Tis the season for apples. As we explored the countryside of PA last week, we discovered many varieties of apples; there were red, green, yellow, striped, sweet, tart, bitter, juicy, dry, all kinds of apples. There were many items made from apples: pies, strudel, fritters, butter, cakes, cookies etc, etc. With ever present apples and reading Psalm 17:8, “Keep me as the apple of the eye; hide me under the shadow of thy wings,” I began to think about being the apple of God’s eye. Now, I have read this verse many times and I have also misquoted it many times, for my version, David is saying, keep me as the apple of Thy eye. The verse actually says, ” Keep me as the apple of the eye”. Does this mean that God does not find me precious to Him? No, He does, He sent His only begotten Son to die for me, didn’t He? My purpose on this earth is not to be treasured by God, it is to bring glory to Him; it’s about Him, not me.
I began to look at this verse and I found that the Hebrew word for “apple” is ee-shone’ and is defined as the little man of the eye; the pupil or ball; hence the middle[of night]:-apple[of the eye], black, obscure. This sheds a different light, forgive the pun, on this verse. So with this new information in mind, let’s explore just what the pupil is. It is a circular opening in the iris, the colored part of the eye. Its diameter changes with the contraction and relaxation of the ocular muscles and responds to changes in light, as well as emotions. Have you ever had you eyes dilated, then walked out into the sunshine? OUCH! It is the pupil that decides how much light will enter the eye. What does this have to do with Psalm 17:8? From my perspective, as the pupil, the opening, how do I respond to THE LIGHT? How much LIGHT do I allow into my mind, my heart, my life? As a dilated pupil reacts to the light of sunshine, God’s LIGHT also causes a reaction. When God brings forth those unknown sins in my life, what is my reaction? Is it so painful that I close my eyes to them, hoping it will go away, or do I put on the protective sunglasses of His love, acknowledge the sin, confess it and seek forgiveness? Allowing the LIGHT to make us aware, even when it hurts will ultimately glorify Him, because it is often through pain that we see Him more clearly. As doctors evaluate the reaction of our pupils to rule out disease, why don’t we allow the Great Physician to evaluate our reaction to His chastening hand. And for your information, I will never again look at an apple the same way.
About Barb Harville