Stop. Look. Listen.

 

02-22-2022

“Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead. Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil,” 

- Proverbs 4:25-27

“Though an army encamps around me, my heart will not fear; though a war breaks out against me, I will keep my trust. One thing I have asked of the LORD; this is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and seek Him in His temple. For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; He will conceal me under the cover of His tent; He will set me high upon a rock,”

 - Psalm 27:3-5

Gaze is such an interesting word. In the Old Testament Hebrew it is שׁוּר. It is pronounced shur. Specifically, it is “to behold or notice.” Such as when we regard something or someone with watchful care. It is where one watches stealthily, lies in wait, observes, or perceives.

What have you been gazing at lately? Your spouse? Your kids? Your TV? Do you ever catch yourself just “staring” into space? Yeah, we are right there with you…

Solomon and David both use this term in their writings. In our scriptures above notice that Solomon urges his son to fix his gaze straight ahead. David suggests that we are to gaze on the beauty of the LORD.

When you stop and think about it, we generally gaze upon that which gets our attention…that which captures our hearts, our minds. This could either be negative or positive.

It’s what happened to Lot’s wife. It’s what happened to David. It’s what happened to Judas.

But, it’s also what happened to Boaz. It’s what happened to the disciples as they watched their Master ascend into the heavens. It’s what happened to John the Revelator.

In reality, it happens to us each and every day. We may not realize it but we are constantly gazing. Whether out the window wishing we were anywhere else but where we are, or whether we are at the doctor’s office and gazing at the people around us trying to diagnose them.

Most of the “stuff” we gaze at is actually about us escaping. Escaping our pain. Escaping our uncertainty. Escaping our responsibility. Escaping ourselves.

Perhaps that is why it is so important to take Solomon’s and David’s words to heart. Gaze forward. Gaze on the beauty of the LORD. Or, as it might be better translated from Hebrew - keep our observations forward - in front of us - perceiving the beauty of God all around us.

That can be hard with all the distractions daily facing us. “Squirrel!” But, it is not impossible.

In the fall of the year, a pheasant hunter will go out with his bird dog seeking birds. A good bird dog will come upon a covey, freeze and point. It will remain stock still - not moving a muscle. It is waiting for its master, the hunter, to come along and bust the covey up and shoot the birds.

But, as is often the case, the hunter becomes delayed in his coming. Still, the faithful dog will not come off point. However, it will inevitably begin to flick its ears back. It will also cut its eyes back. Why? The dog is looking for the hunter to see if he will come before the birds fly off.

Picture it in your mind. The bird dog is gazing at the covey and glancing to the side for the master. Did you read that? The bird dog is gazing at the covey and glancing at the master.

And that is what we often do when faced with difficulties or trials. We fix our gaze on our problems, our situations, and whatever is confronting us. Yet, we only glance at our Master.

Followers of Jesus must intentionally practice fixing their gaze on the Master while only glancing at their problems. We are consumed with relentless attacks from all sides - shouldn’t we focus our gaze on our Commander for directions, encouragement and hope?

Maybe you’re a bit like me (Steve) and have quite a bit of ADHD rummaging around your head. If so, perhaps you may also have difficulties focusing your gaze upon the LORD. Just remember that your relationship with God is to be your number one focus. Know that if you take care of that, God will take care of everything else. “Seek first the kingdom…”

With all that is going on in the world at this very moment - this critical time in human history - Jesus’ words in Luke 21 are needful: “But when these things begin to happen, stand up and raise your heads - looking up/gazing - because your redemption is drawing near.”

Allow us to close with these two verses to help us reconsider and recalibrate our focus:

Psalm 123:2 “We keep looking to the LORD our God for his mercy, just as servants keep their eyes on their master, as a slave girl watches her mistress for the slightest signal.”

Colossians 3:1 “Therefore, if you have been raised with the Messiah, keep focusing on the things that are above, where the Messiah is seated at the right hand of God.”

Stop. Look. Listen. Gaze. Wonder. Learn. Grow.

Missy and Steve