How does Psalm 69:23 connect with New Testament teachings on spiritual awareness? Darkened Eyes and Bent Backs – Psalm 69:23 in Its Own Voice “May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.” (Psalm 69:23) • David calls down a judgment of blindness and perpetual burden on persistent enemies of God. • The language is physical, yet it carries a spiritual edge: refusal to see God’s light invites divinely-allowed darkness. Paul Brings the Verse Forward – Romans 11:8-10 Paul quotes Psalm 69:23 to explain Israel’s partial hardening: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear… May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.” (Romans 11:8-10) • The curse becomes a present reality for those rejecting Messiah. • Spiritual dullness is portrayed not as mere ignorance but as God’s judicial act after persistent unbelief. • Yet Paul also sees it as temporary, opening the door for Gentile salvation and an eventual Jewish awakening (Romans 11:11-15, 25-26). New Testament Echoes of Spiritual Blindness • Jesus links unbelief with Isaiah’s prophecy of blinded eyes (John 12:40; Matthew 13:13-15). • “The god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 4:4). • “They are darkened in their understanding” (Ephesians 4:18). • “You will indeed keep on seeing but never perceive” (Acts 28:26-27). Across the board, refusal to receive truth invites deepening darkness. The Gospel Opens Eyes • “If anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him” (John 11:10). • Christ comes so “that those who do not see may see” (John 9:39). • Through the Spirit, believers receive “the eyes of your heart…enlightened” (Ephesians 1:17-18). • When one “turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away” (2 Corinthians 3:16). Practical Takeaways for Spiritual Awareness Today • Treasure exposure to truth – neglected light soon feels like darkness. • Stay tender-hearted; ongoing resistance can lead to hardening (Hebrews 3:12-13). • Depend on the Spirit for insight, not mere intellect (1 Corinthians 2:12-14). • Walk in obedience; revelation grows with surrender (John 7:17). • Intercede for the blind; Paul’s own story proves God can reverse the curse (Acts 9:17-18). Psalm 69:23 stands as an Old Testament warning, and the New Testament confirms it: spiritual sight is a gift to guard, cherish, and continually seek in Christ. |
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