BETHANY BAPTIST CHURCH

I will fix my eyes upon them for evil and not for good (Amos 9:4)

This is a striking statement. We often think of God’s eyes upon us as a sign of His compassion and care, but in the above verse, the gaze of God is for “evil and not for good.” It is a fearsome thing that the Lord looks upon us, and it is not for our good. Israel of prophet Amos’ time took God’s patience for granted and persisted in their sinful ways. They perverted justice and mocked the prophets of God who preached warning and called for repentance. Therefore, God told the nation that He would send upon them a “famine of hearing words of the LORD” (5:11). However, this did not create any sense of fear among the sinning nation. Instead, they thought that if the Lord turned away his focus on them, then they were free to do whatever they wanted. They thought that if the Lord didn’t watch over them, then they could escape his eyes. But that was a miscalculation; there has never been a time when the Lord didn’t watch his people. “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and good” (Prov . 15:3). The watching eyes of God are a message of blessing for the obedient, and the same is a message of judgment for those who rebel. God’s eyes are fixed upon us always, but whether it is fixed for our good or evil depends on whether our lives are pleasing or displeasing him. When God “fixes his eyes” in your life today, what does He see – obedience or disobedience? Does the thought of God’s eyes fixed on you bring cheer or fear to you?

-Pastor