"I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” ~Psalm 32:8
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” ~Psalm 32:8
This sounds like a job description or mission statement for a parent, guardian, or even a teacher. Perhaps more like a pledge or vow, similar to what some churches use when a child is dedicated - the whole congregation promises along with the parents. I remember certain ‘church ladies’ who took this very seriously and they “helped” by instructing your child to act the way THEY thought they should. Maddening. Thanks but no thanks.
Maybe God feels the same way when we throw our opinion in the ring about His children. ‘Constructive criticism' is not always (I’d even venture to say ‘almost never’) from a pure intent. Deep down, our human-ness likes to be better than others. [Parents, Teachers, Coaches - they are different. That is their job. I’m talking about interaction with our peers.] Psychologists would say that we are exposing our own insecurities when we judge others.
Thankfully, God is not human and this verse wraps us in a loving promise. He has been our teacher and guide, our counselor since Adam and Eve. He came to earth to dwell with humankind, secured our salvation and gave us the gift of His indwelling Spirit. God has never taken His loving eye off of us even for nanosecond.
“He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” ~Hebrews 13:5b-6
