Turn My Eyes and Revive Me

Introduction

This Psalm is the longest in the bible and it serves to magnify the word of God. In 170 of the 176 verses, the word of God is referred to. This tells us where the attention of the psalmist is.

Moving forward this year we must be reminded to keep our attention on God.

Our lesson comes from the 37th verse of the 119th Psalm. This psalm is a wisdom psalm, The writer reflects on a myriad of circumstances (plots, persecutions, slander, affliction), but points to the word of God. Psalm 119:37.

“turn away my eyes”

This verb “turn” is in the imperative in this case it would indicate a strong desire to or drive for something to be done.

The word means, “to pass over”. lit. allow my eyes to pass over [something].

Have you ever “passed over” something?

Application: cause my eyes to pass over the things that make me turn from you

“looking at vanity”

the “looking” implies [inf. construct]. This is not a glance or a peek, or a ‘by the way’ look. It is intentional looking.

“vanity” refers to the things that are futile, of no significance or benefit.

Application: Sometimes our attention turn to things that;

don’t build faith

don’t bring us closer to God

are divisive

generate strife instead of maintaining unity

This tells us why the plea to “turn” is so strong, this looking has engulfed him. What he admits is “Lord, I Have lost my way”

“revive me according to Your way”

This is another imperative, it means to: bring to life again

that which was dead, the Lord can bring to life

recover that which was lost

Application: faith, hope, love, zeal, will to serve. There is a plea to recover it.

The revival is not according to the way of the psalmist but the way of God.

General Instructions

Turn my eyes and revive me

Turn from the back burner to the front-line

Turn from simply coming to being committed

Turn from “what are they doing?” to “what am I doing?”

Turn from finding faults to finding time to pray

Turn from measuring the work of others to measuring your work

God can revive you

2 Timothy 1:7 NASB95

For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

Ephesians 3:14–16 NASB95

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,

Romans 8:37 NASB95

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

We cannot afford to look, any where else, Lk 9:62 [looking back]

2 Cor 4:18 [looking forward]

Php 2:4 [looking out for others]

What are you looking at? Do you need God to turn your eyes and cause the revival that you need?

Why won’t you repent and return to God

Why won’t you believe, obey, and be baptized?