What does "Turn my eyes away from worthless things" mean in Psalm 119:37? Immediate Literary Setting Psalm 119 is an alphabetic acrostic celebrating Torah. Verse 37 sits in the ה (He) strophe (vv. 33-40), where every line begins with the consonant he, thematically stressing teachability (vv. 33-34), direction (vv. 35-36), and now visual purity (v. 37). The life-preserving power of Scripture (v. 37b) contrasts with the death-dealing pull of “worthless things.” Old Testament Parallels • Psalm 101:3 “I will set no vile thing before my eyes.” • Job 31:1 “I have made a covenant with my eyes.” • 2 Kings 17:15 “They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless.” These parallels show “worthless things” includes idolatry, lust, greed, empty entertainment, and deceptive philosophies. New Testament Expansion Jesus internalizes eye-discipline (Matthew 5:28-29), links sight to the soul’s light (Matthew 6:22-23), and labels worldly treasures “moth and rust-corrupted” (Matthew 6:19). Paul calls worldly gain “dung” (Philippians 3:8). John warns, “the world and its desires pass away” (1 John 2:17). The inter-testamental bridge confirms the same ethic. Theological Core A. Holiness vs. Idolatry – Idols promise life yet deliver vanity (Psalm 115:4-8). B. Creator vs. Creation – Eyes fixed on creation’s Giver (Romans 1:20-25) avoid deifying creation itself. C. Word and Life – Spiritual vitality flows only “according to Your word” (Psalm 119:25, 40, 93). D. Grace-Empowered Obedience – The psalmist pleads for divine initiative; sanctification is synergistic but Spirit-energized (Philippians 2:12-13). Practical Application 1. Covenant with the Eyes – Deliberate commitments (Job 31:1) coupled with filtering tools and accountability relationships. 2. Scripture Saturation – Daily intake redirects attention; try reading the corresponding psalm stanza aloud morning and evening. 3. Creation Contemplation – Replace worthless images with God’s handiwork (Psalm 19:1; Romans 1:20). 4. Service & Stewardship – Occupying the eyes with the needs of others (Isaiah 58:7-10) displaces self-absorbed vanity. 5. Worship Habits – Corporate singing and ordinances realign focus on the eternal Lamb (Revelation 5:12). Christological Fulfillment Jesus, the incarnate Word (John 1:14), never fixed His eyes on “worthless things” (Hebrews 12:2). In Gethsemane and Golgotha He chose the Father’s will over temporal escape, fulfilling Psalm 119’s aspirations. Union with Christ enables believers to mirror His gaze (2 Corinthians 3:18). Eschatological Motivation All “worthless things” dissolve (2 Peter 3:10). Fixing eyes on the imperishable inheritance (1 Peter 1:4) invigorates holiness today. Eternal perspective converts the ongoing imperative “Turn my eyes” into practiced anticipation of the city “whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10). Summary Definition “To turn my eyes away from worthless things” is a Spirit-empowered plea to have one’s perceptual, cognitive, and desire-forming faculties redirected from empty, deceptive, transient, or idolatrous objects toward the life-giving, truth-saturated, eternal Word of God, ultimately embodied in the risen Christ. |
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