Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things
out of thy law (Ps. 119:18).
Having acknowledged, that power to keep the law is imparted
to men by God, he, at the same time, adds, that every man is blind, until he
also enlighten the eyes of his understanding.
Admitting that God gives light to us by his word, the
prophet here means that we are blind amid the clearest light, until he remove
the veil from our eyes. When he confesses that his eyes are veiled and shut,
rendering him unable to discern the light of the heavenly doctrine, until God,
by the invisible grace of his Spirit, open them, he speaks as if he were
deploring his own blindness, and that of the whole human race. But, while God
claims this power for himself, he tells us that the remedy is at hand, provided
we do not, by trusting to our own wisdom, reject the gracious illumination
offered to us.
Let us learn, too, that we do not receive the illumination
of the Spirit of God to make us contemn the external word, and take pleasure
only in secret inspirations, like many fanatics, who do not regard themselves
spiritual, except they reject the word of God, and substitute in its place
their own wild speculations. Very different is the prophet’s aim, which is to
inform us that our illumination is to enable us to discern the light of life,
that God manifests by his word. He designates the doctrine of the law, marvelous
things,
to humble us, to contemplate with admiration its height; and
to convince us the more of our need of the grace of God, to comprehend the
mysteries, which surpass our limited capacity. Knowing, as we do, that Christ,
“in whom are hid all the treasures of knowledge and wisdom,” “is the end
of the law,” we need not be surprised at the prophet commending it, in
consequence of the sublime mysteries which it contains, Colossians 2:3; Romans
10:4. (Commentaries)
