What does it mean that the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him (Psalm 33:18)?

Answer  
  

Our heavenly Father is all\-seeing, [all\-knowing](God-omniscient.html), and [present everywhere](God-omnipresent.html). The Bible is filled with figurative language to express these attributes of God in terms that humans can understand. For example, in Psalm 33:18, the phrase *the eyes of the Lord* articulates the omniscience, omnipresence, and always caring nature of God toward His children: “But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love.” At all times, God is watching over those who faithfully worship, serve, and follow Him.  
  

The Bible offers countless reassurances of the Lord’s protection and concern for those who fear Him. The “fear” in Psalm 33:18 is reverence and devotion. Those who fear the Lord are His loyal followers. The chronicler affirms, “The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him” (2 Chronicles 16:9, NLT).  
  

The phrasing that “the eyes of the Lord *are on* those who fear Him” indicates the Lord’s recognition of His own and His imparting favor to them. King David writes, “The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help” (Psalm 34:15, NLT). To Job, Elihu echoes, “He does not take his eyes off the righteous” (Job 36:7\). The apostle Peter recites, “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil” (1 Peter 3:12\).  
  

According to Psalm 33:18, those who fear and reverence the Lord put their hope in His unfailing love. Not only does God watch over and protect His loyal followers, but He “delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love” (Psalm 147:11\). “For the Lord delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory,” declares the psalmist (Psalm 149:4, NLT). God takes pleasure in us. He is intensely interested in His children’s lives and works on their behalf to keep them safe. He is a loving, ever\-present Shepherd who says to us, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you” (Psalm 32:8, NLT). We can take great comfort in knowing we never have to face one moment of this life alone.  
  

As followers of Jesus, we can put our whole hope and trust in the God of our salvation because He cares deeply for us. While it’s true that God’s all\-seeing eye watches over the entire creation (Psalm 33:13–14\), His eye is particularly fixed with unique interest on “those who rely on His unfailing love” to rescue them “from death” and keep them “alive in times of famine” (Psalm 33:18–18, NLT). In other words, God protects His faithful ones from every danger and supplies their every need (Psalm 23:1; Matthew 6:33; Philippians 4:19\). Jesus said, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand” (John 10:28–29, NLT).  
  

Our God will never fail or abandon us, and nothing can separate us from His love in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:35–39\). Jesus will save us completely and “lives forever to intercede with God” on our behalf (Hebrews 7:25, NLT).  
  

We have nothing to fear because God is our helper (Hebrews 13:5–6; Psalm 118:6–7\). “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble” (Psalm 46:1, NLT). “He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, . . . the Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever” (Psalm 121:3–8, NLT).  
  

The fact that the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him means our lives as believers are unshakably secure. We who “live in the shelter of the Most High . . . find rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1, NLT). Under the watchful eye of His presence, we are covered by His feathers, sheltered by His wings, protected by His promises, guarded by His angels, and saved for all eternity [by His grace](saved-by-grace.html) (verses 4–16\).  
  

