This post comes from Calvary Chapel Pastors
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible (176 verses), and its theme is the greatness and the glory of God’s Word. Verse 18 says:
Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law.
This simple line from the great Psalm 119 is a prayer for insight, so that God’s Word can be understood. The psalmist prayed, “Open my eyes, that I may see” because he recognized that without God’s enlightenment, he could not see what he could and should from God’s Word.
The idea is that our eyes (spiritually and even mentally speaking) are covered with some kind of curtain or veil that must be opened before things can be seen. Human effort and analysis may be of little or no help unless that covering is removed.
This reminds us that it isn’t the Bible that needs changing, as if it were obscure; we are the ones who are veiled and can’t understand the Word of God apart from the work of the Hoy Spirit. Paul’s eyes were unveiled when he was converted (Acts 9:18); it was as if scales had dropped from his eyes.
The psalmist didn’t need a plainer Bible or new revelation; he needed to see the revelation that was already given. He didn’t need new eyes; he needed to see with the eyes he already had.
With those open eyes, he could see “wondrous things from Your law.” There are wondrous things in Scripture; but they can only be seen when God opens the eyes. This means that prayer is an important (and often neglected) part of Bible study.
It also means that not everyone sees the wondrous things in God’s Word, but that when one does see them, they should regard it as evidence of God’s blessing and favor.
God has given man a sense of wonder, and there are certain things that prompt it. The new and unexpected can cause wonder; the beautiful and great and cause wonder, and the mysterious and unknown can cause wonder. We can say that God has provided for this sense of wonder by giving us His Word. The Holy Spirit can make us alive to the Bible, and constantly see things that are new and unexpected; things that are great and beautiful; things that are mysterious and unknown. It is a shame that many Christians look for their sense of wonder to be satisfied without looking to the Word of God.
Think of all there is in the Bible that you don’t see. Think of all the wonder, all the treasure that is there, but you don’t see it. You can see such things, though you can’t see everything, and sometimes you will think you see things that are not really there. Yet those who see more than you are not necessarily smarter or better; their eyes are just more open.
Yet when God answers this prayer and gives us open eyes, it is then our duty and privilege to carefully and energetically study the Bible. The gift of open eyes doesn’t make study unnecessary; it makes it effective.
Pray this prayer with faith; then find some wondrous things.
continue reading the views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the views of Calvary Southampton
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