My Fathers eyes 3

In 1985, the late Henri Nouwen, a Roman Catholic priest and author of international reputation, had the opportunity to go what was then Leningrad, to the Hermitage Museum there, and view Rembrandt’s painting, “The Return of the Prodigal Son.” It was something he always wanted to do. He went and sat in the Hermitage for hours for several days and just observe this painting. This inspired him to write his book, The Return of the Prodigal Son. In it he brings together some wonderful insights. This painting is significant. It shows the return of the Prodigal kneeling at the feet of his father. His once finely tailored and richly woven fabric robe is torn and tattered. You can see through it. It's threadbare. It hangs limply on the lean and weary body of the son. The sandals the son once wore are tattered and his feet are calloused. His head is buried in his father's robe. His head is shaved like those in the Nazi death camps—a sign of humiliation, of poverty and disease. But one of the focal points for Henri Nouwen is one that art critics have also focused on. That is the father's eyes. When Rembrandt paints the father, embracing his son after his return home the father is an old man. He's seemingly worn out by the years of waiting and concern. He is a father whose grief has taken its toll. He has paid a price for his love. What's especially alarming is that he shows eyes that are nearly blind, eyes that are sunken, eyes hardly seem to focus. I'm no expert on art, but it's as if Rembrandt is saying, as he paints these father's eyes, that they've seen too much of the world and too much pain. That the tears together with the years of waiting for his son to come back and the straining of looking for his son on the horizon have taken their toll.

As I think of our heavenly Father, which Jesus intends us to do, I know that there's no way for any of us to escape the Father's eyes and His gaze which is always on us. Those eyes are not tired, unfocused or weary. The Bible says

The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Watching the evil and the good.

1. This means God looks at us from a position of power.

What a phenomenal thought, that the eyes of the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God, is always keeping watch over me.

The Bible suggest that He watches as from a tower or high place seeking to protect, provide for, and secure. The poet says

for God our maker ever nigh

surveys us with a watchful eye

Our weary thought and act he knows

from early dawn until daylight close.

He examines humanity from his heavenly throne, so he can bring every action on his judgment.

He is looking with penetrating eyes, examining good and evil, that nothing escapes him.

This aught to alarm the evil doer, and comfort the godly man.

It seeks to warn those who do evil to be careful for God is watching it also encourages those who do good be encourage because God is watching.

Secret sins services and sorrows are under his eye and I to distinguish both persons and actions he beholds the evil and the good is displeased with the evil and approves of the good and will judge me and according to the sites of his eyes the wicked shall not go unpunished nor the righteous unrewarded for God has his eyes upon both and knows their true character they speaks as much comfort to the Saints as terror to the sinners.

In his omniscience, God sees and knows what everyone does. He’s keeping watch as a watchful Guardian over the city wicked people should be warned good people should be encouraged or comforted by this truth is sees even death and destruction he watches with a pitiful loving eye.

The wisemen does not just believe in God he believes in the God was always there in every moment God is beholding all he says and does not one word or deed escapes his loving high he beholds the evil man compassionately watches over the good man and is ever ready to come to our aid.

Pupil, apple.

The eye reveals a creator.

God designs you face to protect your eyes. The pupil is the most important part of the eye. The Hebrew idiom talks about the pupil. I care for you in an amazing way.

NKJV

For thus says the Lord of hosts: “He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.

NKJV

For thus says the Lord of hosts: “He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.

2. My father’s eyes councils and directs.

a. I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.

God expect intelligent interaction between himself and it. He looks, we straighten up. The thought of his expectation directs our actions.

My mother would look, and I would straighten up. God does the same.

God say I will be there to instruct you. You will never be alone.

3. Verse Concepts 2. My Father;s eyes sees my potentials.

a. But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

4. Verse Concepts My Fathers eyes sees me with compassions.- IN a wicked world, Noah found Grace.

a. But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.

b. “I am watching your life everyday and can meet every need.” Jes’us christ is the answer to every person needs.

c. NKJV

i. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry.

d. NKJV

i. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry.

5. With an attitude of Love. “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinnedagainst heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

6.

7. The Father's Eyes

8. This teenager lived alone with his father, and the two of them had a very special relationship. Even though the son was always on the bench, his father was always in the stands cheering. He never missed a game. This young man was still the smallest of the class when he entered high school. But his father continued to encourage him but also made it very clear that he did not have to play football if he didn't want to. But the young man loved Football and decided to hang in there. He was determined to try his best at every practice, and perhaps he'd get to play when he became a senior. All through high school he never missed a practice nor a game, but remained a bench warmer all four years. His faithful father was always in the stands, always with words of encouragement for him.

9. When the young man went to college, he decided to try out for the team as a "walk-on." Everyone was sure that he could never make the cut, but he did. The coach admitted that he kept him on the roster because he always puts his heart and soul into every practice and at the same time, provided the other members with the spirit and hustle they badly needed. The news that he had survived the cut thrilled him so much that he rushed to the nearest phone and called his father. His father shared his excitement and was sent season tickets for all the college games. This persistent young athlete never missed practice during his four years at college, but he never got to play in the game.

10. It was the end of his senior football season, and as he trotted onto the practice field shortly before the big playoff game, the coach met him with a telegram. The young man read the telegram and he became deathly silent.... Swallowing hard, he mumbled to the coach, "My father died this morning. Is it all right if I miss practice today?" The coach put his arm gently around his shoulder and said, "Take the rest of the week off son. And don't even plan to come back to the game on Saturday."

11. Saturday arrived, and the game was not going well. In the third quarter, when the team was ten points behind, a silent young man quietly entered the locker room and put on his football gear. As he ran onto the sidelines the coach and his players were astounded to see their faithful teammate back so soon. "Coach please let me play. I've just got to play today," said the young man. The coach pretended not to hear him. There was no way he wanted his worst player in this close playoff game. But the young man persisted, and finally feeling sorry for the kid, the coach gave in. "All right," said the coach, "You can go in."

12. Before long, the coach, the players and everyone in the stands could not believe their eyes. The little unknown, who never played before was doing everything right. The opposing team could not stop him. He ran, he passed, blocked and tackled like a star. His team began to triumph. The score was soon tied. In the closing seconds of the game, this kid intercepted a pass and ran all the way for the winning touchdown. The fans broke loose.

13. His teammates hoisted him onto their shoulders. Such cheering you've never heard. Finally, after the stands had emptied and the team had showered and left the locker room, the coach noticed that the young man was sitting quietly in the corner all alone. The coach came to him and said, "Kid, I can't believe it. You were fantastic! Tell me what got into you? How did you do it?" He looked at the coach, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Well, you knew my dad died, but you didn't know that my dad was blind." The young man swallowed hard and forced a smile. Dad came to all my games, but today was the first time he could see me play, and I wanted to show him I could do it!