37. Turn away mine eyes from beholding iniquity. He had prayed about his heart; if the eyes do not see, perhaps the heart may not desire. The prayer is not so much that the eyes shall be shut as turned away, for we need to have them open, but directed to right objects. It is a proof of the sense of weakness felt by the psalmist and of his entire dependence upon God that he even asks to have his eyes turned for him; he meant not to make himself passive, but he intended to set forth his own utter helplessness apart from the grace of God. For fear he should forget himself and gaze with a lingering longing upon forbidden objects, he intreats the Lord speedily to make him turn away his eyes, hurrying him off from so dangerous a parley with iniquity.
And quicken thou me in thy way. Give me so much life that dead vanity may have no power over me. Enable me to travel so swiftly on the road to heaven that I may not stop long enough within sight of vanity to be fascinated thereby. The prayer indicates our greatest need—more life in our obedience. If we would be full of life as to the things of God we must keep ourselves apart from sin and folly, or the eyes will soon captivate the mind, and, like Samson, who could slay his thousands, we may ourselves be overcome through the lusts which enter by the eye.
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