Psalms 141:8

8 But my eyes [are] toward you, O Yahweh, my Lord; I have taken refuge in you. Do not lay bare my soul.

Psalms 141:8 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 141:8

But mine eyes are unto thee, O God the Lord
Not only the eyes of his body, lifted up to God in prayer, this being a prayer gesture, ( John 11:41 ) ( 17:1 ) ; but the eyes of his mind, or understanding, especially the eyes of faith and love; for it is expressive of his affection to God, his holy confidence in him, and humble hope and expectation of good things from him, in this his time of distress: his eyes were to him and him only, both for temporal food for himself and his men; and for spiritual food, for all supplies of grace, for wisdom and direction, for strength and assistance, for protection and deliverance; in thee is my trust;
not in himself, nor in his friends, nor in any creature, prince or potentate, but in the Lord, as the God of nature, providence, and grace; to which he was encouraged by his lovingkindness to him; by the everlasting strength in him; by what he had done for others and for him in times past; by the provisions he has made in his covenant and promises for those that trust in him, who are of all men most happy; leave not my soul destitute;
of daily food, of help and assistance, of the presence, spirit, and grace of God; or "naked" F7, and defenceless, but let it be surrounded or protected by almighty power and grace; or "pour not out my soul" F8, that is, unto death; suffer me not to be taken by enemies and slain; see ( Isaiah 53:12 ) . The Targum is,

``in the Word (of the Lord) I trust, do not empty my soul,''
or "evacuate" F9 it, as Aben Ezra; that is, out of his body; for he observes, that the soul fills the body.
FOOTNOTES:

F7 (ret la) "ne nudes", Junius & Tremellius; so Piscator.
F8 "Ne effandas", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, Musculus.
F9 "Ne evacues", Cocceius, Gejerus, Michaelis.

Psalms 141:8 In-Context

6 [When] their judges are thrown down [the] sides of a cliff, then they will understand that my words were pleasant.
7 As [when one] plows and breaks up the earth, [so] our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol.
8 But my eyes [are] toward you, O Yahweh, my Lord; I have taken refuge in you. Do not lay bare my soul.
9 Protect me from [the] {grasp} of [the] trap they have laid for me, and [from the] snares of evildoers.
10 Let [the] wicked fall into their nets, while I escape altogether.

Footnotes 2

Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.