18
Open my eyes, that I may behold
Wondrous things from Your law.
My Thoughts
I’ve often prayed before reading my bible that my eyes would be open to see what God had for me and that my ears might be open so that I could hear. This verse is a prayer from David that I want to memorize and have seared into my soul. I am not alone in asking God to open my eyes and ears, even someone like David knew there was more to understand what he was already aware of. For me, it is not only a prayer but also an encouragement that the Lord gives discernment of His word, as we are able to handle it. When I ask for more, I know He will give me the understanding of what He has given me. For myself, it also reinforces that I am to seek Him with all of my heart.
One section of Albert Barnes’ commentary really jumped out at me:
Out of the written word; out of the Scriptures. The word “law” here is used to denote “all” that God had revealed to mankind; all that is contained in the volume of inspiration. The truths taught here are
(1) That there are deep, hidden, secret things in the word of God, which are not perceived by the natural man;
(2) That those things, when understood, are suited to excite wonder, or to fill the mind with admiring views of God;
(3) That a special illumination of God is necessary that man may perceive these things; and
(4) That the proper understanding of these things is connected with prayer, and can be hoped for only in answer to prayer.
No one has a proper appreciation of divine truth-of the beauty, the spiritual meaning, the grandeur, the sublimity of the Bible – until he is a renewed, a praying man. Compare the notes at 1 Corinthians 2:6-15.
In summary, Psalm 119:18 expresses a heartfelt prayer by David, asking God to open his eyes to perceive the wondrous truths in His law. This reflection emphasizes the need for divine enlightenment in understanding Scripture, as spiritual truths often remain hidden from those lacking discernment. The verse underscores the importance of prayer coupled with diligent study, noting that true insight into God’s word requires both God’s illumination and personal effort. Notably, the commentaries highlight that spiritual blindness must be overcome through God’s grace for believers to fully appreciate the depth and beauty of the Scriptures.
Note: Psalm 119 is an acrostic pattern. There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet; each of the 22 sections is given a letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and each line in that section begins with that letter. Today, we’re looking at verse 18, which is in the 3rd section, which is called Gimel ג. According to the hebrews4christians.com website: “the letter Gimmel is the third letter of the ‘Aleph-Bet’, having the numerical value of three. The pictograph for Gimmel is a camel. In the Talmud, it is said that the Gimmel symbolizes a rich man running after a poor man (the next letter Dalet) to give him tzedakah (charity).”
…..Bill
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Commentaries:
John Ker, excerpt from a Sermon entitled, “God’s Word Suited to Man’s Sense of Wonder,” 1877.
The Psalmist asks for no new revelation. It was in God’s hand to give this, and he did it in his own time to those ancient believers; but to all of them at every time, there was enough given for the purposes of life. The request is not for more, but that he may employ well that which he possesses. Still better does such a form of request suit us, to whom life and immortality have been brought to light in Christ. If we do not find sufficient to exercise our thoughts with constant freshness, and our soul with the grandest and most attractive subjects, it is because we want the eyesight. It is of great importance for us to be persuaded of this truth, that there are many things in the Bible still to be found out, and that, if we come in the right spirit, we may be made discoverers of some of them. These things disclose themselves, not so much to learning, though that is not to be despised, as to spiritual sight, to a humble, loving heart.
And this, at least, is certain, that we shall always find things that are new to ourselves. However frequently we traverse the field, we shall perceive some fresh golden vein turning up its glance to us, and we shall wonder how our eyes were formerly holden that we did not see it. It was all there waiting for us, and we feel that more is waiting, if we had the vision. There is a great Spirit in it that holds deeper and even deeper converse with our souls.
