God Is Looking Down In Love Psalm 11

“I am watching you” is an admonition that parents often give to
their children while out in public. The idea is that the kids will not
be able to get away with any naughtiness or bad behavior,
because the parent will continually be watching. Such a warning
generally puts some fear into a child’s mischievous heart.
I remember as a child goofing off in church. It only took a quick
peek in my mother’s direction to see her stern gaze. Contrary to
my attempts to hide my behavior, I wasn’t getting away with
anything. Mom knew exactly what I was doing. I can still
remember her penetrating look.
Well, just as a child cannot escape her parents watchful gaze, so
we cannot hide from God’s view. Nothing and no one in heaven
and on earth can escape being observed by the loving, all-
pervading eyes of the Lord. God is always assessing, appraising,
overseeing, superintending, and safeguarding His creation. God
sees all people and knows all people, both the evil and the
righteous.
Proverbs 15:3 - The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
keeping watch on the evil and the good.
Psalm 11 was written by David when he was a fugitive from King
Saul. David records the fearful advice given to him by some of
his friends. He rejects their fears and responds with great faith.
Psalm 11:1 - In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to my
soul, “Flee like a bird to your mountain.”
Evidently, his friends had urged him to escape and make a run for
it. After all, eventually David’s luck would run out. You can only
escape death so many times, right? Sooner or later, Saul would

find him and kill him. Why take the chance? Now is the time to
“flee to the mountains like a bird.”
David, though, is not a man of fear; he is a man of faith. It is not in
his nature to run; he responds with trust. His security is not
founded upon whether or not Saul is on the throne of Israel, but
upon God, who is on the throne of heaven.
Psalm 11:4 - The Lord is in his holy temple: the Lord’s throne
is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids rest on the children of
man.
David can rest and trust even while pursued by his enemy,
because God is ultimately in control. Whether His throne is in the
stratosphere (heaven) or our atmosphere (earth), God rules over
the affairs of man. Saul could not touch David without God’s
divine approval.
Additionally, God was not oblivious to what David was
experiencing. His eyes saw and His eyelids rested on His chosen
son. David was constantly being watched by God’s protective
oversight. What a comfort!
When we read in the Bible that God is continually watching us, we
tend to respond with childlike apprehension. We fear that God is
looking for a reason to “zap” us or to punish us. God is often
thought of as the stern parent watching over His disobedient
children.
But, is that why God watches us? Is He simply waiting till we
“blow it” so He can respond with divine retribution? No, my friend,
the reason for God’s constant surveillance over us is not punitive.
He is not monitoring us to make sure we don’t stray, play or
disobey. He doesn’t look down on us with suspicion. Rather, He
looks down on us with love.
As a little child in Sunday school, you may have sung this chorus..

O be careful little eyes what you see, for the
Father up above is looking down in love. So
be careful little eyes what you see.

I love the truth conveyed in that children’s song. Yes, God is
looking down, but He is looking down in love. That is a life
altering truth.