Attitudes toward and treatment of the poor and oppressed is close to the heart of God. The gospel is the story of God’s own demeanor toward those who were unable to help themselves. Grace demands that recipients of grace are dispensers of that same grace towards others. The “hiding of the eyes” is indicative of a heart that is hardened not just to fellow man, but to God. A hard heart will conjure many convenient, convincing justifications for ignoring the plight of the needy. But none of those justifications are convincing to God. Christianity that is void of grace is also void of God. What is your attitude towards the poor? The answer to that question is also a reflection of the condition of your heart.