This further may be observed, that the Psalmist asks for no new faculty. The eyes are there already, and they need only to be opened. It is not the bestowal of a new and supernatural power which enables a man to read the Bible to profit, but the quickening of a power he already possesses. In one view, it is supernatural, as God is the Author of the illumination by a direct act of his Spirit; in another, it is natural, as it operates through the faculties existing in a man’s soul. God gives “the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ, that the eyes of man’s understanding may be enlightened.” (Eph 1:17) It is important to remember this also, for here lies our responsibility, that we have the faculty, and here also is the point at which we must begin action with the help of God. A man will never grow into the knowledge of God’s word by idly waiting for some new gift of discernment, but by diligently using that which God has already bestowed upon him, and using at the same time all other helps that lie within his reach. There are men and books that seem, beyond others, to have the power of aiding insight. All of us have felt it in the contact of some affinity of nature which makes them our best helpers; the kindred clay upon the eyes by which the great Enlightener removes our blindness (John 9:6). Let us seek for such, and if we find them let us employ them without leaning on them. Above all, let us give our whole mind in patient, loving study to the book itself, and where we fail, at any essential part, God will either send his evangelist Philip to our aid (Acts 8:26-40) or instruct us himself. But it is only to patient, loving study that help is given. God could have poured all knowledge into us by easy inspiration, but it is by earnest search alone that it can become the treasure of the soul.
But if so, it may still be asked what is the meaning of this prayer, and why does the Bible itself insist so often on the indispensable need of the Spirit of God to teach? Now there is a side here as true as the other, and in no way inconsistent with it. If prayer without effort would be presumptuous, effort without prayer would be vain. The great reason why men do not feel the power and beauty of the Bible is a spiritual one. They do not realize the grand evil which the Bible has come to cure, and they have not a heart to the blessings which it offers to bestow. The film of a fallen nature, self maintained, is upon their eyes while they read: “The eyes of their understanding are darkened, being alienated from the life of God“ (Eph 4:18). All the natural powers will never find the true key to the Bible, till the thoughts of sin and redemption enter the heart, and are put in the center of the Book. It is the part of the Father of lights, by the teaching of his Spirit, to give this to the soul, and he will, if it humbly approaches him with this request. Thus we shall study as one might a book with the author at hand, to set forth the height of his argument, or as one might look on a noble composition, when the artist breathes into us a portion of his soul, to let us feel the center of its harmonies of form and color. Those who have given to the Bible, thought, and prayer will own that these are not empty promises.
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Charles Spurgeon
“Open thou mine eyes.” This is a part of the bountiful dealing which he has asked for; no bounty is greater than that which benefits our person, our soul, our mind, and benefits it in so important an organ as the eye. It is far better to have the eyes opened than to be placed in the midst of the noblest prospects and remain blind to their beauty.
“That l may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” Some men can perceive no wonders in the gospel, but David felt sure that there were glorious things in the law: he had not half the Bible, but he prized it more than some men prize the whole. He felt that God had laid up great bounties in his word, and he begs for power to perceive, appreciate, and enjoy the same. We need not so much that God should give us more benefits, as the ability to see what he has given.
The prayer implies a conscious darkness, a dimness of spiritual vision, a powerlessness to remove that defect, and a full assurance that God can remove it. It also shows that the writer knew that there were vast treasures in the word which he had not yet fully seen, marvels which he had not yet beheld, mysteries which he had scarcely believed. The Scriptures teem with marvels; the Bible is a wonderland; it not only relates miracles, but it is itself a world of wonders. Yet what are these to closed eyes? And what man can open his own eyes, since he is born blind? God himself must reveal revelation to each heart. Scripture needs opening, but not one half so much as our eyes do: the veil is not on the book, but on our hearts. What perfect precepts, what precious promises, what priceless privileges are neglected by us because we wander among them like blind men among the beauties of nature, and they are to us as a landscape shrouded in darkness!
The Psalmist had a measure of spiritual perception, or he would never have known that there were wondrous things to be seen, nor would he have prayed, “open thou mine eyes,” but what he had seen made him long for a clearer and wider sight. This longing proved the genuineness of what he possessed, for it is a test mark of the true knowledge of God that it causes its possessor to thirst for deeper knowledge.
David’s prayer in this verse is a good sequel to Psa 119:10, which corresponds to it in position in its octave: there he said, “O let me not wander,” and who so apt to wander as a blind man? And there, too, he declared, “with my whole heart have I sought thee,” and hence the desire to see the object of his search.
Very singular are the interlacing of the boughs of the huge tree of this Psalm, which has many wonders even within itself if we have opened eyes to mark them.
