“Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they brought destruction on the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed in Jerusalem. Now at evening time David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the king’s house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance. So, David sent servants and inquired about the woman. And someone said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” Then David sent messengers and had her brought, and when she came to him, he slept with her; and when she had purified herself from her uncleanness, she returned to her house. But the woman conceived; so she sent word and informed David, and said, “I am pregnant.” (2 Samuel 11:1-5)
Have you ever noticed how quickly your eyelids close when a foreign object is heading towards your eyes? Look! I’m not an optometrist, an oculist, or an ophthalmologist, and but I did stay at a Holiday Inn. The latter part of that first sentence had a touch of humor. Seriously, however, I was curious above how my eyelids function, because they seemed to automatically close when I sprayed something in the air, with the nozzle facing my head, the wrong direction. and the spray was springing out rapidly, equivalent, in my mind, to the speed of light. The spray seem purposely intent on irritating my eyes my eyes. But aha! My eyelids blocked the spray without and command from my conscious mind.
Danger averted and distinctly amazed, I looked up an article title “Eyelid Anatomy: A Closer Look.” The article reviewed the importance of eyelids and their functions, including “eyelid elasticity,” “tear distribution,” and the “mechanical barrier” function. Of course, the review of the latter function answered my question. I learned that the eyelids protect our eyes. Focusing specifically on the “mechanical barrier” function, I read. The lower and upper eyelids form a mechanical barrier that shields the eyes from foreign objects, wind, dust, insects, and excessive light, they rapidly close in response to stimuli, preventing potential damage to the delicate structures of the eyes. We don’t consciously direct the functioning or the reflex of our eyelids. Thank God we are fearfully and wonderfully made! Our brains, what’s inside our heads, automatically directs our reactions. Like I said, I am not an optometrist, an oculist, or an ophthalmologist. I am however an ordained pastor who often sees things through a spiritual prism. So, let’s visit the topic of spiritual eyelids by looking at King David, as seen in the familiar David and Bathsheba episode.
David’s spiritual eyelids if they were allowed to function according to what was in him, that being the word of God which he knew, along with his faith, and reverence for God which was within his heart, he would not have had a failing. He would not have had to deal with all the long-lasting consequences of his great sin if he had only let his spiritual eyelids do their job.
Do you get what I am trying to say to you today? We need to let our spiritual eyelids function as they are supposed to and cause a reaction that will protect us from foreign things that try to mess with our spiritual sight. Now our spiritual eyelids will function automatically if we get into God’s word and hide it in our hearts. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit will help activate our spiritual eyelids instantly, with a quick blink of our eyes. When we do what we are supposed to be doing, such as studying the word, praying that the Lord will deliver us from evil, and meditating on His word day and night, our spiritual eyelids will not allow a malfunction or better said, a dangerous detour off the path of righteousness to take place. Amazing! I hope you “see” what I am saying this morning. I’m sure you do! Yet still I encourage you to think of this concept I have brought to your attention today. Think about your own, not somebody else’s, but your spiritual eyelids, today. Perhaps you should make the verse below a part of one of your prayers as soon as you get through reading this “long read.” Smile! Love you! Be blessed!
“Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.” (Psalm: 119:37 NIV)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King