"The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, observing the wicked and the good."
Proverbs 15:3 CSB
One of my favorite characteristics about a proverb is its succinctness. There are quotes and sayings bouncing around in my brain that, from time to time, find expression in appropriate application to the situation at hand. Sometimes these are just humorous morsels like, "a balanced diet is a cookie in each hand". All through the book of Proverbs we have these nuggets of truth that are small enough to easily become ingrained in our minds and powerful enough to root itself into our soul. As we ponder its meaning we can see how the fruit it bears applies to situations within our personal lives. What started as knowledge, grows to understanding and bears fruit as wisdom.
The eyes of The LORD are everywhere:
The omnipresence of God is something we know, but so easily forget. The Scripture could have said, "God sees all", and seemingly been saying the same thing. However I'm grateful the text doesn't say that as that would leave room to say God is merely observing from a "bird's eye" view. We already have the tendency to imagine that God sees things as if He's in the back row of a theater viewing the entire screen play. But the text says, "The eyes of The LORD are everywhere", which is effectively saying God is everywhere. The Psalmist said, "Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?" God is everywhere. Not merely filling all things as if part of Him fills North America while part fills the Pacific Ocean while yet another part fills and encompasses the Milky Way galaxy. No God is completely present in each and every place. There is nowhere God is not. God's eyes are everywhere.
Observing the wicked and the good:
God is observing. The word used here is more than just watching as one might watch a movie, it is a keeping watch over. This is the same word employed in Genesis 31:49 when Laban and Jacob made a covenant with each other; Laban called on God to be a witness that would keep watch over each party and enforce the covenant terms. Psalm 66:7 says God "rules forever by His might; He keeps His eyes on the nations" (CSB). God is not just watching as a spectator, He is keeping watch and being involved in what He is observing. He is working all things according to the purpose of His own will (Ephesians 1:11) to the smallest detail so not even a sparrow falls to the ground without His consent (Matthew 10:29). This should bring great comfort and enormous terror. Comfort to all of us who are His. Comfort to know our Father not only sees all, but is actively involved in every event and nothing will happen to or for us that He has not ordained. With this reality comes the settled peace that since all things must come through Him, at His will, then it is most assuredly for our good because our Father is love and is judge of all the earth and will most assuredly do right and judge justly. This is also precisely the reason terror should fill the heart of the wicked. The enemy of God is also having all his/her works laid bare. Light and dark are both the same to God as the dark shines like the day (Psalm 139:12) God's justice is not a joyous thing for the wicked and nothing is getting past God. He sees all. He is everywhere and He is involved. But do not imagine that His involvement somehow frees the wicked from responsibility and accountability of their wicked deeds. Just because God gives beauty for ashes doesn't mean the sin is less sinful. Offenses will come, but woe to the person by whom they come (Matthew 18:7).
God is actively present as he is watching over every single event that takes place within His creation. He is well acquainted with me and you. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He has observed every evil thing I have thought, done, or said; so has He done with you. He is more aware of our faults, failures, and wicked inclinations than we could ever be. Yet it is the wicked that He came to earth to seek and to save. It is for those under condemnation Jesus gave His life to redeem. God tells us through His word that whoever believes in Jesus has eternal life (John 3:16); that all who come to Jesus in repentance, resting on Him, find that not only had their sins been laid on Him but His righteousness has been laid on them (2 Corinthians 5:21). All who believe are justified by the Judge of all the earth! The only hope of being a friend of God is through His Son Jesus; and Hs is a most certain HOPE.
"The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, observing the wicked and the good."
Proverbs 15:3 (CSB)
May this proverb drive us to Jesus. To the one who is a child of God, may we run to Him, fully trusting Him even when the surrounding circumstances appear to promise us everything but our benefit. May we trust God unreservedly, knowing that He is keeping watch over all things and nothing will happen that He has not purposed for our good, and it shall be nothing short of exactly that. To the one not resting in Jesus, may God, through His word, drive you away from your sin and to Jesus. He has promised that all who come to Him, He will not cast away. Fully knowing all we've done, having observed it firsthand, He still promises that all who trust in Him will find love, joy, forgiveness, and life eternal.
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