I always feel like somebody's watching me.
And I have no privacy.
Woh, I always feel like somebody's watching me.
Tell me is it just a dream?
So sang Rockwell in the dawning of my high school years back in 1984. All the cool kids were singing it at the time, and its the tune that sprang to mind when I read this similar sentiment this morning:
Yahweh is watching everywhere,
keeping his eye on both the evil and the good.
(Proverbs 15:3, New Living Translation)
The sense of foreboding that came through in Rockwell’s performance is here validated by the wisdom writer. The God of the universe is always watching. He never sleeps or slumbers (Psalm 121:4), his eyes are always open, he sees all people and all things. For those taking part in evil, this is decidedly bad news—God knows, God cares, God judges. There is no rest found here for the wicked.
But for the disciple of Christ, there is no foreboding in this bit of wisdom. No hammer about to fall. It is meant to encourage us to good deeds, with the knowledge that God sees our every move of obedience, every display of compassion, every act of kindness, every expression of love…all good works.
And his seeing puts him for us, rather than pits him against us.
The eyes of Yahweh watch over those who do right, his ears are open to their cry for help. (Psalm 34:15, NLT)
The eyes of Yahweh search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. (2 Chronicles 16:9a, NLT)
“But this is the one to whom I will look:
he who is humble and contrite in spirit
and trembles at my word, says Yahweh.”
Isaiah 66:2, ESV
Father,
The truth that you are watching our every move today should not bring fear or foreboding, but faithfulness and confidence. Your steady gaze is the forerunner of help and strengthening, delight and encouragement, and even gentle reproof and Spirit-led conviction. Father, keep our eyes on your word, our spirits humble, contrite and trembling, so that we delight in the knowledge you are looking our way.
Yes, and very amen, in Jesus’ name.
Pursuing the wise and good life with you,
Pastor Matthew
P.S. If you’d like to study some of the wisdom literature further, I highly recommend the Wisdom Series from The Bible Project, and their resources on the book of Proverbs.
Proverbs Thirty-One Day Reading Plan
August 14: Proverbs ch. 1
Aug. 15: ch. 2
Aug. 16: ch. 3
Aug. 17: ch. 4
Aug. 18: ch. 5
Aug. 19: Grace Day
Aug. 20: ch. 6
Aug. 21: ch. 7
Aug. 22: ch. 8
Aug. 23: ch. 9
Aug. 24: ch. 10
Aug. 25: ch. 11
Aug. 26: Grace Day
Aug. 27: ch. 12
Aug. 28: ch. 13
Aug. 29: ch. 14
Aug. 30: ch. 15
Aug. 31: ch. 16
Sept. 1: ch. 17
Sept. 2: Grace Day
Sept. 3: ch. 18
Sept. 4: ch. 19
Sept. 5: ch. 20
Sept. 6: ch. 21
Sept. 7: ch. 22
Sept. 8: ch. 23
Sept. 9: Grace Day
Sept. 10: ch. 24
Sept. 11: ch. 25
Sept. 12: ch. 26
Sept. 13: ch. 27
Sept. 14: ch. 28
Sept. 15: ch. 29
Sept. 16: Grace Day
Sept. 17: ch. 30
Sept. 18: ch. 31
