What does Psalm 69:23 mean by "darken their eyes so they cannot see"? Text “May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.” (Psalm 69:23) Immediate Literary Context Psalm 69 is an imprecatory, lament-to-praise Psalm of David that telescopes his own persecution into a prophetic portrait of the Messiah (vv. 4, 9, 21; cf. John 2:17; 15:25; 19:28-29). Verses 22-28 form a judicial petition: David asks God to turn the very advantages of the wicked (“table,” v. 22) into snares, to visit covenant curses on those who reject the Lord, and finally to blot them from “the book of life” (v. 28). Verse 23 sits at the heart of that petition. Historical Setting And Authorship David writes amid relentless hostility (vv. 4, 19-20). Under the Mosaic covenant a king could invoke Deuteronomy-style sanctions against obstinate enemies of Yahweh (Deuteronomy 28:15-29). The prayer is therefore a legal appeal, not personal vindictiveness. Imprecatory Language And Covenant Justice a. Legal Ground: Violent covenant-breakers forfeited the blessings of sight, strength, and freedom (Deuteronomy 28:28-29, 65-67). b. God’s Prerogative: Only the Judge may decree judicial hardening (Isaiah 6:9-10). David petitions, God decides. c. Redemptive Aim: Imprecations preserve the righteous and can shock the wicked to repentance; Nineveh repented under far less (Jonah 3:4-10). Spiritual Blindness In The Old Testament • Pharaoh (Exodus 10:1) • Idolatrous Israel (Isaiah 29:9-10; 44:18) • Proud leaders (Micah 3:6) Blindness frequently follows persistent unbelief; the LORD “gives them over” (Psalm 81:12). Messianic Perspective And Christological Fulfillment Psalm 69 is quoted of Jesus’ zeal (John 2:17), reproach (Romans 15:3) and gall/vinegar (Matthew 27:34). Likewise, those who rejected Christ experienced the very blindness David described (John 12:37-40), culminating nationally in A.D. 70, a judgment Josephus records in detail (Wars VI.5.3). Apostolic Exegesis (Romans 11:9-10) Paul cites Psalm 69:22-23 to explain Israel’s partial, judicial hardening. Unbelief converts blessings (“table”) into stumbling blocks; eyes are darkened, backs burdened. Yet the hardening is “in part” and temporary (Romans 11:25-26), showing that the imprecation never abolishes the possibility of mercy. Light And Darkness As Theological Motifs Creation: physical light (Genesis 1:3–4). Revelation: God’s word gives light (Psalm 119:105, 130). Judgment: refusal of light invites darkness (Proverbs 4:19; John 3:19-20). Redemption: Messiah opens blind eyes (Isaiah 42:6-7; Luke 4:18-19). Physical Analogy And Metaphorical Force Blindness in Scripture is sometimes literal (2 Kings 6:18), sometimes metaphorical (Matthew 15:14), often both: the miracle of John 9 illustrates spiritual sight gained while the Pharisees’ guilt remains (John 9:39-41). Psychological And Behavioral Insights Persistent sin habituates cognitive bias; exposure to truth without surrender breeds desensitization (Hebrews 3:13; Ephesians 4:18-19). Modern behavioral studies on confirmation bias empirically echo this biblical diagnosis: entrenched rebellion diminishes factual perception. Application For The Church And The Individual 1. Examine: “Search me, O God” (Psalm 139:23). Spiritual blindness can infect any who resist conviction. 2. Proclaim: Preaching Christ dispels darkness (2 Corinthians 4:4-6). 3. Intercede: Pray both for justice (Revelation 6:10) and for enemies’ repentance (Matthew 5:44). 4. Hope: God can remove the veil (2 Corinthians 3:14-16); the same Psalm that calls for judgment ends with worldwide worship (Psalm 69:32-36). Warnings And Invitation To Repentance Darkened eyes preview eternal separation (Matthew 22:13). Yet Christ, the “Sun of righteousness” (Malachi 4:2), has risen. Receive Him, and “the eyes of your hearts” are enlightened (Ephesians 1:18). Reject Him, and Psalm 69:23 stands as a sober prophecy. |
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