“Keep me as the apple of your eye…” Psalm 17:8 (Context: Psalm 17)
Have you ever wondered where the phrase “apple of your eye” comes from? Since this phrase was put in front of me three times in less than one week from three separate sources, I definitely wondered. The original Hebrew phrase is used in three places in the Bible: once to describe how God protected Jacob (Deut. 32:10), once by David in the Psalm mentioned above, and once in Proverbs 7:2. The phrase literally means “little man of the eye” and refers to the tiny reflection of yourself that you see in another’s eyes.
For me, this is significant. To keep a long story short, a few weeks ago I was really questioning whether the God of the universe – the God who is so big and powerful that He keeps galaxies and stars and planets in line – could really care about me, a tiny speck of dust living on a slightly larger speck of dust swirling in the midst of a vast vacuum. Someone prayed that God would show me He cared and within a week, I believe God answered three times with, “you are the apple of my eye.”
Think about it. To be reflected in someone’s eyes, they have to be looking at you. Although this phrase is used fairly specifically for Jacob and David in the Bible, I think I can believe that God is looking at me, too. He sees me.*
Interestingly, in Proverbs 7:2, a father (the Father, I think) is speaking to a “son.” He says, “keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you…keep my teaching as the apple of your eye,” So I have a part to play, too. Yes, God sees me, but I’m to keep my eyes on His words, His commandments, and His teachings. There’s a good chance that if I’d been doing my part in the first place, I wouldn’t have needed the reminder that God sees me at all. But, praise be to God, He is willing to remind us of things we should already know.
*The link here directs you to a sermon on Luke 19:1-10 by Deacon Chris Jones. If you haven’t heard it before, I encourage you to listen now. It’s more on this same theme – God sees you and loves you.
Nikki Smith
Nikki and her husband Justin joined the Servants family in 2011. She has become instrumental in our youth programs as the on-staff Youth Leader. She is the mother of two of our youngsters, and as if that is not enough to keep her busy, she is also Servants’ Communications Director.