From silence and darkness to understanding
Your instructions are a doorway through which light shines. They give insight to the untrained. – Psalms 119:130
Psalms 19:7-13
7 The instructions of the LORD are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
8 The commandments of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are clear, giving insight for living.
9 Reverence for the LORD is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the LORD are true; each one is fair.
10 They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.
12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then, I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin.
A Life Shrouded in Darkness
Born on June 27, 1880, in Tuscumbia, Alabama, Helen Keller’s early years were marked by severe isolation and loneliness. When she was just 19 months old, a mysterious illness left her both deaf and blind, cutting her off from the world of sights and sounds. Without the ability to communicate, Helen described her existence as being “at sea in a dense fog,” separated from the warmth of love and the richness of knowledge. Her world was one of silence, solitude, and confusion.
Helen Keller’s journey from darkness and silence to understanding and enlightenment reveals how even the deepest isolation can be overcome through love, perseverance, and the gift of communication.
The Arrival of a Miracle Worker
Helen’s life began to change on March 5, 1887, a day she would later refer to as “the rebirth of her soul.” On that day, Anne Sullivan, a dedicated and compassionate teacher, entered Helen’s life. Sullivan, who had overcome her own struggles with partial blindness, became a symbol of hope for Helen. She brought not only a simple gift, a doll, but also the gift of language and connection.
Sullivan began by spelling the word “d-o-l-l” into Helen’s hand, a small yet revolutionary gesture. This was the first step in breaking through the barriers of Helen’s isolation. Sullivan’s patience and persistence would soon lead to a moment of profound awakening.
From Darkness to Light
The pivotal moment arrived a month later, as Sullivan ran cool water over one of Helen’s hands while spelling “w-a-t-e-r” into the other. Suddenly, the fog lifted. Helen’s mind sparked with understanding, and the mystery of language was revealed. She later described this moment with eloquence: “I stood still, my whole attention fixed upon the motions of her fingers. Suddenly, I felt a misty consciousness as of something forgotten, a thrill of returning thought, and somehow, the mystery of language was revealed to me. I knew then that w-a-t-e-r meant the wonderful, cool something that was flowing over my hand. The living word awakened my soul, gave it light and hope, set it free!”
This breakthrough transformed Helen’s life, opening the door to a world of knowledge, connection, and purpose.
The Word of God: Our Personal Miracle Worker
Just as Anne Sullivan’s touch awakened Helen’s understanding, the Word of God acts as a divine touch that awakens our souls. The Word is the doorway through which the Father’s light shines, illuminating the darkness of our spiritual blindness and deafness.
We are born into this world much like Helen, spiritually blind and deaf, isolated in our own darkness. Yet, through the living and active Word of God, our souls are illuminated. The Word serves as a liberating force, nourishing and renewing our spirits, allowing us to see and hear the wonders of life. It transforms our isolation into a profound communion with the Father. As the blind man famously declared in John 9:25, “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!”
The Light That Pierces the Darkness
The Word of God serves as a gateway, illuminating the deepest corners of our souls, minds, and hearts. Without it, we are like fish trapped in an underground cave, blind and unable to understand the meaning and significance of life. However, a door gently creaks open, allowing a sliver of light to pierce through the darkness. This light is the truth of God’s Word, which brings clarity, hope, and connection.
Helen Keller once said, “Often, we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.” The Word of God is that open door, inviting us to step out of the darkness and into His marvelous light.
REFLECT & PRAY
Helen Keller’s journey serves as a poignant reminder of the transformative power of connection and understanding. Just as Anne Sullivan guided Helen out of darkness, the Word of God guides us into the light of His truth and love.
Father, there has been more than enough darkness in my life. Encourage me to walk in the light of Your delightful Word every day. Help me to recognize the open doors You have placed before me and to embrace the freedom, hope, and joy that come from knowing You.
INSIGHT
The Marvelous Light of the Word of God
Spiritual insight and understanding are gifts that flow from the incredible light of the Father’s Word. As His Word reveals itself, its truths become clearer, guiding us toward awareness, wisdom, and transformation. The Scriptures are not simply words on a page; instead, they serve as a doorway through which divine light shines, illuminating our hearts and minds.
