the fleeting pleasure of entertainment.

The word “afflicted” in the passage (‘ebyon in Hebrew) can also mean “poor, needy, humble.” In contrast, those who are materially rich often feel self-sufficient and think they do not need God. And the humility or poverty described here does not necessarily refer to financial status, but to an attitude of recognizing one’s lowliness before God. Such people become joyful because God enters their lives. This joy often arises after the eyes and ears of the heart are opened, allowing us to sense His goodness and grace. Indeed, many believers experience a change in their feelings after coming to faith in the Lord. Before that, we must first become sensitive to our own feelings to sense the inner transformation in us. In certain cultures, people habitually ignore, deny, or suppress their emotions. Thus, the first step is to explore what we truly feel so that we can discover genuine joy in the gospel. Next, “turning from darkness to light” will be discussed in the subsequent days. 

Reflection questions:  

1) Before God, do you see yourself as someone needy, afflicted,

or always in need of the Lord’s help? Why?  

2) Do you think the ears of your heart also need to be opened by God? If so, what can we do to hear more of what belongs to Him?