On the surface, this verse seems to contradict verse 2 of the same chapter. Here is Deuteronomy 29:2 – “And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, Ye have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharaoh, and unto all his servants, and unto all his land” (KJV). The text says that the people had no eyes to see, ears to hear, or heart to perceive. However, in verse 2 Moses declared, “Ye have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes.” What is the missing link? The point is that seeing and hearing go deeper than just taking in information. We have not heard or seen until what we encounter transforms our thinking and actions.

To listen is more than taking in information intelligently. It goes with the implication of obedience. Obeying the Lord is the only proof that we have heard Him.

The same explanation can be carried over to the thought expressed in Proverbs 1:33 – “But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, And shall be quiet from fear of evil.” Proverbs 1:33 KJV. The word “hearken” matches our modern use of the word listen. To listen is more than taking in information intelligently. It goes with the implication of obedience. Obeying the Lord is the only proof that we have heard Him. This comes with an advantage. All the promised blessings in the covenant are contingent on diligently hearkening to God’s word. Our concluding thought is directly from our text. It says that “the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear.” Left to us, we do not have what it takes to listen to or obey the Lord. We need Him to supply us with the necessary grace to do it.