And He said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. – Isaiah 6:9
(Israel’s) terrible sin lay in this, that they were willingly blinded by the light which ought to have been to them a help to see Christ, and they were hardened by those very truths which ought to have melted them. They became more and more adverse to Christ through beholding in Him such a character as ought to have won their hearts. To the prophet’s teaching they were entirely dead. A specimen of this we find in the succeeding chapters of Isaiah. Israel and Syria attacked Ahaz, whose reign followed those of Uzziah and Jotham. The prophet came and said to Ahaz, “Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands.” Ahaz was assured that God would help him if he would but trust in Him; but instead of doing so, the king determined to petition for the help of the great king of Assyria, with the result in the long run that “the king of Assyria came unto him and distressed him, but helped him not.” Isaiah, to confirm his message, bade the king choose any sign either in the depth or in the height above; but the infidel king replied, “I will not ask, neither will I test Jehovah.” He had so defiantly cast off allegiance to the true God that he would not even accept a sign, though it was left to his own choice. Thus Isaiah’s message was rejected though put in the most winning form, for the hearts of the people were blinded and hardened so as to choose the way of destruction. Ultimately, as you know, the Assyrians carried the whole people away; for they had rejected God’s message willfully, and wrath came upon them. What a grievous task to be called to preach to such a people!
“Hear the just law, the judgment of the skies!
He that hates truth shall be the dupe of lies.”
~ C.H. Spurgeon
https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/1844.cfm