In short, what has been brought before us in the preceding article, of this series is

nullified and rendered fruitless apart from this, the last of all. An opened ear, if it send no

echo into a heart touched by graces will never enable any to "learn" in the school of God.

The opened book, precious heritage though it be, has no spiritual value unless received

with an open heart. The open book can only "equip" those who receive the Word, not

only in the letter, but in the spirit; not merely through the senses, but in the heart. The

opened understanding is but a synonym for an opened heart, the Hebrew leb, usually

translated "heart", being translated "understanding" some twenty times in the O.T. We

have already referred to the alternative reading of Eph. 1: 18, where "heart" is read for

"understanding", and we refer to it again to say that the eye that is opened here, as

everywhere, is the eye of the heart. We might have explored further avenues of thought

and dealt with "open doors" for service, and other "openings" that find their place in the

Word. These, however, do not fall within the scope of our title quite so truly as those we

have examined.

And so, briefly, we bring this little study to a close, trusting that its perusal may have

led to clearer appreciation of the ways of the Lord with His people.