Proverbs 15.3
“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.”
Proverbs 15.11
“Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord; how much more the hearts of the children of man!”
The Lord sees everyone and everything. Nothing escapes his scrutiny. For those who trust Jesus, the omniscience and omnipresence of the Lord is comforting and reassuring. Knowing that God sees all and knows all is a source of confidence and strength for the Christian. Here is how David expressed it in Psalm 139:
“O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.” (Psalm 139:1-3)
David goes on to say that it is not possible to hide from God’s sight. There is no place we can go where the Lord does not see:
“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.” (Psalm 139:7-12)
Yes, it can also be unnerving, because we are not perfect. God sees everything about you, including the darkness of your heart. Nevertheless, he loves you and offers you forgiveness through Jesus. Therefore, those who trust in Christ lay themselves open before God, and they invite and welcome his loving scrutiny so that they might grow and be continuously transformed into his image.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24)
This a prayer that all followers of Jesus should pray with regularity. Invite the Lord to search you. Give the Lord full access to every part of your life.
One last thought before I close …
Scripture tells us that the eyes of the Lord are actively looking for people to bless. Here is what the prophet Hanani said to Asa, king of Judah: “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.” (2 Chronicles 16.9)
Sadly, Asa was not obedient to the Lord, and therefore did not receive God’s blessings. Asa’s son Jehoshaphat, however, was faithful to God, and as a result received the Lord’s blessing.
“The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals, but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, and not according to the practices of Israel. Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand. And all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor. His heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord.” (2 Chronicles 17:3-6)
I pray that God will raise up Christians in our generation who, like Jehoshaphat, are “courageous in the ways of the Lord.”
