Devotional Portion: Psalms 13:3
Consider and hear me, O Lord my God; Enlighten my eyes, Lest I sleep the sleep of death;
In these verses, David is praying regarding his relationship with God. He still feels as if God has forsaken him, that’s why he adds the phrase, “Consider and hear me” or in other words, “look at me and not neglect me.” He was crying out desperately and asking God to hear him. He wasn’t seeking the attention of God to complain about his situation again, but he was pleading to enlighten his eyes. “Open my eyes of faith that I may experience Your presence in the darkest valleys of my life. Open my eyes that I may see Your mighty and work for me. Open my eyes so that I may wait in patience for Your time. Open my eyes I put my undivided trust in You. Open my eyes so that I may see the miracles of You and lean more on You.”
“Well may we use the prayer, “Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord!” for in many respects we need the Holy Spirit’s illuminating rays. “Lest I sleep the sleep of death.” Charles Spurgeon.
Darkness will tempt us to sleep and the psalmist who is aware of this fact is seeking God’s guidance. He was not praying to remove the darkness, instead, he was praying to have the assistance of the Holy Spirit to be awake in the darkest hours of his life. When in Gethsemane, Jesus requested His disciples to watch out and pray. But they couldn’t as they were blinded to the things that were to happen in the night ahead.
Also, “enlighten my eyes” has another meaning- give me the wisdom to endure this trial. Apostle Paul in his letter to Ephesians adds emphasis to the importance of this. “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding* being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what [is] the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power” Ephesians 1:17-19.
Lest I sleep the sleep of death;
If our eyes are not enlightened by the truth of the Lord, we will fall asleep- a state of spiritual death. Many in the churches now are in a state of spiritual death, they hear the word of God, but are not comprehending as their eyes are blinded by the carnal things of this world. This is not the hour for the church to sleep, it’s the hour to be watchful and guard yourself. We need spiritual growth happening, we should grow in maturity of the Lord. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 5:14, Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”
Reflection: “Enlighten my eyes, Lord” let’s add this along with our daily prayers.
