Nougat 17

As a child one of the starkest images of God was of God’s judging eyes, based on a chorus we sang all the time. There is a day when all the world will face God, our righteous judge (see 2 Corinthians 5:10). But the reality is, God’s eyes are also loving and tender. Consider Today’s Holy Nougat.

Psalms 33:18-19 NIV

[18] But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,

[19] to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.

God watches the Reverent

The premise of a judgemental critical God is implicit in the chorus, Watch your eyes. Having suggested that we watch our eyes, ears, lips, hands, and feet in an effort to curb sinfulness; the chorus clearly states God’s loving eyes are upon us. The call to holiness suggests that God’s justice and retribution both precede God’s acts of lovingkindness.

Self-Check

In singing that chorus, were you drawn to God’s tender love, or scared into righteousness to avoid God’s judgement? How does it affect our perception of, and our relationship with God?

Digging Deeper

That ethos of us watching ourselves to prevent God’s loving judgement is contrary to the ethos of our Nougat. It posits God’s watchfulness with God’s protection and favour. There are other texts that speak to God’s judgement such as Psalm 7 and Acts 17; but neither text equates that righteous judgement with God’s lovingkindness in the manner of the chorus.

God’s hesed, i.e., lovingkindness, is part of the characterization of YHWH offered in this psalm. Each instance offers a comforting picture of grace that overshadows sin. And, as our Nougat suggests, God’s eyes on the righteous has a different purpose. [This does not preclude the righteous from judgement, absolutely not. As early as Genesis 3, Adam and Eve faced consequences of their choices and David’s life confirms that God does not condone sin (see 2 Samuel 11-12).]

We have this marvellous assurance however, that when we trust God’s unfailing love, God is in position and ensuring that it is well with us. That’s what we hear echoed in Hebrews 11… Faith is the tangible outworking of unproven hope, proof of the unseen. Believing in God, accepting YHWH’s sovereignty is an act of Faith. There is a sense in which we already have evidence of God at work for us and within us; but we each must move beyond just seeing evidence to believe our heart that God is. Having so done, we accept God by faith, recognizing that God rewards those who seek God diligently (see Jeremiah 29 and Hebrews 11).

This experiential faith propels us to hope in God, recognizing that God is immutable. God’s immutability, i.e., God’s inability to change means that God honours God’s word: Promises and assurances from God will remain so. We are assured that when God’s protective eyes are upon us, it means God is securing our wellbeing. I’m reminded of God’s provision for Elijah during the famine (see 1 Kings 17) and assured that our immutable God will provide for us too. Remember: God who provides for the sparrow ensures that those who prioritise seeking God’s will, are unequivocally under God’s protection (Y’shua speaks on this in Matthew 6:29-33).

With that assurance, we are invited to join in another praise song,

If you know the Lord is keeping you

What you gonna worry about

If you know the Lord is keeping you

Why don’t you sing and shout

Glory hallelujah

Praise God’s name

Every day he’s just the same

Since you know the Lord is keeping you

What you gonna worry about?

Point to Ponder

Where shall we place our hope when deadly wars are being waged? We look to our Lord, our help and salvation (see Psalm 121).

Prayer Moment

Let’s make Psalm 121 our prayer today

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May all we seek be found in Christ