God's Eyes

One of my favorite songs is "His Eyes" by Steven Curtis Chapman (who, incidentally, will be giving a Valentine's Day concert in Houston this year). As with all the best Christian songs, the lyrics express truths the Scripture writers understood centuries ago: "His [God's] eyes never close in sleep" echoes Psalm 121:3-4 ("he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep," NIV); and the realization that God notices--and cares for--us tiny individuals in all the vastness of His universe, was voiced by David in Psalm 8:3-5 ("When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor"). These two truths--that God is in charge of the heavens and that His eyes are constantly on such insignificant creatures as ourselves--were the inspiration for today's poem.

Some people are less than comfortable with the idea of being constantly watched by God--especially if their consciences are already bothering them! And even the best Christians have moments when they rather wish God would look the other way for a while. But when we fully appreciate that the Lord of all--the all-wise and all-powerful Master of the Universe--is not only interested in us but wants only the best for us, we can follow David's example in Psalm 139:1-18, and rejoice that God's eyes are always on us.

I can see God's eyes
In the stars' bright light,
As they gleam like diamonds
In the blackest night,
Shining on like beacons
To guide wanderers home,
Turning ever onward,
Seen from Chad to Nome.

I can see God's eyes
In the moon's white glow,
As its face smiles on us,
As each month it grows,
Precious pearl of beauty
On the sky's broad frame,
Although daily changing,
Through the years the same.

I can see God's eyes
In the sun's fierce glare,
Though too bright to look at,
There's no doubt it's there,
Though the clouds may hide it
Or the hours of night,
It gives life to all things,
As earth's hope and light.

I can see God's eyes
In sunset and rise,
In the bright auroras
Of the polar skies,
In the clouds that shade us
And bring life through rain:
God is always watching,
And His power is plain.