Quick–eyed Love

Psalm 33

"Behold, the Lord's eyes are on those...who abide in His love." —Psalm 33:18

I think of those portraits in which the subject’s eyes follow us around the room. So it is with God’s kindly gaze.

That’s because, by faith, we have become His beloved children and good fathers always keep an eye on their children. (They can pick them out of a crowd.)

God took a hard road to show the extent of His love. “He died for desire of us." The Cross is the show of his affection.

Such devotion would be worrying if I had to do something to earn it or keep it, but all God asks is that I bask in his love. 

Love bade me welcome. Yet my soul drew back 

                              Guilty of dust and sin.

But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack 

                             From my first entrance in,

Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning,

                             If I lacked any thing.

A guest, I answered, worthy to be here:

                             Love said, You shall be he.

I the unkind, ungrateful? Ah my dear,

                             I cannot look on thee.

Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,

                             Who made the eyes but I?

Truth Lord, but I have marred them: let my shame

                             Go where it doth deserve.

And know you not, says Love, who bore the blame?

                             My dear, then I will serve.

You must sit down, says Love, and taste my meat:

                             So I did sit and eat. …

—“Love (III),” George Herbert

David Roper