The Unfolding of God’s Word
The psalmist beautifully captures this truth, in Psalms 119:130, “Your words are a doorway through which light shines. They give insight to the simple.”
The Hebrew word translated as “entrance,” “unfolding,” or “doorway” is pethach, which signifies “an opening, disclosure, or unveiling.” This imagery creates a vivid picture of “a river once blocked, now flowing freely, bringing life and vitality to everything it touches.” Likewise, when the life-giving water of God’s Word pours into our souls, it revives and transforms us.
This process of “unfolding” God’s wisdom is like opening a door that lets light flood into a dark room. It brightens the minds of those who are receptive, bringing clarity and understanding.
Hearts Set Ablaze by the Word
This idea is also reflected in the New Testament, where the disciples on the road to Emmaus discuss their encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ, in Luke 24:32, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”
The “opening” of the Scriptures sparked a deep understanding and passion within them. It was as if a veil had been lifted, revealing the truth and beauty of God’s plan.
The Light illuminates the Simple
The Hebrew term pethi, translated as “simple,” refers to “someone untrained, naive, or lacking wisdom and discernment.” Such individuals are “often easily influenced or manipulated.” Yet, the Father’s Word provides light and insight even to the simple, nurturing their understanding and guiding them toward wisdom.
The more we acknowledge our need for and dependence on the Father, the more His Word will illuminate our hearts. The Father desires for every child of the King to receive the light of His Word, which nurtures and enlightens their innermost being.
Being Blind to Being Blind
Jesus spoke about the Pharisees’ spiritual blindness in John 9:39-41:“Then Jesus told him, ‘I entered this world to render judgment, to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.’ Some Pharisees who were standing nearby heard him and asked, ‘Are you saying we’re blind?’ Jesus replied ‘If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty, but now, because you claim that you can see, your guilt remains.’”
The Lord Jesus Christ differentiates between two kinds of blindness. The first involves a lack of awareness of the truth. The second occurs when someone believes they know the truth but is actually mistaken. In other words, those who truly do not know the truth are not guilty in the same way as those who knowingly reject it. For example, a child who has not yet learned right from wrong is judged differently than an adult who intentionally chooses to do wrong.
The Context of John 9:39-41
These verses conclude a powerful story in John 9, where Jesus heals a man who was born blind. This miracle is significant not only for its physical impact but also for its spiritual implications. The blind man comes to recognize Jesus as the Son of God. In contrast, the Pharisees, who witness the same event, remain spiritually blind despite their claims of understanding and righteousness.
The Pharisees’ refusal to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah highlights their spiritual pride and stubbornness. They assert that they can “see,” implying they have spiritual insight and understanding, but their rejection of Jesus reveals their inability to recognize the truth.
Confident blindness
The Pharisees claimed to possess spiritual insight and understanding. They were experts in the Law and took pride in their knowledge of God’s Word. However, their actions, rejecting Jesus, denying His miracles, and clinging to their own self-righteousness, showed that their “sight” was an illusion. They were willfully blind to the truth standing right in front of them. They failed to see their spiritual blindness.
A Day of Transformation
The transformative power of encountering the Savior is beautifully captured in the hymn “Heaven Came Down” by John W. Peterson:
Oh, what a wonderful, wonderful day,
Day I will never forget,
After I’d wandered in darkness away,
Jesus, my Savior, I met.
Oh, what a tender, compassionate friend,
He met the need of my heart,
Shadows dispelling, with joy I am telling,
He made all the darkness depart.
Heaven came down, and glory filled my soul,
When at the cross, the Savior made me whole.
My sins were washed away,
And My Night Was Turned To Day
Heaven Came Down, And Glory Filled My Soul
Awakened and set free
Through the Word of God, we are awakened, transformed, and set free. Just as the gift of language changed Helen Keller’s life, our lives are transformed by the gift of His Word.
Helen Keller spoke thoughtfully about the relationship between suffering and success: “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved.”
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© Dr. H 2025
Dr H Reflections 