What does it mean to "guard my teachings as the apple of your eye"? Setting the Scene • Proverbs 7:1-2 says, “My son, keep my words and treasure my commands within you. Keep my commands and live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.” • Solomon is urging his son—and by extension every believer—to treat God’s wisdom with the highest possible value and protection. Understanding the Phrase “Apple of Your Eye” • In Hebrew, “apple” (ʾîshôn) literally points to the pupil—the delicate center of the eye. • The eye’s pupil is: – Essential for sight. – Extremely sensitive to harm. – Reflexively protected (we blink or shield it instantly). • Scripture uses the picture often: – Deuteronomy 32:10: God “guarded him as the apple of His eye.” – Psalm 17:8: “Keep me as the apple of Your eye.” – Zechariah 2:8: “Whoever touches you touches the apple of His eye.” • The phrase communicates something precious, vulnerable, and guarded with intense care. What Does It Mean to Guard Teachings? • Treat God’s Word as vital to spiritual life—just as the pupil is vital to physical sight. • Maintain constant awareness and quick reflexes: immediately reject anything that threatens to blur, distort, or injure biblical truth (2 Corinthians 10:5). • Keep Scripture at the center of all decision-making (Psalm 119:105). • Protect the integrity of doctrine—no compromise, no dilution (Jude 3). • Internalize it so deeply that it becomes instinctive, like blinking to protect the eye (Psalm 119:11). Practical Ways to Guard God’s Word Today • Daily immersion: – Read or listen to Scripture every day (Deuteronomy 6:6-9). – Memorize key passages—“bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart” (Proverbs 7:3). • Careful filtering: – Evaluate books, podcasts, entertainment, and conversations through a biblical lens (Proverbs 4:23). – Reject teachings that contradict clear Scripture (Galatians 1:8-9). • Active obedience: – Put truth into practice immediately (James 1:22). – Confess and correct course quickly when you slip. • Community reinforcement: – Surround yourself with believers who prize the Word (Acts 2:42). – Speak truth to one another in love, holding each other accountable (Ephesians 4:15). Blessings Promised for Those Who Guard • “Keep my commands and live” (Proverbs 7:2) — spiritual vitality and often practical preservation from sin’s consequences. • Protection: God shields those who treasure His Word, just as He shields Israel (Psalm 17:8). • Wisdom and discernment that spare us from deception (Proverbs 2:6-12). • Confidence: “Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him” (Proverbs 30:5). Closing Thoughts Guarding God’s teachings as the apple of your eye means cherishing Scripture as indispensable, shielding it from distortion, and letting it direct every facet of life. Treasure it, protect it, and live it—because your spiritual sight depends on it. |
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