Psalm 33:18–19: “Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, / On those who hope in His mercy, / To deliver their soul from death, / And to keep them alive in famine.”

February 8th, 2024 by Pastor Ed in devotional

King David said that God’s watchful eye is on you even when you can’t see the path He has you on or the direction He wants you to take. This thought is repeated in 2 Chronicles 16:9: “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” God’s eyes are constantly looking to protect, sustain, and bring us through the difficulties we encounter every day. Our heavenly Father desires to bless our lives, so He watches for that moment when we are particularly needy.

I love the old story about the sole survivor of a shipwreck who washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, but every day when he scanned the horizon for help, he saw nothing. Even though he was exhausted, he managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements and to store his few possessions in. The next day, after scavenging the beach for food, he arrived back to find his hut in flames. With smoke rolling up to the sky, he felt sure that the worst had happened and everything was lost. He cried out, “God! How could you do this to me?” Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. “How did you know I was here?” he asked his rescuers. “We saw your smoke signal,” they replied. Often it’s hard to see God’s hand at work in our lives and we begin to doubt His concern. He may seem far away or totally out of reach, but nothing could be further from the truth. Our Father is always watching over us and always at work behind the scenes.

“LORD, we trust in You today, even if we cannot discern Your presence to direct our path.”

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Psalms 33 KJV

¹ Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.

² Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.

³ Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.

⁴ For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.

⁵ He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD. 

⁶ By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

⁷ He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.

⁸ Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

⁹ For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

¹⁰ The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. 

¹¹ The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. 

¹² Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; andthe people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

¹³ The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.

¹⁴ From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.

¹⁵ He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.

¹⁶ There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.

¹⁷ An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.

¹⁸ Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;

¹⁹ To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.

²⁰ Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.

²¹ For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.

²² Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.