Prov 7:2 [ESV] Keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye.
In a world where circumstantial happiness is prized, and success is measured, what price will we pay for peace with God? We know don’t we, that there is a world of difference between “happiness” and “joy” for us as Christians. When events seem to go against us we may no longer have that sense of “happiness”, but what about Joy?
I recently and very unexpectedly lost my job, at sixty-five years old, and not really prepared for retirement. The circumstances could dictate to me a need to panic, to react. I could perhaps choose to worry and lose sleep, tell everyone my problems, and grumble about the unfairness. However, in reality, I carry responsibility for where I am right now, and the truth is that I must never confuse the faith that God’s will, will always prevail in the end (and I can never afford to lose this perspective); with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of the current reality, whatever they may be. So, bizarrely perhaps, I choose to trust God and believe that He will guide me through the mess day by day. Meanwhile I do everything I possibly can to help clear up the mess…. 😊
KNOWLEDGE
So, now that we know this, what does that mean?
Firstly, I decide to take responsibility for where I am right now – emotionally, financially, spiritually, physically etc. This is a freeing moment, no one else is to blame, no one else carries the responsibility for my life, I get to choose how I respond in every situation, no matter how unfair it may be.
Secondly, I don’t need to stay here, I can choose now to forgive, to speak up, to pray, to restore, or whatever is the right thing, guided by pure motives.
And, finally, in faith I can pray and believe for all of God’s promises over my life each day.
UNDERSTANDING – Let’s pick one word from this verse to look closer at and see if that can help us gain a deeper insight into how God would love us to live?
The word for “apple of your eye” in Hebrew is pronounced as “‘iyson” and carries the meaning of an idiom of care and love.
In the LXX the Greek is “κόρας ομμάτων” [ (the) pupil of (your) eyes] – we see this same phrase in Psalm 17:8 [ESV] “Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.”
This Psalm was likely written by David, after he had been anointed as King, and when he was being pursued and hunted by King Saul. What a great phrase to include in our prayer life, for ourselves and for those we love, especially in the middle of challenges – when like for David, God’s promises seem to be delayed.
WISDOM – What words from God have you written on the tablet of your heart, so that when storms come (and they do) you will still have Joy.
STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Restorative as a Gallup Strength has an internal drive and desire to see things restored to the makers original plans.
Allan’s Unauthorised Version – “cling to my prescribed instructions and restore your life, keep the torah as the emotional centre of your flowing fountain of life”.
Keep – cling to
my commandments – my prescribed instructions
and live – restore your life
keep –
my teaching – the torah
as the apple – the little man of the eye
of your eye; – flowing fountain
PRAYER: Father, thank you for today. Help me to value your words above any other thing on earth, and as I value them stored up in me, allow them to have authority in my life. Thank you.
To chat to me as a professional coach/mentor – allan@theallankey.com
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