Eyes turned to God only.
Cheyne's translation is, "In that day shall the earth-born look towards his Maker, and his eyes shall have regard to the Holy One of Israel." The reference seems to be to those who, after the Assyrian conquest of Israel accepted Hezekiah's invitation, returned to Jerusalem, giving up their confidence in idols, and looking with single eye to Jehovah, and serving him with sincere hearts. The figure suggests for consideration the possible attitudes of human vision towards God.
I. THERE IS THE BLINDED VISION. Two things blind:
1. Ignorance, as illustrated in the case of the heathen.
2. Willfulness, as illustrated in all who are living in sin. The one blindness is a calamity, calling forth our pity; the other is a crime, calling for ore' indignation. There is also a judicial blindness—the stroke of God upon those who have misused their eyesight, keeping it fixed on vanity, not lifted up to the heavens, "from whence cometh man's help.' They who will not see shall not be able to see.
II. THERE IS THE DIMMED VISION. Influenced by surrounding atmospheres of
Nowadays men are sadly suffering from dimmed vision. Fogs of prevailing unbelief are for a time half hiding God, and even Christians are troubled lest the dimness should prove to be in their eyes. The evil is only in the medium through which the eye looks.
III. THERE IS THE DIVIDED VISION. Which can see both God and self, and trios hard to keep both, side by side, in the field. Of some in the olden times it was said, "They feared the Lord, and served other gods;" and this must be the description of very many in the modern. "Their heart is divided." They cannot see "Jesus only."
IV. THERE IS THE CLEARED VISION. Oftentimes cleansed and purified by the medicine of affliction, as in the association of the text. God's chastisements are his teaching us to see.
V. THERE IS THE CONCENTRATED VISION. Eyes turned to God only. The sign of entire devotement; full consecration. An eye single, and fixed on one object. This one thing I will do, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills." Plead the call and persuasion of the risen and living Christ, "Anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see."—R.T.