What does "do what is right in the eyes of the LORD" mean? Inviting the Text to Speak Deuteronomy 6:18: “Do what is right and good in the eyes of the LORD, so that it may go well with you and you may enter and possess the good land that the LORD swore to your fathers.” What “Right in the Eyes of the LORD” Literally Means • “Right” comes from the Hebrew word yāshār—straight, level, upright. • “Eyes” pictures God’s constant, personal evaluation. Nothing is hidden (Proverbs 15:3). • Put together, the phrase calls for living on a straight path that God Himself can look at with pleasure. Core Ideas Wrapped Up in the Phrase • Alignment with God’s revealed commands (Deuteronomy 12:28). • Heart-level sincerity, not mere outward compliance (1 Samuel 16:7). • Pursuit of what God labels good, not what culture applauds (Isaiah 5:20). • Recognition that God—not people—is the ultimate audience and judge (Galatians 1:10). Why “Eyes” Matter • God sees motives (Jeremiah 17:10). • His gaze guarantees accountability (Hebrews 4:13). • Living for His eyesight frees us from the fear of man (Proverbs 29:25). How Scripture Describes Doing What Is Right 1. Hearing and obeying God’s Word (James 1:22). 2. Walking in integrity in private and public (Psalm 101:2). 3. Practicing justice, mercy, and humility (Micah 6:8). 4. Loving God wholeheartedly and neighbors sacrificially (Matthew 22:37-39). 5. Repenting quickly when we fail (1 John 1:9). Portraits of People Who Got It Right • Hezekiah: “He did what was good and right and faithful before the LORD” (2 Chronicles 31:20). • Josiah: “He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the ways of his father David” (2 Kings 22:2). • Ultimately Jesus: “I always do what pleases Him” (John 8:29). Blessings Tied to Walking Upright • It will go well with you (Deuteronomy 6:18). • God’s guidance and protection (Psalm 37:23-24). • Confidence and peace of conscience (Proverbs 10:9). • Fruit that endures into eternity (John 15:8). Putting It Into Today’s Life • Measure choices by Scripture, not by feelings or trends. • Invite God’s searchlight daily: “Search me, O God, and know my heart” (Psalm 139:23-24). • Choose the straight path even when no one is watching, trusting the Lord to reward faithfulness (Matthew 6:4). |
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