Keep my mitzvot [commandments] and live, my teaching as the apple of your eye. Proverbs 7:2, TLV
Our Eye’s Apple. Six years ago, the posterior vitreous material in my left eye detached. PVD is a relatively common problem as we age. As we get older, a gel inside our eye — called vitreous gel — can shrink. Once this gel shrinks, it can slowly detach from our retina.
Initially, it’s a little scary with flashes of light as it detaches. The vitreous material can look like spiderwebs floating in the eye.
Of all the exposed parts of our body, the eyes are the most vulnerable to life-altering damage. Which is why our Creator built us to blink, protect our eyes from intrusion, and dodge anything headed our way.
In today’s proverb, the literal translation of the Hebrew is the “dark part of the eyes,” the pupil.
The pupil is one of the most important parts of the eye. From a distance, the pupil appears to be black,
but in reality, it is an opening — a portal — for light. The reason it looks black is because light is absorbed by the retina and isn’t reflected back.
Without light to the retina, we cannot see. Covering this critical structure to our sight is a thin sliver of tissue called the cornea. How vulnerable that pupil is. Which is why the rest of our body needs to protect our eyes.
The analogy
Do we guard GOD’s Commandments like our eyes?
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105, TLV
Just as the pupil allows light into our eyes so we can see, His commandments are light and sight into our spirit. They guide us and keep us from falling.
By obeying His commandments, we avoid those things trying to blind us from a life of purpose, a blessed life (Deuteronomy 11:26-27).
Do we wear protective covering when we do battle in this world? Raise that shield (Ephesians 6:10-18) when the enemy tries to shoot at us!
When we take in the Light from the Light of the World (John 9:5), we become His ambassadors as lights to the world (Matthew 5:14).
We become “…blameless and innocent, children of God in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation. Among them you shine as lights in the world…” (Philippians 2:15)
Allowing anything or anyone to compromise our position or obedience should have serious consequences. When we keep guard, and protect His commandments and word, we know that the cost is high, but the rewards are eternal.
Good Friday
Today, millions of Christians are taking time to remember Yeshua’s crucifixion as atonement for our sins.
How does this ancient proverb connect with our Messiah’s act of sacrifice, as well as His life on earth?
I [ADONAI] will raise up a prophet like you [Moses] for them from among their brothers. I will put My words in his mouth, and he will speak to them all that I command him. Now whoever does not listen to My words that this prophet speaks in My Name, I Myself will call him to account. Deuteronomy 18:18-19, TLV
That prophet the LORD was speaking of was, of course, Jesus. Did you know that there were three tests of a prophet?
- Follower the GOD of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
- Fear and worship GOD only.
- Keep the Commandments—the prophet’s words do not conflict with Torah.
So, what does this proverb have to do with our Messiah? It was a further reminder that Jesus was the true prophet spoken of in the Torah (Genesis to Deuteronomy). He fulfilled all three tests, and so much more, because He is the One and only Son of GOD.
As we remember the love of the Father for sending His Son to teach us and atone for our sins, let us rejoice that the prophet spoken of so long ago has come—for us.
May we follow in His footsteps and may we keep, guard, and protect His commandments and word, my friends.
