Psalm 119: Focus On God's Word Pt. 49 Asking God To Open Our Eyes To See His Word.

Psalm 119:17,18  GIMEL. Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word. 18)  Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

We studied the first verse in the GIMEL section of Psalm 119. It is a prayer for life in order that the Psalmist might live a holy life, dedicated to pleasing and honoring God. 

It is a prayer showing that we cannot keep God's word without a steady supply of His wondrous grace. 

We need God to open our eyes to His truth. 

Psalm 119:18  Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

Not only are we unable to keep God's Word without His grace, we cannot even know it and of His glorious salvation without divine help. 

Here is a second prayer petition asking Jehovah to open our eyes for the purpose of seeing the wonderful things God has in His law.

We need divine illumination and this comes from the indwelling Spirit of God. We need to understand what is meant by opening our eyes. 

It is also helpful to see that the Psalmist is not complaining about what the law of God says. He is not saying, "Lord this is too hard for me to grasp." Rather, he is recognizing his own blindness to see it. 

He is not saying "Lord make your law plainer" but "Lord open my eyes to see the beauty of your Word." 

Light from God's Word shines into our hearts. 

2 Peter 1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 

The Word of God is light from God, because God is light (1 John 1:5). There is no lack of pure heavenly light to be found in God's truth. 

Peter tells us that it is light that shines into dark places. This reminds us that we have a veil of darkness upon our hearts. If we cannot see the light of scripture then the defect is on our heart and not in His Word. 

False teachers have no light in them. 

Isaiah 8:19,20  And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? 20)  To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. 

False teachers lead people astray today, because they claim to have a new revelation from God, or to offer a new mystical experience. 

This is what Isaiah was dealing with while he ministered to Israel. The Israelites were busy trying to contact the dead, or looking to the occult world instead of seeking God. 

God's summary of false prophets and those who dabble in the occult is that they have no light in them from God's Word. 

Acts 9:18  And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. 

In the Hebrew, the words "Open thou mine eyes" have a negative and positive side. The negative side is that we are blind to God's truth when we are lost and without Christ. Once we put our complete trust in Christ and believe all of His word, it will be like scales falling off of our eyes and we will start on our journey through this life as believers in Jesus Christ. Old things will pass away and new things will take on new meaning!

He was blinded and remained that way until God sent a man named Ananias to restore Saul's sight. Then, when Ananias prayed for Saul and laid his hands on the blinded man, it was as if scales fell off Saul's eyes and he began to walk in newness of life. 

The face of Jehovah will shine upon those who trust Him.

Numbers 6:24-26  The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: 25)  The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 26)  The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. 

This is often called the priestly benediction that Jehovah commanded Moses to teach to the children of Israel. It is a beautiful expression of mankind's complete dependency upon Jehovah for all things. 

He alone can bless us and keep us safe when we are in Christ. He will cause His face to shine upon all believers who are in Christ. 

His grace will flow to us and Jehovah will keep His eye upon each sheep in His vast pasture. He alone can give us a peace that passes all understanding, when we are in Christ. 

Psalm 80:3  Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.

Jehovah will turn our hearts toward Him as we seek Him in His Word and in our prayers. He will cause His face to shine upon us and save us from sin and damnation. 

The natural man has a veil blinding their minds to God. 

2 Corinthians 3:14,15  But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. 15)  But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.

In our natural condition, we are blinded to spiritual realities. We cannot see the kingdom of God. Paul was writing to believers at Corinth and by this time he had a great deal of experience with the blindness of the Jewish people. 

In his old life as Saul, Paul was a blinded Jew before Christ saved him. He found that some Jews did believe the gospel of Christ, but most rejected it. They were blinded to the truth. 

In this case, the veil of ignorance remained over their eyes partly because God allowed their blindness so that the gospel could include the Gentiles (Romans 11:25). 

There is a veil of carnal knowledge that obscures God.

1 Corinthians 8:1,2  Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. 2)  And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. 

There is also a veil arising from the accumulation of knowledge. This type of knowledge puffs up a person with self conceit, thinking that he or she has everything figured out and that all others need to come up to where they are. 

The words "puffeth up" refers to a puffer fish that ingests large amounts of water that more than doubles its normal size, to discourage predators from eating it. 

The idea in this text is that even a Christian gaining knowledge about God can be subject to being puffed up  at times. Sometimes we can become proud that we "know" so much and this is something that we must fight against. 

I have said many times that knowledge that is stuck in our heads does no real good for the kingdom mission God gave us to do. 

This is why a bishop must not be a new believer, because spiritual seasoning is needed in order to lead the church aright (1 Timothy 3:6). Paul warned us about the tendency for a novice to fall into pride and this trait is not suitable for church leaders.

Knowledge needs to impact our heart, how we feel and our minds, how we think, so that we know how to obey God.

Do you know what true Biblical wisdom is? It is when I know what I ought to do according to scripture, and I do it. This action of living out the will of God for us is the wisdom we need to seek after. 