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Enduring Word
Open my eyes, that I may see: The psalmist recognized that without God’s enlightenment, he could not see what he could and should from God’s word. (Guzik)
i. “The verb ‘open’ in Psalm 119:18 is used in the Balaam story where the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes so he could see the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. It has to do with removing a veil, or covering.” (Boice)
ii. This reminds us that it isn’t the word of God that needs changing, as if it were obscure; we are the ones who are veiled and can’t understand the word of God apart from the work of the Spirit. Paul’s eyes were unveiled when he was converted (Acts 9:18); it was as if scales had dropped from his eyes. (Guzik)
iii. “In order to keep God’s word, must we not pray to understand it? What then is this prayer? Not – give me a plainer Bible – but open my eyes to know my Bible. Not – show me some new revelations beside the law – but make me behold the wonders of the law.” (Bridges)
iv. The psalmist didn’t need new revelation; he needed to see the revelation that was already given. He didn’t need new eyes; he needed to see more clearly with the eyes he already had. (Guzik)
Wondrous things from Your law: There are wondrous things in Scripture, but they can only be seen when the eyes are opened by God. This means that prayer is an important (and often neglected) part of Bible study.
Not everyone sees the wondrous things in God’s word, but when he does see them, he should regard it as evidence of God’s blessing and favor.
Jesus rejoiced that God revealed His wisdom this way: At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.” (Matthew 11:25)
God has given man a sense of wonder, and there are certain things that prompt it. The new and unexpected can cause wonder, the beautiful and great can cause wonder, and the mysterious and unknown can cause wonder. God has provided for this sense of wonder by giving us His word. The Holy Spirit can make us alive to the Bible, and helps us constantly see things that are new and unexpected, things that are great and beautiful, and things that are mysterious and unknown. It is a shame that many Christians look for their sense of wonder to be satisfied without looking to the word of God.
Think of all there is in the Bible that you don’t see. Think of all the wonder, all the treasure that is there, but you don’t see it. You can see some things, though you can’t see everything, and sometimes you will think you see things that are not really there. Those who see more than you are not necessarily smarter or better; their eyes are just more open. (Guzik)
i. “If we want to see wonderful things in the Scriptures, it is not enough for us merely to ask God to open our eyes that we might see them. We must also study the Bible carefully. The Holy Spirit is given not to make our study unnecessary but to make it effective.” (Boice)
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Albert Barnes
Open thou mine eyes – Margin, “Reveal.” So the Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate. The Hebrew word means to be naked; then to make naked, to uncover, to disclose, to reveal. Here, it is the same as “uncover;” that is, take away from the eyes what is before them to prevent clear vision. Compare Numbers 22:31; Numbers 24:4, Numbers 24:16.
That I may behold wondrous things – Things which are suited to excite wonder and amazement: that is, things which are secret or hidden from the common view; the deep, spiritual meaning of the word of God. By natural vision, he might see the surface – the letter; to see the deep, hidden, real, meaning, he needed the special influence of God. Compare 1 Corinthians 2:12, 1 Corinthians 2:14-15. He believed that there were such things in the law of God; he desired to see them.
Out of thy law – Out of the written word; out of the Scriptures. The word “law” here is used to denote “all” that God had revealed to mankind; all that is contained in the volume of inspiration. The truths taught here are
(1) That there are deep, hidden, secret things in the word of God, which are not perceived by the natural man;
(2) That those things, when understood, are suited to excite wonder, or to fill the mind with admiring views of God;
(3) That a special illumination of God is necessary that man may perceive these things; and
(4) That the proper understanding of these things is connected with prayer, and can be hoped for only in answer to prayer.
No one has a proper appreciation of divine truth-of the beauty, the spiritual meaning, the grandeur, the sublimity of the Bible – until he is a renewed, a praying man. Compare the notes at 1 Corinthians 2:6-15.
