“Therefore,
Consider
Whether the light
In you
Is not darkness!”
σκόπει οὖν μὴ τὸ φῶς τὸ ἐν σοὶ σκότος ἐστίν.
Luke uniquely indicated that Jesus asked them to consider or take heed (σκόπει οὖν) whether or not the light (μὴ τὸ φῶς) in them (τὸ ἐν σοὶ) was or becoming darkness (σκότος ἐστίν). In other words, how bright was their light? Was it getting dim? Was the evil dark over taking them? Jesus warned them about bad darkness gaining on the good light in them. Do you have bright eyes?
“When the king,
Heard the charge,
He was very much distressed.
He was determined
To save Daniel.
Until the sun went down,
He made every effort
To rescue him.”
The king, on the other hand, was not too worried about his decree. When he heard the charges against Daniel, he was a little upset and concerned about him. He was determined to save Daniel from the lions. He tried everything to figure out how to rescue Daniel. Finally, the sun set. With that, so did Daniel’s chances of help dim.
“Our hearts
Are sick
Because of this.
Our eyes
Have grown dim
Because of these things.
Mount Zion
Lies desolate.
Jackals prowl
Over it.”
The hearts of the people of Jerusalem are sick. Their eyes have grown dim. Mount Zion has become desolate. The famous jackals prowl all around the city.
“You have caused my companions to shun me.
You have made me a thing of horror to them.
I am shut in
So that I cannot escape.
My eye grows dim through sorrow.
Every day I call upon you!
Yahweh!
I spread out my hands to you.
Do you work wonders for the dead?
Do the shades rise up to praise you?”
Selah
Much like Job, this psalmist said that Yahweh had caused his companions to shun him as a horrible person. He was shut in so that he could not escape. His eyes were growing dim with sorrow. Nevertheless, every day he called out to Yahweh. He spread out his hands to pray. He wondered if God would work wonders for the dead and those who live in shadows. This section again ends with the musical interlude meditative pause of Selah.
To the choirmaster leader, according to Lilies, a psalm of David
“Save me!
O God!
The waters have come up to my neck.
I sink in deep mire.
There is no foothold.
I have come into deep waters.
The flood sweeps over me.
I am weary with my crying.
My throat is parched.
My eyes grow dim
With waiting for my God.”
Psalm 69 is another choral lament about being delivered from enemies. It is called a psalm of David that is sung to the melody of “Lilies” like Psalm 45. David wants to be saved because the water of the flood is up to his neck. He is mired in mud with nothing to stand on. The floods keep sweeping over him. He is weary from crying since he has a parched throat. His eyes are growing dim as he waits for God.
“Lord!
All my longing is known to you.
My sighing is not hidden from you.
My heart throbs.
My strength fails me.
The light of my eyes has gone from me.
My friends and companions
Stand aloof from my affliction.
My neighbors stand far off.”
David made a plea to the Lord, God, who knew his situation. He was aware of his longing and sighing that was not hidden from him. His heart throbbed. His strength failed. His eyesight was growing dim. His friends, companions, and neighbors were standing aloof from him and his afflictions. Only God could help him.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 