“Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.”
(Proverbs 7:2)
The Lord commands that His law be kept as “the apple of thine eye.” Speaking figuratively, this phrase indicates that we should cherish His law above all else. Moreover, the “apple of the eye” is tender and precious and therefore carefully guarded. Likewise, the law of God should be precious to the believer. It should not be treated lightly, nor should the words of Scripture be considered carelessly.
The eye is one of the most sensitive parts of the body. Not only do we guard our eyes from major injury, we also protect them from even the smallest speck of dust. Similarly, the Lord teaches that His law must be heeded in regard to private, secret sins as well as those that are great and public sins.
Wandering thoughts in prayer, coldness in worship, lack of love to God, inward distrust, pride, secret envy, and spiritual laziness—these are often not confessed as they should be. Yet these sins offend God, weaken the soul, and dull the conscience. A man who truly loves God’s law will grieve over secret sins as well as open sins, and over the omission of good as well as the commission of evil.[1]
So to keep God’s law as the apple of the eye means to esteem it, to love it, to guard it, and to obey it carefully. It means to guard not only against great sins, but also against small sins; not only against outward sins, but inward sins; not only against sins of commission, but sins of omission.
This command also urges us to pray for God to write His law upon our heart, to make our conscience tender, and to cause our soul to love holiness and hate sin. Because when the conscience is tender, even a small sin is felt, confessed, and forsaken quickly. Let us therefore pray for a tender heart, a watchful spirit, and a deep love for God’s law, as the “apple of our eye.”
Contemplations:
- A Tender Conscience. Lord, I ask that You give me a tender conscience, so that I not only fear great sins, but also small sins. Don’t let me be careless about wandering thoughts, cold prayers, pride, or secret sins of the heart. Make my conscience sensitive, so that I quickly feel sin, confess it, and turn from it.
- Guarding My Heart Carefully. Father, teach me to guard my heart as a man guards his eye. Help me watch over my thoughts, my desires, my words, and my actions. Let me not think that small sins are harmless, but help me see that every sin is against You and must be resisted.
- Loving Your Law Truly. Lord, help me love Your law, not only in word, but in truth. Teach me to love You with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to show that love by my obedience.
- Depending on Your Help. Father, I know that I cannot keep Your law in my own strength. I ask You to write Your law upon my heart and give me strength to obey You. Help me walk carefully, watchfully, and faithfully before You.
Prayer (Supplication)
Holy Lord, I come before You asking that You teach me to keep Your commandments and to keep Your law as the apple of my eye. I confess that I am often more careful about great sins than I am about small sins, and I confess that I often neglect the secret sins of the heart.
So forgive me for wandering thoughts, for coldness in prayer, for lack of love, for pride, for unbelief, for spiritual laziness, and for neglect of good that I should have done. Forgive me not only for the sins that others see, but for the sins that only You see.
I ask that You also give me a tender conscience. Let me feel sin quickly and hate it deeply. Do not let my heart grow hard or careless. Make me watchful over my life and careful in my walk before You.
Write Your law upon my heart, and cause me to love Your commandments. Let me not treat Your Word lightly, but let me treasure it, guard it, and obey it. Teach me to love You with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my mind, and with all my strength.
Lord, I cannot do this without Your help. Therefore I ask that You strengthen me by Your Spirit, guide me by Your Word, and keep me from sin. Help me walk carefully, pray earnestly, and live obediently before You.
In Jesus’ name I pray.
Further Scripture References Proverbs 7:2:
Proverbs 4:4; Deuteronomy 32:10; Psalm 17:8; Zechariah 2:8
[1] Christopher Love, The Penitent Pardoned, (London: Printed for John Rothwell … and for Nathanael Brooks .., 1657), 35-36.
