How “haughty eyes” could be an indication of a deeper problem
By Dean Collins
No one really knows for sure how long David had to run and hide from King Saul’s jealous pursuits. Based on my research it seems that this agonizing and threatening chase went on more than a year at least and possibly several years. David didn’t try to incite Saul or steal his throne. Saul’s own disobedience and ego were the root of his problems. His jealousy of David turned into an obsession.
Eventually David wrote a song of praise to God about his difficult days when he was pursued by various enemies including King Saul. In his psalm David never called King Saul out by name. Even when David had ample opportunity to end Saul’s life and thus his pursuit of him, David took the humble path.
David’s poetic language gives us something to ponder. “For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down.”
It may have been these words that inspired Solomon to write this proverb: “Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.”
The phrase “haughty eyes” jumped out at me. Maybe it’s because we’ve all had to step back from our normal face-to-face activities the last year, but I was thinking about various experiences in my life where someone’s eyes revealed an understanding of their character.
The eyes reveal
I would certainly caution about making judgments based on one impression or characteristic, but I would also recommend paying attention to the eyes. Some people put on a good show, but often you can see into someone’s heart through their eyes. Maybe you can think of times when you’ve had a bad day, and you noticed someone who came along side of you and said something kind. Then, when you looked into their eyes, you knew they meant it. And you’ve had the other experience of someone who spoke to you yet couldn’t, wouldn’t make eye contact because they had other more important people to see or talk to.
Webster defines haughty this way: “blatantly and disdainfully proud; having or showing an attitude of superiority and contempt for people or things perceived to be inferior.” Haughty eyes reveal a lot about a person’s character or lack of it.
I remember several years ago I was asked to lead the prayer team for a national convention. Before each speaker went on stage, I prayed with them. These were well- known pastors, authors, and leaders. In nearly every case I sensed their humility, and their eyes confirmed my observation. There was one exception. The speaker had a hollowness in his eyes. This speaker seemed to look past me even though there were just two of us in the green room. I started to comment to someone about it but chose not to do so. Several years later this person was in the news for their alleged abuse of power and sexual misconduct.
Behind the eyes
In this hyper-digital age, we so easily assess others by their popularity. I’m deeply concerned that in the process we will often miss on character. Popularity isn’t an indication of a person’s moral integrity. Behavior matters. Words matter. And a person’s eyes may give us a peak into their soul.
On the other hand, humble people don’t look for the spotlight and don’t need to be noticed. And their eyes often indicate the discomfort they feel when getting too much attention. David was clear in Psalm 18 that it was the Lord who had rescued him. It was the Lord who intervened. It was the Lord who gave him so much stamina that David felt like he could leap over a wall.
The word of the Lord proves true. God saves the humble, and those with haughty eyes he brings down. God’s ways are perfect. When we put our trust in him and apply his Word to our lives, we will never need to worry about having haughty eyes. Jesus looks on us with eyes of compassion. When we surrender to Jesus, then God gives us a new heart. As we follow Jesus, we will also begin to see others with the compassion of our loving Savior.
Renewed by God daily we, too, might feel like we can leap over a wall! But remember, your knees might not be up to it. My suggestion: Get a ladder or someone to help you!
Your time with God’s Word
Psalm 18:27-30; Proverbs 18:12; Matthew 18:4 ESV
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Photos by Quinten de Graaf and Zohre Nemati on Unsplash
