I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?
It is a deliberate pledge to govern the eyes and refuse to look with lust upon a young woman, lest looking lead into sin. Such a vow can restrain the soul from occasions that would lead to sin and preserve it from defilement. Guarding the eyes from forbidden desires keeps the mind pure, for thoughts once entertained lead to actions, while dwelling on pure and holy things supports a virtuous life and shapes character. The same watchfulness refuses to gaze at unholy things or entertain impure thoughts, because what is looked upon with pleasure is impressed upon mind and memory and may return to tempt and destroy, and the resolve is strengthened by knowing that God sees every way and counts every step.
Setting and Plain Sense
The verse belongs to the poetic portion of the book, to chapters 3-31 containing the arguments between Job and his three friends on the cause and object of human suffering, and it must be taken as part of the whole book rather than by itself. Within that larger structure the book falls into four parts, and the verse stands in the second part, the debate between Job and his three friends on his afflictions in chapters 4 to 31, made up of three circles of speeches by each. The other parts are the prose prologue in chapters 1 and 2 and the prose epilogue in chapter 42:7-17, the speeches of Elihu in chapters 32 to 37, and the speeches of the Lord out of the storm-cloud.
The verse is part of the chapter that closes the argument between Job and his friends, before Elihu, a younger man, speaks up to correct Job. It belongs to the close of the discussion in which they condemned him for seeming self-righteousness and he rejected their words because he felt they were condemning him unjustly.
The verse declares a deliberate commitment to guard eyes and thoughts, refusing to look lustfully at a young woman, so that looking would not lead into sin. It shows a resolve to avoid evil and live uprightly after learning about God and his requirements, yet success in keeping that commitment was not enough, for Job still needed to know God for himself. The chapter shows Job was one of the richest men of his day yet did not trust in his riches nor rejoice because his wealth was great, but trusted in the living God and regarded his wealth only as a means of blessing the poor, the needy, the fatherless, and the widow. The chapter proves integrity by more than paying debts to others, for the protestation is stronger evidence of an honest character, linking honesty to chastity as well as integrity.
Guarding Heart and Mind
A deliberate commitment can be made to guard against a particular sin, and such a vow helps restrain the soul and avoid occasions that could lead to sin, preserving from defilement. Guarding the eyes and refusing to dwell on forbidden desires helps keep the mind pure, because sinful thoughts once entertained can lead to sinful actions, while directing the thoughts toward pure and holy things supports a virtuous life. The commitment applies to what is read and looked at, and extends to rejecting malicious and envious thoughts and dwelling on pure and holy subjects, especially the character of Jesus. Guarding the thoughts in this way keeps the spirit untainted, because thought shapes action and character.
Guarding the eyes is a commitment to keep the mind from dwelling on forbidden pleasures, warning not to gaze at or become familiar with unholy things, because repeated exposure can make sin seem less hateful, and keeping the mind from unchaste and wicked thoughts helps preserve a virtuous life. Guarding the heart includes refusing to entertain impure or vain thoughts, and the resolve to keep the eyes from leading into such thoughts is strengthened by awareness that God sees ways and counts steps. What is looked at and dwelt upon with desire is impressed on the mind and memory, even when later forgotten, and may return vividly to encourage or to tempt and destroy. The covenant with the eyes is therefore part of guarding the heart and mind at every entrance, choosing not to dwell with desire on what is seen.
Wider Applications of Covenant
A deliberate covenant can be made to govern what the eyes behold, and that governing of sight reaches beyond lust to the way one regards other people. To look upon the faults of others in order to dwell on them and speak evil of them is to break that covenant, for continued beholding changes the beholder into its own likeness. Keeping the eyes from fastening on evil in a brother is therefore part of keeping the covenant itself.
The same covenant to guard against desire requires refusing even to look upon intoxicating drink, since its color and sparkle and very sight are enough to awaken appetite in some men. Safety lies not only in refusing to drink but in shutting out the sight, because merely seeing can stir the craving that leads to drinking. This guarding of the eyes is stricter and safer than only resolving not to drink, since it removes the temptation at its entrance. Guarding the eyes against wicked things likewise means turning away from wicked books and pictures and objects, lest seeing lead to desiring and defilement.
