CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 908

“His Eyes”

The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD’s throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test, the children of man. (Psalm 11:4)

You pick up an object and examine it closely. Your eyelids half close as you focus intently on knowing every intricate detail about the object. This is the imagery conveyed in David’s Psalm when he writes, ‘His eyelids test the children of man’.

David experienced his share of troubles in his lifetime. He was forced to live in the wilderness because Saul wanted to kill him and later, after being King, he was forced back into the wilderness by his own son. These trials of life were enough to tempt David to distrust God. He was even advised to ‘take matters into his own hands’ on several occasions.

In Psalm 11, David is affirming his trust in God and giving an answer to his advisors.

In the LORD I take refuge; how can you say to my soul, Flee like a bird to your mountain, for behold, the wicked bend the bow; they have fitted their arrow to the string to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart; if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”(Psalm 11:1-3)

David is stating that his trust (refuge) is in the Lord and if that foundational relationship of trust were to be destroyed he questions how he (the righteous) could possibly stand against his enemies in his own power and strength.

David encourages his heart further by acknowledging that God does indeed test His children The LORD tests the righteous…(Psalm 11:5) but that even though God is in His heavenly temple, He still sees and examines us right down to the motive of our heart. Paul testifies to this in his letter to the Hebrews. For the word of God is living and active…discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:12-13)

Perhaps you can relate to what David went through. You may be in your own wilderness experience that seems to have no end in sight and you are tempted to distrust or take matters into your own hands and try to fix it yourself. Perhaps you feel your daily prayers should begin with ‘Hello God, are you there?’

Encourage your heart in the Lord as David did. Know that He is there. He sees. He loves you more than you can measure, and He is examining your heart and situation closely. David was a man after God’s own heart …‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’ (Acts 13:22) and that is what the Lord is seeking as He closely examines our heart as we go through the trials of life. He desires that we seek Him first, His kingdom and righteousness. We may say it with our mouths but what truly lies in the motive of our heart? God knows.

May the Lord encourage and comfort you through your trials and testing. May you grow in trust as you take refuge in Him and develop an undivided heart that is one hundred percent His. I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears…Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! (Psalm 34:4-8)