Turn your eyes away from the empty goals of life by seeking divine help and find abundant life in the renewing power of God’s ways.
In the midst of this lengthy psalm celebrating God’s Word, the psalmist issues a heartfelt request, saying, “Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, And revive me in Your ways” (v.37). Here, the psalmist acknowledges the human propensity to be lured by earthly distractions. The term vanity suggests worthlessness or emptiness, anything that ultimately fades away rather than leading toward God’s eternal truth. By asking God to turn his eyes away from this vanity, the psalmist demonstrates a humble reliance on divine help, recognizing that human effort alone cannot always resist the world’s allure.
The second part of the verse pleads, “…And revive me in Your ways” (v.37). The psalmist longs to be renewed, or brought back to life in enthusiasm, by staying on the path of God’s teachings. In doing so, he admits that true vibrancy of spirit stems from a wholehearted alignment with God’s instructions. Throughout Psalm 119, there is a continual focus on how God’s ordinances provide a moral compass and spiritual vitality, and this request for revival underscores the psalmist’s belief that walking in God’s ways restores both passion and purpose. Jesus affirmed similar ideas when He said that He came so people may have life more abundantly, foreshadowing the fulfillment of the psalmist’s petition for spiritual vivification (John 10:10).
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Psalms 119:37 meaning
In the midst of this lengthy psalm celebrating God’s Word, the psalmist issues a heartfelt request, saying, “Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, And revive me in Your ways” (v.37). Here, the psalmist acknowledges the human propensity to be lured by earthly distractions. The term vanity suggests worthlessness or emptiness, anything that ultimately fades away rather than leading toward God’s eternal truth. By asking God to turn his eyes away from this vanity, the psalmist demonstrates a humble reliance on divine help, recognizing that human effort alone cannot always resist the world’s allure.
The second part of the verse pleads, “…And revive me in Your ways” (v.37). The psalmist longs to be renewed, or brought back to life in enthusiasm, by staying on the path of God’s teachings. In doing so, he admits that true vibrancy of spirit stems from a wholehearted alignment with God’s instructions. Throughout Psalm 119, there is a continual focus on how God’s ordinances provide a moral compass and spiritual vitality, and this request for revival underscores the psalmist’s belief that walking in God’s ways restores both passion and purpose. Jesus affirmed similar ideas when He said that He came so people may have life more abundantly, foreshadowing the fulfillment of the psalmist’s petition for spiritual vivification (John 10:10).