But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” [1 Corinthians 2.8-9]
Now, where have we heard mention about eyes to see and ears to hear? Why is it not surprising that Isaiah is the source Scripture referenced above:
When you came down long ago, you did awesome deeds beyond our highest expectations. And oh, how the mountains quaked! For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him! [Isaiah 64.3-4]
"And oh, how the mountains quaked" can only be a reference to when Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments.
All of Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the LORD had descended on it in the form of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky like smoke from a brick kiln, and the whole mountain shook violently. [Exodus 19.18]
And, what was all this violent 'quaking' about? God was giving Moses the Ten Commandments. Of these Ten Commandments, the first three unapologetically present God as very exclusive and very jealous:
Then God gave the people all these instructions: “I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me. “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. “You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. [Exodus 20.1-7]
It is no mistake that the 4th Commandment is placed where it is. The 4th Commandment is "Christ," the Sabbath Rest. The reality of the Sabbath is Jesus Christ.
In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. [Colossians 2.15-17]
In God's order of the Ten Commandments, the Sabbath is only revealed in succession after "no other god", "no idols", and "no misuse of God's name". Until a person is submitted to God only, rejecting any presence or possibility of idols in his or her life, they are not ready to experience the blessed Sabbath Rest of Jesus Christ, but are instead under sin and curses. Why is this? We find two passages in the Psalms that tell us exactly why:
Their idols are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and noses but cannot smell. They have hands but cannot feel, and feet but cannot walk, and throats but cannot make a sound. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them. [Psalm 115.4-8]
The idols of the nations are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and mouths but cannot breathe. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them. [Psalm 135.15-18]
Violation of the first three Commandments (idolatry) inflicts blindness and deafness (among other things) upon those who participate with them. Consequently, there is no way to see and hear "Jesus" in the 4th Commandment. And, if Jesus is not recognized in the 4th Commandment, all the character of God in His promises for provision, protection, healing and relief are experientially impossible - they are masked and they are muted. Unironically, from the same Scriptures of Isaiah, we find further understanding of eyes for seeing and ears for hearing:
Harden the hearts of these people. Plug their ears and shut their eyes. That way, they will not see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, nor understand with their hearts and turn to me for healing.” [Isaiah 6.10]
The Gospel writer, John also recognized Jesus in Isaiah's writing:
But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him. This is exactly what Isaiah the prophet had predicted: “Lord, who has believed our message? To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm?” But the people couldn’t believe, for as Isaiah also said, “The Lord has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts— so that their eyes cannot see, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and have me heal them.” [John 12.37-40]
John went right on to record Jesus Himself as saying (notice, in particular His reference to seeing):
Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark. I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken. I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.” [John 12.44-50]
As Jesus identified Himself as God, He also demanded singular and exclusive obedience:
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]
Just as God demanded faith in Himself alone in the first three Commandments, Jesus (the Sabbath), Who is revealed by obedience to the first three Commandments, demands no less singular trust in Himself. The same promises and blessings God offered in the Old Testament without being seen but only being heard, Jesus brought and demonstrated in the New Testament walking among us - not only being heard, but being seen - as a light to shine in this dark world.
But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” [1 Corinthians 2.8-9]
Idolatry blinds and deafens a person from seeing and hearing Jesus. Instead of worshiping Him exclusively as God and Savior (1st Commandment), they openly mock Him by trusting in all manner of man-made, expensive idols (2nd Commandment). And, what's worse, they misuse His holy name by blasphemously associating their man-made, expensive idols with Him (3rd Commandment). Consequently, they do not experience God's miraculous blessings in their lives - in a word, they are not healed.
Father, You have had me inescapably focused on idolatry for some time now. You have been giving me eyes to see and ears to hear. You have repeatedly spoken to me (particularly this last year) about the futility of seeking the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit while holding on to idols. I want to get this right - I want to help others get this right. I want singular focus on Jesus alone, giving up every 'way of man' that I might prove to be undivided and uncompromising in faith like all those mentioned in Hebrews 11 - some whose faith triumphed in living and some whose faith triumphed in dying. I want to prove by my faith what You have prepared for those who love You. I want to be found in faith that pleases You! So be it.
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