“For the eyes of the Lord run to and for throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9)
When I cruised down ski slopes in Colorado earlier this month, I got some curious looks…from the trees. They have eyes!
Seriously, aspens have odd bark formations where lower branches have fallen off over the years, leaving dark markings exactly like eyeballs staring back.
While meditating on the Lord’s beautiful creation and the fascinating eyes, I thought of parallels in Scripture. God’s eyes are always upon us, and these trees are reminders. He sees us from the purity of His Holy temple, like the snow around the aspens.
Through His Holy Spirit, God is all-knowing and all-observing in our lives. He knows what we are going to say even before the words are on our lips. For the unbeliever, this concept of an all-seeing God might be creepy—sort of like a sinister Santa Claus who “sees you when you’re sleeping” and “knows when you’ve been bad or good,” ready to pounce with punishment.
But King David, a man after God’s own heart, knew better. David was aware of God’s continual presence with him, God’s understanding of his heart and path, God’s power, God’s forgiveness…God’s plan for his life while he was still yet to be born.
David knew the comfort and peace of having God’s eyes upon him:
“OLord,You have searched me and knownme. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.” (Psalm 139:1-10)
This Lord whom David served is our same almighty God today—our refuge, help, and strength in times of trouble. Because His eyes are upon us, we can be assured that we are always in His care and He will never abandon us.
In Psalm 34, also written by David, he tells us that God’s eyes are “on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry.” (Psalm 34:15) Not only does God see us as righteous (by Christ’s claim upon us), He hears our prayers and knows our trials. He walks beside us every step of our journey, whether we are in the heights or depths of life.
Friend, you can rejoice and have extraordinary peace in the knowledge that God has His eyes upon you—because His are the eyes of an everlasting love. He upholds you by His promise of salvation.
Perhaps our prayer this week should be for our own eyes—to behold His sacrificial love, His grace, and His work on our behalf. Let’s join the blind men outside of Jericho (in Matthew 20) when Jesus passed by them and had mercy upon them. Let’s greet Him every morning with the simple request, “Lord, may our eyes be opened.” May you rest in His watchful care, and see where He leads you.
Heavenly Father, I praise You for being my fortress and my deliverer, the One who sees everything about me and loves me anyway. In David’s words, I ask You, O God, to “search me and know my heart…try me and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Please open my eyes to my sinful ways, open Your heart to forgive me and heal me, and open Your everlasting arms to enfold me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Republished with permission from Blogs.crossmap.com, featuring inspiring Bible verses about The Privileged Life: God’s Eyes Are Upon You!
