What metaphor does Isaiah use to describe the people’s spiritual state?

Isaiah employs the metaphor of blindness and deafness to vividly illustrate the spiritual condition of the people. This imagery conveys the idea that the individuals are unable to see or hear the truth of God’s message, reflecting a profound spiritual insensitivity and disconnection from divine guidance. This metaphor effectively highlights their refusal to recognize the importance of repentance and righteousness, indicating a deep-seated spiritual malaise that prevents them from engaging with the Lord's will.

By using this metaphor, Isaiah emphasizes the consequences of neglecting God’s commandments and the resulting moral and ethical decay within the community. The emphasis on blindness and deafness serves as a call for self-examination and a wake-up call for the people to acknowledge their spiritual neglect and turn back to God. In this context, the other options do not encapsulate the theme of spiritual neglect and the people’s failure to heed God’s messages as effectively as the metaphor of blindness and deafness does.