This portion of the Psalm falls under the Hebrew letter “ע” Ayin, which means “eyes.” Our physical eyes are the source of our sight, and through them, we are blessed to behold God’s creation. Yet physical sight is limited to what is visible; within us also lies a spiritual eye, one that allows us to perceive the Creator through what He has made. Paul challenges everyone living on this earth with the truth that creation itself testifies to its Creator, and for this very reason, no one can claim ignorance of God. This is a compelling argument for the existence of an unseen God, yet truly seeing Him requires spiritual eyes, the eyes of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. Jesus Himself spoke of this work of the Holy Spirit, as recorded in John 14:26.
“ע” Ayin calls us to open our eyes and see beyond the physical. It is meant to lead us from darkness into light, urging us to break through the barriers of our limitations so that we may perceive what is not yet visible to us. The question we must ask ourselves is this: what have we truly seen so far?
Our Deeds
I have done what is righteous and just;
do not leave me to my oppressors.
Ensure your servant’s well-being;
do not let the arrogant oppress me.
Psalm 119:121-122 (NIV)
It is a very common notion that resides in the heart of every believer: that we have done something to rightfully deserve God’s blessings or protection. When we face dreadful situations, we claim His protection, echoing the very words of the Psalmist. We remind God of our prayers, our Bible reading, our regular attendance at Sunday services, our fasting, our offerings, our tithes, and so on. Are we not, in doing so, assuming that God is obligated to show us favor?
Though our sincerity gives us the confidence to come before God in our critical moments, is it not a grave misunderstanding on our part to rely on our own deeds? Such a misunderstanding gives the devil a foothold, and he torments us, insisting that despite all our good gestures and deeds, we remain unworthy of receiving His mercy. This is the point at which every believer begins to question God’s integrity in fulfilling His promises.
Paul teaches us that we are saved by grace through faith, and certainly not by our own deeds. He further clarifies that God ordained it this way so that no one should boast in their own works. Therefore, whatever the pressing situation, we must rely on His love, which sent His Son to atone for our iniquities. Relying on our own reasoning above all else leads only to ruin. This is especially true when we face threats from enemies on every side; such misunderstandings expose our unbelief and open the door to further oppression.
Looking For Our Salvation
My eyes fail, looking for your salvation,
looking for your righteous promise.
Deal with your servant according to your love
and teach me your decrees.
I am your servant; give me discernment
that I may understand your statutes.
Psalm 119:123-125 (NIV)
While we look for God’s protection, along with instant healing and deliverance that He never promised us, we grow weary of waiting for His answers. When we begin to treat these things as signs of our salvation, our eyes fail to see the true salvation that, in today’s context, has already been given to us freely and without our asking. To become His servant, we should no longer wait to be saved but should believe that we have already been saved by His grace and grow in His love so as to become worthy of this priceless salvation.
The Psalmist sought God’s intervention on the basis of His boundless love. Whether we ask or not, His love and mercy remain with us forever—not because of our worthiness, but because of His benevolence. God loves us constantly and teaches us continually, yet it is only when we love Him that we are able to hear and understand His teachings.
Every one of us longs to call ourselves “servants of God.” Yet we cannot become His servants merely by declaring ourselves so, but only through the discernment that comes from understanding His statutes and living according to them. Jesus simplified this truth when He said, “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in His love” (John 15:10). He further said that if we hold the love of God within us and are able to love one another, it is not our self-declaration but our way of life that will reveal to others that we are His servants (John 13:35). Without grasping this truth, if we long to become His servants, we may unknowingly become servants of the devil instead.
Asking God To Act
It is time for you to act, LORD;
your law is being broken.
Because I love your commands
more than gold, more than pure gold,
and because I consider all your precepts right,
I hate every wrong path.
Psalms 119:26-28 (NIV)
The Psalmist felt an urge to call upon God upon seeing people breaking His law. We often ask God to act against those who sin, yet we hold back from taking the same view when we ourselves sin — instead, at that time, we plead for mercy. What, then, is preventing us from asking His mercy for others, and what is it that encourages us to become judgemental of others’ deeds?
Rather, it would please God more if we hastened His second coming by saying, “We are ready, Lord, to face the final trial.” For that, we must stop asking God to judge others and instead examine ourselves as to how far we are able to stand the trial on that final day.
We often make resolutions to rid ourselves of sinful thoughts and ways, yet we ultimately fail to keep them. This is because such change is possible only when we learn, by instinct, to love God and His statutes more than anything else in this world. Apart from this, whatever we strive to do to stay away from sin will come to nothing, for it is not instinct but mere effort. By our own effort, we sometimes choose evil, mistaking it for good. Only when we learn to love God with all our heart and mind can we truly hate every wrong path.
Loving God, help us not to rely on our own deeds, but to grasp the priceless forgiveness we have received in Christ. Lord, help us also to examine ourselves in the light of Your truth. Amen.
The Jordan Valley 
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