Good Morning Yamon Ki Yesepar;
Psalms 119:18: “Open my eyes that I may behold wonderful things from your law.”
The word “law” is Torah. During David’s time that was his Bible, the Scripture, the Word of God. Today we have a complete Old and New Testament. So quite literally David is asking that God opens his eyes so that he may see wonderful things from Scripture.
There is a story from the Talmud (Bava Batra 145b), about a man who lived in the mountains. He knew nothing about those who lived in the city. He would plant and reap wheat and he ate the kernels of the wheat raw.
One day he went to the city and befriended the people of the city. They brought him fresh baked bread. Having never seen bread and having only eaten kernels of wheat raw all his life he asked: “What is this for?” They said, “Why this is bread, it is for you to eat.” The mountain man ate the bread and found it tasted very good, much more delightful than the raw kernels of wheat he was used to eating. He asked: “What is it made of?” He was told it was made from kernels of wheat which required great effort and time to ground it, mix it with water and leaven, roll it and bake it.
Then they brought him cakes kneaded in oil. He tasted them and said they were splendid, and asked how they were made. Again he was told it was made from raw kernels of wheat, processed just like the dough for bread only kneaded with oil which gave the cakes their rich taste.
Then they brought him royal pastry made with honey and oil. The mountain man ate the pastries and was absolutely delighted. “From what are these wonderful things made?” he asked. “Again he was told from wheat, but processed with with honey and oil and baked with great care.
All of a sudden the mountain man declared: “I am the master of these delightful things, for I eat the essence of all of these – wheat.” Alas, because of this view, he knew nothing of the delights of the world, they were lost to him. So it is with one who grasps the principles of the Word of God but does not know all those delectable delights derived from exploring the deeper levels of the Word of God. The mountain man claimed to be a master of wheat, yet knew nothing of it’s products – bread, cakes and pastries. Many Christians assume that just because they know the simplest literal meaning of Scripture, they do not need to go any deeper.
Yet, David literally demands that God opens his eyes. The word for open is “galah” which means to make bare, to look beyond the garments, the outward appearance and see what is covered up. “Galah” is in a piel imperative form. This opening is a complete revelation. David wants to know the deep complete mysteries of God. The word for “eyes” is “ayin” which means deep insight. It is also the word for fountain or well of water. This is like pulling a cap off a well and water spring up like geyser.
David wanted to “behold” the wonderful things of the Word of God. The word behold is “navat” which has the idea of looking expectantly. It has a paragogic. The best way to express this is like a child waiting to open a Christmas present. David hoped to see “wonderful things.” This is “pala’” which means marvelous and awe inspiring.
How could David get so excited about the Word of God? He did not eat just the raw kernels of the Word of God, he dug into the Word beyond it’s literal meanings or kernels and turned the kernels into bread (homiletic), cakes (allegorical) and pastries (supernatural). There is so much more to the Word of God than just a surface reading.
If you are having trouble reading the Word of God, or get bored reading it. Perhaps you should cry like David: “Open my eyes so I can behold the hidden wonders of your Word.” Once God begins to do that, you will never get bored with His Word again.
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