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John Gill
Open thou mine eyes,…. The eyes of my heart or understanding, as Kimchi, or “reveal mine eyes”; take off the veil from them: there is a veil of darkness and ignorance on the hearts of all men, with respect to divine and spiritual things; their understandings are darkened, yea, darkness itself. This veil must be removed; the scales must drop from their eyes; their eyes must be opened and enlightened, before they can discern spiritual things contained in the word of God; and even good men need to have the eyes of their understandings more and more enlightened into these things, as the psalmist here petitions, and the apostle prays for his Ephesians, Ephesians 1:17;
that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law; the law strictly taken, which had great and excellent things in it; and was wonderful for the compendiousness of it; for the justice, holiness, and equity of its precepts; especially for its spirituality, and above all for Christ, being the end of it; the two last more particularly could only be discerned by a spiritual man: or rather the five books of Moses, the almost only Scriptures extant in David’s time, in which there were many wonderful things concerning Christ; some delivered by way of promise and prophecy of him, under the characters of the seed of the woman, the seed of Abraham, the Shiloh, and the great Prophet; and many others in dark figures, types, and shadows, which required a spiritual sight to look into; of which the rock and manna, the brazen serpent, passover are instances: but rather, as the word “law” signifies “doctrine,” the doctrine of the Gospel may be meant; which contains mysteries in it, respecting the trinity of Persons in the Godhead, the person of Christ, his incarnation, sufferings and death; the blessings of grace through him; the doctrines of peace, pardon, righteousness, eternal life, and the resurrection of the dead; with many others.
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Matthew Henry
Observe here,
1. That there are wondrous things in God’s law, which we are all concerned, and should covet, to behold, not only strange things, which are very surprising and unexpected, but excellent things, which are to be highly esteemed and valued, and things which were long hidden from the wise and prudent, but are now revealed unto babes. 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 Pt. 1:12.
2. Those that would see the wondrous things of God’s law and gospel must beg of him to open their eyes and to give them an understanding. We are by nature blind to the things of God, till his grace cause the scales to fall from our eyes; and even those in whose hearts God has said, Let there be light, have yet need to be further enlightened, and must still pray to God to open their eyes yet more and more, that those who at first saw men as trees walking may come to see all things clearly; and the more God opens our eyes the more wonders we see in the word of God, which we saw not before.
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Miscellaneous Quotes
“Open thou mine eyes.” Who is able to know the secret and hidden things of the Scriptures unless Christ opens his eyes? Certainly, no one; for “No man knoweth the Son but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.” Wherefore, as suppliants, we draw near to him, saying, “Open thou mine eyes,” etc. The words of God cannot be kept except they be known; neither can they be known unless the eyes shall be opened,—hence it is written, “That I may live and keep thy word;” and then, “Open thou mine eyes.”
—Paulus Palanterius.
“Open thou mine eyes.” “What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?” was the gracious inquiry of the loving Jesus to a poor longing one on earth. “Lord! that I may receive my sight,” was the instant answer. So here, in the same spirit, and to the same compassionate and loving Lord, does the Psalmist pray, “Open thou mine eyes;” and both in this and the preceding petition, “Deal bountifully with thy servant,” we see at once who prompted the prayer.
—Barton Bouchier.
“Open thou mine eyes.” If it be asked, seeing David was a regenerate man, and so illumined already, how is it that he prays for the opening of his eyes? The answer is easy: that our regeneration is wrought by degrees. The beginnings of light in his mind made him long for more; for no man can account of sense, but he who hath it. The light which he had caused him to see his own darkness; and therefore, feeling his wants, he sought to have them supplied by the Lord.
—William Cowper.
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Cross-References
Spiritual Wisdom
1 Corinthians 2:6-15 NKJV
6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written:
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.
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Closing Thoughts
THE BEGINNING OF KNOWLEDGE
To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding, To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity; To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion— A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:2-7 NKJV
THE CALL OF WISDOM
Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. Proverbs 1:23 NKJV
But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil.” Proverbs 1:33 NKJV
Gimel ג: The word of God and the trials of life.
17
Deal bountifully with Your servant,
That I may live and keep Your word.
18
Open my eyes, that I may behold
Wondrous things from Your law.
19
I am a stranger in the earth;
Do not hide Your commandments from me.
20
My soul is crushed with longing
After Your ordinances at all times.
21
You rebuke the arrogant, the cursed,
Who wander from Your commandments.
22
Take away reproach and contempt from me,
For I observe Your testimonies.
23
Even though princes sit and talk against me,
Your servant meditates on Your statutes.
24
Your testimonies also are my delight;
They are my counselors.
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