Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law.
Psalm 119:18
Far too many professing Christians need their eyes opened so they don’t fall asleep when they read the Scriptures. That is not at all the reflection of the psalmist. Instead of being like a child who does not want to do their homework, the psalmist is like a kid in a candy store.
Routines can be helpful, but can also be detrimental. After all, we know that it is of great benefit to spend consistent time in God’s Word. But then, we can become so accustomed to the habit that we do not benefit as we should from the time invested.
It is important to understand that it can be dangerous to develop a habit that is an end unto itself. That is, to read God’s word because I am supposed to. We must understand the greater purpose.
The psalmist comes to God’s word with a prayer and an expectation. His prayer is that God would “open his eyes.” The expectation is that, if his eyes are open, he will behold wonderful things from God’s law.
“Perhaps this is the supreme prayer that a student of Scripture could speak since it confesses the student’s inadequacy and the Divine Author’s sufficiency (cf. vv. 98, 99, 105, 130).” 1
This verse is a great reminder to all of us. We must be careful that our biblical routines don’t lose their purpose. When we come to God’s word, let’s slow down. Take time to pray. Approach God’s word with anticipation for the wonderful things that God has made available to us.
Matthew Henry reminds us that “If there were wonders in the law, much more in the gospel, where Christ is all in all, whose name is Wonderful. Well may we, who are so nearly interested, desire to behold these wondrous things, when the angels themselves reach to look into them, 1 Peter 1:12.” 2
Make me understand the way of Your precepts, so I will meditate on Your wonders.
Psalm 119:27
(emphasis mine)
1MacArthur, J., Jr. (Ed.). (1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed., p. 851). Nashville, TN: Word Pub.
2Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 915). Peabody: Hendrickson.
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