My eye wasted away from grief and grew weak because of my enemies.
The eye here expresses the whole inner strength and vitality of David’s life. Prolonged sorrow had worn him down, and the pressure of enemies had weighed on him like premature old age. The phrase “It has grown weak because of my enemies” means that the continual oppression of adversaries had weakened him, dimmed his gaze, and burdened his soul. This image shows that spiritual and emotional pain can also have an effect on the body. The psalm does not lessen the seriousness of suffering. At the same time, David continues to speak with God. His enemies could wear out his eyes, but they could not silence prayer. For the believer this is an important example. When strength diminishes, prayer may become shorter and turn into a groan, yet it can still remain a living bond with the Lord. We should not judge a suffering person, thinking that his weariness is a lack of faith. It is better to bear his burden, to comfort him, and to direct him toward God’s mercy. The Lord sees not only the visible wound, but also the soul worn down by long sorrow.