In the days of Noah, God saw that mankind’s wickedness was great. Nothing in all the earth was hidden from Him. Even the evil thoughts and intentions of the hearts of men were plainly known. Yet the Scripture adds, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (Gen. 6:8).

This principle runs through the entire Bible: the eyes of the Lord are always attentive. He saw the affliction of the children of Israel in Egypt, so He came down to deliver them. Later, Moses told the people that the eyes of the Lord rested on Canaan, the promised land, “from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year” (Dt. 11:12). In the days of the monarchy, rulers were plainly known to the Lord. Did they do what was right in His eyes? Some did, and their obedience was blessed. Others did not, and the Lord brought in the consequences of their evil deeds.

Thus Psalm 34 encourages our confidence in God as well as our prayer to Him: “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry” (Ps. 34:15). God always sees where we are, and He is always ready to hear if we are in distress. We might even be found in the wrong place at the wrong time, just as David had been found among the Philistines, as indicated in the title of this psalm. Even there, and even then, the eyes of the Lord had not lost sight of David.

Does it seem that the wicked prosper? The eyes of the Lord have not overlooked their ways: “He who formed the eye, shall He not see?” (Ps. 94:9). He will be justified when at last He judges them. Does it appear that a faithful servant has been forsaken? The Lord has surely taken notice of all that was ever done for Him, and He who sees in secret will give rewards openly. Be at peace! “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.”