[ 3 minutes to read ]
Open thou mine eyes,
that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
~ Psalm 119:18
Wondrous things are truly contained in the Word of God. Many men have seen the Book and not thought that anything so special was there. They have maybe seen some value for its antiquity or, perhaps, it is interesting for its literary diversity. But the Book is far too common to be of much worth in their estimation. However, the blessed man of God finds it his delight and the object of his meditation day and night. David declares, “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day” (Ps 119:97). It should be a mark of every child of God that they love His Word. They have esteemed it more than their necessary food. “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Ma 4:4). They would give up land and life before they would be willing to concede one precept. May we hold His Word in reverence and feed from it as we consider this blessed text.
Firstly, we see how that David approached the Word. He sought God that his eyes might be opened. Many have staggered at a precious truth just because it is not written in the exact language to suit their fancy or determined theological bent. They are much like the Pharisees of old, who stumbled at the words of Jesus and growing frustrated declared, “How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly” (Jo 10:24). But the Psalmist is more akin to the spirit expressed in Job 34:32 that says “That which I see not teach thou me.” The problem is not with God’s Word. There is no veil on the Book. The veil is on men’s hearts. We shall never see the things of God with carnal eyes. God must open our eyes. “The flesh profiteth nothing.”
David realized that without God’s help he could not see the great things in His Word. This is a meek and teachable spirit. David was not trying to conform the Word to his notions, but rather seeking Divine light that he might be changed to agree with the Word. “I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart. Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight” (Ps 119:32-35).
Secondly, we see that David desired the wondrous things in the Word. He was not seeking “to hear some new thing.” He did not want new or added revelation. He wished that his eyes would be opened to behold the wondrous things that have already been given. There is an abundance of treasure in God’s Book that has never been exhausted. This is not the prayer of one that is satisfied with his current level of perception. He desires to go deeper and deeper into the Word. This is the desire of a serious student. He is not searching for novelty or entertainment but the “unsearchable riches of Christ.” He is not content to only drink milk. He desires the strong meat. Why would one want to “eat of the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table” when there is a “feast of fat things, a feast of wine on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wine on the lees well refined” in the Word of God?
Let us never be content to pamper our appetites by feeding on the garnishes, but let us at once begin to seek the meat and digest the hearty portions as well. Christian have you tarried long at the first principles? I know that they are sweet and dainty. Yes, they are fit for a king. But Christ said, “They that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.” They are in no condition for hard labor. Such dainty food will provide no sustenance for a laboring man. When Elijah arose and ate, he “went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights.” No loving mother and father would feed their children only candy. Their bodies need much more in order to grow. Our Christian lives are no different. If we only eat the sweet we are sure to be soured. God has given great things in His word. May he give us eyes to see, ears to hear, lips to speak, feet to walk, and hands to do His blessed will. Amen.