The books of 1-2 Kings feature brief accounts of the many kings who reigned throughout the history of Israel and Judah—except, interestingly, each account starts with a defining, simple, overarching statement that frames each king’s reign, character, and legacy—all described in one of two ways:
“[This king] did was what was evil in the sight of the Lord”
or
“[This king] did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.”
Can you spot the difference?
No, not just the obvious difference in morality—their doing evil versus doing right. There’s another difference operating in the text: It’s the difference in God’s vision, corresponding to their wickedness and righteousness. Specifically, their doing evil is connected to the sight of the Lord, whereas their doing right is connected to the eyes of the Lord.
This description between “sight” and “eyes” might sound like an insignificant detail, one that is interchangeable at best. But even though the difference might sound negligible, it actually packs a heavy theological truth.
How so?
Think about what each term communicates:
“Sight” conveys distance, a type of seeing that happens from afar and impersonal.
“Eyes” infers closeness, however; a type of seeing that is up close and personal.
From a distance, you cannot see into a person’s eyes; you’re only connected to them by sight. Distance makes an experience impersonal. From up close, however, you can see into a person’s eyes; read their expressions; sense their feelings. Proximity makes an experience personal.
The subtle description of God’s ‘sight’ versus God’s ‘eyes’ illustrates the following idea: Living wickedly means distancing ourselves from God and living righteously means walking closely with God. When 1-2 Kings describes wicked living in connection with the Lord’s sight and upright living in connection to the Lord’s eyes—it’s communicating a deep theme throughout the Bible: relationship versus fellowship.
As Scripture makes clear, a relationship with God is ultimately positional, given to us by grace through Jesus Christ. We are described as the ‘bride’ of Christ; adopted as ‘children’ of God; deemed ‘citizens’ of heaven. The nature of these relational descriptions is positional by nature; meaning, it does not change based on action, feeling, or circumstance. This is similar to our own concepts of marriage, sonship, or citizenship—they are relationships that are ultimately positional by nature, not swayed by action, feeling, or circumstance. Relationship is about position.
But fellowship is about the quality of that relationship. In other words, whereas a relationship is positional, fellowship is interpersonal. We can have a relationship with God through faith in Christ Jesus, however, our fellowship fluctuates with how we are interpersonally relating to Him.
For example, if we are constantly resisting Christ’s lordship, indulging in sin, and withholding forgiveness from others—we are breaking fellowship with God, even though we are still in relationship with Him. We are creating distance.
But if we are following His lordship, walking by the Spirit, and living in love—we are building fellowship with God, even though we are still just as much in relationship with Him. We are striving for closeness.
This principle should not seem unfamiliar, as all earthly relationships follow the same pattern and design. For instance, your spouse is still—positionally speaking—just as much as your spouse, whether you are living wickedly or selflessly. However, your fellowship with your spouse—interpersonally speaking—does change by your selfishness or servant-heartedness. Our spouse is still our spouse, whether we are digging trenches or building bridges. Of course, there is much more fellowship when we spend our time building bridges, and much less time digging trenches.
And the same idea is true with God, too. The distinction present in 1-2 Kings of God’s “sight” versus “eyes” is a unique way of illustrating Scripture’s overarching idea of “relationship” versus “fellowship.”
And although these kings had covenantal relationship with God, their wickedness meant a type of fellowship with God marked by distance, by ‘sight;’ and likewise, their righteousness meant a type of fellowship with God marked by closeness, such as ‘eyes’.
Even though this description of God’s ‘eyes’ and ‘sight’ is 3000 years old, the principle and reality in which it describes is not. So, the practical, personal, up-close question for us today is this:
Are you walking by the Spirit, guided by the Word—drawing close to God? Or are you walking by the desires of your flesh, guided by your own authority—distancing away from God?
“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9)