Paul gave us a vivid picture of a self conceited person being puffed up with knowledge, instead of having a heart overflowing with the love of God. 

Many people still have a veil over their hearts and they cannot see God. 

Deuteronomy 29:2-4  And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, Ye have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharaoh, and unto all his servants, and unto all his land;  3) The great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles: 4)  Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day. 

Moses spoke to the Hebrews about how Jehovah led them out from Egypt as a free nation who were to serve God. 

In spite of many signs and wonders that they saw with their own eyes, Moses stated the reality of their hearts. They had a veil of blindness that obscured the things of God. 

Notice also that Moses, like the Psalmist, tells us we need divine help from God to see light from His Word. 

Self dependency is another veil. Jesus taught us that we cannot serve God and pursue the things of the world known as mammon (Luke 16:13). Paul told us that the love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10). 

Peter tells us that those who lack diligence, faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity, cannot see past their own problems and their own misery. 

They are blinded to the blessings offered by the gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:3-9).  

Paul tells us that Satan blinds the minds of those who do not believe the gospel of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4).

Thus, there are various kinds of veils upon our heart, mind and soul, and we need God's help in order to see and walk in the light of His truth. 

Allowing God to remove the veil is followed by an infusion of light from His Word. 

God promises to write his law on our minds.

Hebrews 8:10,11  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: 11)  And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. 

God can and will impart light from His Word into the souls of those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ with repentant faith. 

We begin to read the Bible, seeing the scriptures with clear light for the very first time. God helps us gain understanding and the application of His Word to us. His Spirit begins to guide and instruct us in the deep things of God. 

We need the knowledge from God to enter our hearts. 

Proverbs 2:6-10  For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. 7)  He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. 8)  He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. 9)  Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path. 10)  When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; 

The pure light of God's Word shows us spiritual realities. We place our trust in Jehovah. We begin moving away from our own intellect, our own knowledge and we seek knowledge from God. We seek to live for His glory and to be His witness. We seek His direction for our lives. 

Jehovah is the source of wisdom and light for our souls. This is why the Psalmist tells us that the entrance of His Word give light (Psalm 119:130). 

Jehovah speaks knowledge and wisdom and He lays it up, storing it in order to dispense it to His children. He will grant us understanding and He will keep us walking on the straight and narrow way that leads to eternal life. 

We have the potential of having wisdom and knowledge from God enter our heart and when this occurs, it is spiritually beneficial for us. 

Transforming light of scripture. 

2 Corinthians 3:18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Believers have that veil taken away and we can begin to enter into the glories of God found in His Word. It is a transforming sight that we are enabled to see. It changes us day by day as the Spirit of God seeks to make us more like Christ. 

Do not be fooled by false professions of faith. 

1 John 2:4,5  He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5)  But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 

Someone who makes a profession of faith in Jesus Christ, but who does not keep His commandments, is a liar. He is still walking in darkness. The truth is not in him. Those who continually do evil things have not seen God (3 John 1:11).

However, all those who profess to know Christ and who keep His commandments are those who are truly "in Christ." 

This light from the Word will prevail over our lusts and sinful tendencies. Having a true view of God from His Word will bridle our lusts and purify our conscience. 

Jesus commands each believer to let their light shine forth. 

Matthew 5:14-16  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15)  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16)  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 

Jesus taught us that we are to live as the light of the world. Man was created to be an image bearer, that is, a being who reflects the glory of God into the world. 

As such, it is light from God, from His Word and from His Spirit and Son, that shines upon us and should shine out from us, into a sin darkened culture. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

Let us be like the blind man Jesus healed in John 9.  This man had been blind from the time he was born, and Jesus healed this man on the Sabbath. So this man who had just put his faith in Jesus Christ received his sight and was given new life in Christ.

The Pharisees rigorously questioned the blind man about Jesus, implying that Christ was not from God. 

He was certain of one thing. Before he encountered Jesus Christ, he was blind, just like Paul was made blind on the road to Damascus, but now he could say "I see."

John 9:25  He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. 

The Jewish rulers did not like his reply and said they thought Jesus was not of God. Read the testimony of the blind man who now could see. 

Jesus opened his eyes, something unheard of since God created the world. He told them that God does not hear sinners but He does hear those who worship Him and do His will. Therefore, if Jesus was not the Son of the Living God, then He could do nothing. 

John 9:30-33  The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. 31)  Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. 32)  Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. 33)  If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.

Let us go boldly to the throne of grace to seek that help which we need. God will honor our request to have Him open our eyes that we might learn of Him and from Him. 

Let us patiently share the words of life with those we know, who are spiritually blinded. Let us remember that this was our condition too, until the light of the gospel of Christ broke through.

May we praise our Lord for opening our eyes and may we ask the Spirit of God to make us sensitive to the sin of gaining knowledge that stimulates pride and makes us puffed up. 

Bob