It is a deliberate pledge to govern the eyes and refuse to look with lust upon a young woman, lest looking lead into sin. Such a vow can restrain the soul from occasions that would lead to sin and preserve it from defilement. Guarding the eyes from forbidden desires keeps the mind pure, for thoughts once entertained lead to actions, while dwelling on pure and holy things supports a virtuous life and shapes character. The same watchfulness refuses to gaze at unholy things or entertain impure thoughts, because what is looked upon with pleasure is impressed upon mind and memory and may return to tempt and destroy, and the resolve is strengthened by knowing that God sees every way and counts every step.
Setting and Plain Sense
The verse belongs to the poetic portion of the book, to chapters 3-31 containing the arguments between Job and his three friends on the cause and object of human suffering, and it must be taken as part of the whole book rather than by itself. Within that larger structure the book falls into four parts, and the verse stands in the second part, the debate between Job and his three friends on his afflictions in chapters 4 to 31, made up of three circles of speeches by each. The other parts are the prose prologue in chapters 1 and 2 and the prose epilogue in chapter 42:7-17, the speeches of Elihu in chapters 32 to 37, and the speeches of the Lord out of the storm-cloud.
The verse is part of the chapter that closes the argument between Job and his friends, before Elihu, a younger man, speaks up to correct Job. It belongs to the close of the discussion in which they condemned him for seeming self-righteousness and he rejected their words because he felt they were condemning him unjustly.
The verse declares a deliberate commitment to guard eyes and thoughts, refusing to look lustfully at a young woman, so that looking would not lead into sin. It shows a resolve to avoid evil and live uprightly after learning about God and his requirements, yet success in keeping that commitment was not enough, for Job still needed to know God for himself. The chapter shows Job was one of the richest men of his day yet did not trust in his riches nor rejoice because his wealth was great, but trusted in the living God and regarded his wealth only as a means of blessing the poor, the needy, the fatherless, and the widow. The chapter proves integrity by more than paying debts to others, for the protestation is stronger evidence of an honest character, linking honesty to chastity as well as integrity.
Guarding Heart and Mind
A deliberate commitment can be made to guard against a particular sin, and such a vow helps restrain the soul and avoid occasions that could lead to sin, preserving from defilement. Guarding the eyes and refusing to dwell on forbidden desires helps keep the mind pure, because sinful thoughts once entertained can lead to sinful actions, while directing the thoughts toward pure and holy things supports a virtuous life. The commitment applies to what is read and looked at, and extends to rejecting malicious and envious thoughts and dwelling on pure and holy subjects, especially the character of Jesus. Guarding the thoughts in this way keeps the spirit untainted, because thought shapes action and character.
Guarding the eyes is a commitment to keep the mind from dwelling on forbidden pleasures, warning not to gaze at or become familiar with unholy things, because repeated exposure can make sin seem less hateful, and keeping the mind from unchaste and wicked thoughts helps preserve a virtuous life. Guarding the heart includes refusing to entertain impure or vain thoughts, and the resolve to keep the eyes from leading into such thoughts is strengthened by awareness that God sees ways and counts steps. What is looked at and dwelt upon with desire is impressed on the mind and memory, even when later forgotten, and may return vividly to encourage or to tempt and destroy. The covenant with the eyes is therefore part of guarding the heart and mind at every entrance, choosing not to dwell with desire on what is seen.
Wider Applications of Covenant
A deliberate covenant can be made to govern what the eyes behold, and that governing of sight reaches beyond lust to the way one regards other people. To look upon the faults of others in order to dwell on them and speak evil of them is to break that covenant, for continued beholding changes the beholder into its own likeness. Keeping the eyes from fastening on evil in a brother is therefore part of keeping the covenant itself.
The same covenant to guard against desire requires refusing even to look upon intoxicating drink, since its color and sparkle and very sight are enough to awaken appetite in some men. Safety lies not only in refusing to drink but in shutting out the sight, because merely seeing can stir the craving that leads to drinking. This guarding of the eyes is stricter and safer than only resolving not to drink, since it removes the temptation at its entrance. Guarding the eyes against wicked things likewise means turning away from wicked books and pictures and objects, lest seeing lead to desiring and defilement.