March 28, 2024 -- Proverbs 27:20 -- Hey, what are you staring at?

Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied,
    and never satisfied are the eyes of man.
Proverbs 27:20 ESV

Sheol is a Hebrew word meaning the grave and hell. Abaddon means destruction and ruin. Hell and the grave are never full. There is always room for more. In the same way, the capacity people have to commit evil is never satisfied. Consider how a start with some little innocuous seeming evil, or toying with wrong-doing leads to all kinds of wickedness. It started out so small, a few sparks or a lit candle and next thing you know there is a huge fire. Sin is like that.

Now the comparison—the eyes of man are never satisfied. It means full, or sated, or stuffed—how appropriate. When your eyes are greedy for sin, they keep looking at it. Think about a shopaholic, once the item is seen, lusted over and purchased, before it is even delivered, there is a desire for more. The eye is already roving to the next thing. True also with the lusts of pornography. The eye is never satisfied. The angry man constantly looks at the thing on which is rage is focused. The looks, the more his attention is riveted and the fires of his fury stoked. The drunkard looks longingly at the beer commercial. 

No wonder David, who formerly, famously, lusted after Bathsheba, later wrote these beautiful words:

One thing have I asked of the LORD,
that I will seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to inquire in His temple.
Psalm 27:4 ESV

To stare longingly at the Word of God and training your eyes to look to Jesus, this is all your work. The eyes formerly not satisfied with evil, will now penetratingly stare at the wonders of Jesus and the splendors of the Word. Ask for the Spirit's help, so that you can be staring, looking intently, and gazing with the insatiable appetites of the eyes to know God as fully as He can be known here on earth. That is the highest and best activity. Learning to gaze longingly at Jesus now here on earth suits you for eternity in His magnificent, glorious presence.

Our Father in heaven, thank You for the love with which You loved Your elect. So incomprehensible and true is Your declaration of love that You spared not Your Only Son, but gave Him as the ransom for our souls. Blessed Jesus, we confess our eyes have wandered. We have turned our gaze to worthless things, to empty things, to things that are passing away and are in fact dragging up to destruction and the pit of hell. When we really examine ourselves are too ashamed to look intently at You. The paradox is so full on. Jesus, You left the throne of infinite power and grace to rescue ruined, self-destructive sinners, the very ones who ignoring You are tangled up by the devil’s lies and are thinking if I just purify myself or do better from now on, then I can come to Jesus. Spirit of the Living God, capture our hearts and conquer every rebellious thought so that Jesus and His reconciling blood will be for us, all in all. We confess our roving eyes and wandering hearts. We confess our vision is blurred with desires and rage. Spirit of God, be our vision. Renew us for Christ. Spirit of Wisdom, train our eyes and our wisdom so that we will look to Jesus in every hour of every day. Amen.

https://youtu.be/WTalmqydV2w?si=T_F-PYHxcK06cDs- My Shepherd Will Supply My Need

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