Let them be yours alone. and not shared with strangers. Proverbs 5:17, TLV

Covenant with Our Eyes?     Have you ever sat in a movie theater and felt like you were watching something you shouldn’t? Not only are we watching something we shouldn’t, but we’re sitting in the dark with strangers doing it. Talk about creepy. Sometimes I’ve felt more like a peeping tom rather that someone who paid for a ticket to be entertained.

Chapter five is the beginning of Proverbs’ “seduction” chapters. These are the proverbs that warn us about succumbing to the temptations of adultery and fornication. In today’s verse, the writer warns us to not share our virtue with strangers. But what about surrendering our virtue without ever meeting the temptation in person?

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that everyone who looks upon a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”  Matthew 5:27-28, TLV

Personal, Yet Impersonal

Today we don’t have to purchase a ticket to watch images that tempt us. We don’t have to have a one-on-one encounter to succumb to temptation. Exposure to adultery or fornication happens every day in the privacy of our home with our televisions, computers, and even our phones. Think that it is unavoidable—that it is just the way it is? The reality is we may actually be surrendering our virtue and integrity to these images.

Covenant with Our Eyes

The book of Job—thought by some scholars to be the oldest text in the cannon of scriptures—Job made a conscious decision to not surrender his virtue and integrity. Beginning with the portal of temptation.

“I made a covenant with my eyes not to pay attention to a virgin . . .” Job 31:1, TLV

He made a covenant with his eyes. This is noteworthy. What we watch feeds our mind, emotions, and spirit — whether sexual, violent, demonic, or hateful. Job understood that his eyes were the portal to his mind and spirit.

King David knew intimately of temptations — mostly because of how his succumbing to them had devastating results.

“No base thing will I set before my eyes. Twisted behavior I hate—it will not cling to me.” Psalm 101:3, TLV

“The eye is the lamp of the body. Therefore if your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.” Matthew 6:22, TLV

Choosing to Make a Covenant

Many years ago, my husband chose to make a covenant with his eyes. Today, when those images appear, he looks at me until they’re gone. Even if the image is on commercials.

While watching movies or programs, we give it one questionable image, if it happens again, it’s turned off.

I’m impressed with my Bob, but really, I should do the same thing. We all should. Let’s try it for 24 hours and see how many times we were exposed to images that steal our virtue. Are you with me?

Think More About It

How do you plan to make a covenant with your eyes?

Please share your comments below and if this blog blessed you, please share with your friends and family. Thanks!

Until tomorrow, may we make a covenant with our eyes, my friends.

Have you seen the videos/news/reels of violent demonstrations against Israel and the Jewish people? Over time, watching these images has stirred up anger and my own violent thoughts. I must pray for strength to dial back my response because I no longer maintain the mindset of this battle being a spiritual battle.

If you’re like me, let’s agree together to pray for that balance between being informed and not ingesting the hatred. Amen? God bless you!