You’re the “Apple of His Eye”

On this website I’ve been showing recently that each day we are drawing closer to the days of God’s wrath when He shakes the whole world and brings us to our senses. I’ve been showing the need for each of us to repent, and for the body of believers to repent, and how we must be praying that even the nations repent. It’s obvious as we read the Prophets that YHVH is ticked off in the “last day”.

But in times such as this, even when we know we have to repent, it is comforting to realize Abba still sees us as “the apple of His eye” – in spite of times He does get angry with us and has to discipline us, actually in his love for us. As we come nearer the holyday seasons especially, remember what this means.

Stevie Wonder helped make that statement famous in one of his songs with the words, “You are the sunshine of my life, that’s why I’ll always stay around. You are the apple of my eye, forever you’ll stay in my heart.”

But really the expression “apple of my eye” comes from our English Bibles where it is used several times in Scripture. Moses reminded the Israelites that YHVH selected Israel to be “the apple of His eye” (Deuteronomy 32:10). Verse 11 goes on to show how the Eternal hovered over Israel like a mother eagle watches over the eaglets in her nest.

The shepherd king David wrote a beautiful prayer of a psalm, Psalm 17:8, wherein he prays:

“Keep me as the apple of your eye. Hide me under the shadow of Your wings.”

Zechariah 2:8 is one of my favorites: “For thus says Yahweh of hosts: ‘He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apples of His eye”.

Our beloved God is saying a time is coming we will have to flee out of spiritual (unspiritual?) Babylon (verses 5-7) but those who are “messing with” His children better beware because He sees it as poking Him right in His eye! YHVH says Israel is the apple of His eye. Today there is a national Israel – and a spiritual Israel, the body of believers.

So even as I have been preaching on our need to pray for repentance and forgiveness, we need to also remember who and what we are in His eyes. I’ve spoken about how there is an identity we form with our Creator: we are His people and He is our God! You are precious to God. When we fall short of His glory, as we often do, we must remember that He does tell us He knows our limitations, is merciful, forgiving and we remain the apple of His eye as we come back to Him.

Why “apple” of the eye? The Hebrew word is ‘ishown – meaning “little man”. Perhaps it is because when you look intimately into someone’s eyes, you see a reflection of yourself, a tiny image of yourself formed on their retina. Yes, Father looks into your eyes – and sees Himself in the reflection on your pupil. He realizes you are being transformed into His perfect image “until Christ is formed in you” as Paul says. He knows we are all of one, in Him, and He has covenanted to watch over you as you protect your eye pupil, the apple of your eye. He sees a little bit of Himself in you, in your eyes – just like you might look at your own children and see a bit of yourself in them.

I had to have a splinter removed from my eyeball once. I wanted to blink so badly as the eye doctor slowly moved his instrument into position – even as he warned me to not change my focus or blink, no matter what happened as he picked off the splinter. Yes, the apple of the eye is very precious, very tender, very sensitive. Our eyelids naturally close when there is perceived danger to  the pupil – the “apple” – of the eye. It is bathed in tears, protected by the eyelid. So we guard our eyes, especially the pupil of our eyes. It is the most vulnerable and a most sensitive part of our face.

So the “apple of the eye” refers to something – someone – cherished, protected, highly valued. Someone we feel very sensitive and tender about. Just think about how precious your eye pupils are.

Our Creator sees you as the apple of His eye. You. Yes, you are so precious to Abba. Remember this especially in the days ahead as you prepare your heart and mind for the coming autumn feasts of the LORD.