Here is a beautiful and profound verse from the Proverbs. For my brief commentary, scroll down.
"Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee."
Pulpit Commentary
Verse 25 - Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids lock straight before thee. "To look right on" and "to look straight before
one" is to fix the eyes steadily and unswervingly upon an object before
them, not to allow the gaze to deflect either to the right hand or to
the left. As a noun, the word nokakh,
rendered "right on," signifies what is straight in front of one;
adverbially, it has the same meaning as that given in the Authorized
Version. The corresponding "before" (neged)
is substantively the side of any object which is opposite one, and as a
preposition is equivalent to "before," "in the presence of," like the
Latin coram. The versions (LXX., Syriac, Targum) take nokakh
in the sense of "right things:" "Let thine eyes look at right things;"
contemplate them, aim at justice and equity. This meaning is given to
the cognate adjective nakoakh in Proverbs 8:9; Proverbs 24:26; Isaiah 26:10; Isaiah 30:10; Isaiah 59:14; but in the Proverbs the word nokakh only occurs twice (here and ver. 21), either as an adverb, "right on," "straightforwardly," or as a preposition, "before." Look straight. Gesenius takes this verb yashar in hiph., "to make straight," as used elliptically: "Let thine eyelids direct
a way before thee;" but the meaning is the same as "Let them look
straight before thee." The Syriac, Gejerus, and Holden render, "Let
thine eyelids direct thy way before thee;" i.e. do nothing rashly, but everything with premeditation; examine thy conduct, and see that it is right. The verb yashar has this meaning, "to direct," in Proverbs 3:6; Proverbs 11:5, but it is here used intransitively (Mercerus). Eyelids (aph'appim);
so called from their fluttering, rapid motion, here used by way of
poetic parallelism with "eyes." What the command inculcates is
simplicity of aim or principle, singleness of motive. The moral gaze is
to be steadily fixed, because if it wanders indolently, lasciviously,
aimlessly, it imperils the purity of the soul. This verse may be
understood, as Zockler, as containing a command levelled against
dishonest practices. The man who intends to cheat his neighbour looks
this way and that how he may deceive him. Such an interpretation may be
maintained on the ground that the former verse is directed against
falsehood in speech; this against falsehood in action.
But the former view is preferable. If you wish to keep the heart, you
must be guided by simplicity of aim; look not aside either to the one
hand or to the other, lest you may be led astray by the seductions and
temptations which imperil the onward and upward progress of the soul.
The passage reminds us of the "single eye" (ἄπλους), "simple," i.e. intent on heaven and God, of Matthew 6:22.
Mathhew Henry"s Commentary
The way of evil men may seem pleasant, and the nearest way to compass
some end; but it is an evil way, and will end ill; if thou love thy God
and thy soul, avoid it. It is not said, Keep at a due distance, but at a
great distance; never think you can get far enough from it. The way of
the righteous is light; Christ is their Way, and he is the Light. The
saints will not be perfect till they reach heaven, but there they shall
shine as the sun in his strength. The way of sin is as darkness. The way
of the wicked is dark, therefore dangerous; they fall into sin, but
know not how to avoid it. They fall into trouble, but never seek to know
wherefore God contends with them, nor what will be in the end of it.
This is the way we are bid to shun. Attentive hearing the word of God,
is a good sign of a work of grace begun in the heart, and a good means
of carrying it on. There is in the word of God a proper remedy for all
diseases of the soul. Keep thy heart with all diligence. We must set a
strict guard upon our souls; keep our hearts from doing hurt, and
getting hurt. A good reason is given; because out of it are the issues
of life. Above all, we should seek from the Lord Jesus that living
water, the sanctifying Spirit, issuing forth unto everlasting life. Thus
we shall be enabled to put away a froward mouth and perverse lips; our
eyes will be turned from beholding vanity, looking straight forward, and
walking by the rule of God's word, treading in the steps of our Lord
and Master. Lord, forgive the past, and enable us to follow thee more
closely for the time to come.
Emmanuel Swedenborg
It is said in the eyes of Jehovah, and
thereby is signified the Divine presence of the Lord in the truths and
goods of faith and of love with men on earth and with angels in the
heavens. The reason why the presence of the Lord is in the truths and
goods of faith and of love, is that these are from the Lord Himself; and
when the Lord is present in these with men and with angels, He is then
present in His own with them, and not in what is their own, for this is
evil. From this also it is that by eyes in
the Word, when said of men who receive the Divine things of the Lord,
is signified faith and also a recipient understanding; for the
understanding is the internal eye; and faith is truth which is seen and
perceived. That the eyes, when said in the Word of men, signify faith and also understanding, (AC 2701, 4407-4421, 4523-4534, 9051).
[3] It shall also be told whence comes this sight. There is a real
light which illumines the understanding, and which is quite distinct
from the light which illumines the sight of the body. The light which
illumines the understanding is from heaven; but that which illumines the
sight of the body is in the world. The light of heaven is from the Lord
as a sun there, and is in its essence the Divine truth that proceeds
from the Lord's Divine good. From this it is evident whence it is that
by the eyes, when said of Jehovah, is signified the Divine presence of the Lord; and by the eyes, when said of men who receive the Divine truth of the Lord, or His light, is signified faith and an enlightened understanding.
[4] That it is a real light which illumines minds, and effects
understanding with men, is not known in the world, although men
attribute sight and light to the understanding, and although in the Word
the Lord is often called the Light, by
which is meant that He is seen by faith and the light thereof. That it
is a real light which illumines minds, and that the Divine truth which
proceeds from the Lord as a sun is this light, and that where it is
received it gives the understanding of truth, (AC 9548, 9684, 9570, 9571, 9594). From Biblemeanings
My brief commentary
Just watch anyone trying to study, work or read nowadays, and you will see them quickly reach for their iPhone or mobile device and begin checking their emails, phone messages or texting. Few people today can sit and work, drive or do anything without having something to eat or drink nearby (often an unhealthy diet soda, or or calorie laden mocha or whatever from Starbucks) which they reach for compulsively.
Our distractability is symolic of a deeper ill. It is symptomatic of how low we have fallen as human beings, and how we have strayed from concience and an unwaivering attentiveness to what is right.
It is for this reason that we are demoralized. Having indulged the senses, perhaps because we have not known any better and others have not set a good example for us, we have gone along with what everyone else is doing. The typical parent will give their small child a video game or a mobile device with a video game on it to play with, thinking they are doing a good thing.
But once we have lost control of our attention, it can be captured by anything.
Once the process begins, it tends to snowball both collectively as a society and for us individually. Without the help of the a meditation such as we offer here, it is virtually impossible for an individual to recover from distractability because of all the distractions around. If you have ever had to spend a few hours in the woods without the presence of a cell phone, radio or mobile device, you know how the quiet, the peace and the silence of nature seems almost strange after you have become accustomed to the pressure cooker environments of school, work, and home.
The main thing you need do is meditate. Secondly, you may begin to see (when you enjoy the objectivity of the meditative state) where you need to reduce some of the stimulation overload in your life (and for your kids too). But first and foremost meditate.
We are distracted. Our ina bility to concentrate, our adult ADHD, and our addiction to mobile devices are symptoms. They are symptoms of a spiritual and moral issue.
Learn more at www.commonsensecounseling.org
