7:1 My son, keep my words
and treasure up my commandments with you;
2 keep my commandments and live;
keep my teaching as the apple of your eye;
3 bind them on your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
and call insight your intimate friend,
5 to keep you from the forbidden woman,
from the adulteress with her smooth words.

Proverbs was written by a godly father to his son.  An appropriate focus this week as Father’s Day is Sunday.

We have all known dads who have excelled in their ability to lead and train their children in righteousness.  But sadly there are many more who have never had a father present, much less worthy of emulating.  How does this verse apply to those who can’t relate to the godly example set forth by their earthly father?  It’s simple – your Heavenly Father leads and guides you, even when you’re not asking Him to.  He is faithful even when we are not.  He is also interested in every detail of our lives.  So take this verse to heart and ask Him to help you understand His commands, His Words and apply them to your life.

Matthew Henry’s commentary on this passage is helpful:

We must lay up God’s commandments safely. Not only, Keep them, and you shall live; but, Keep them as those that cannot live without them. Those that blame strict and careful walking as needless and too precise, consider not that the law is to be kept as the apple of the eye; indeed the law in the heart is the eye of the soul. Let the word of God dwell in us, and so be written where it will be always at hand to be read. Thus we shall be kept from the fatal effects of our own passions, and the snares of Satan. Let God’s word confirm our dread of sin, and resolutions against it.

Marriage is a covenant created and sustained by God.  He is the One who took two separate people and formed us into one flesh.  He is passionate about our Oneness for it reflects the Oneness of the Godhead.  If we realized how our covenant reflects upon God’s goodness we would be much more apt to guard the treasure we have been given.  Marriage isn’t simply something two people do who love each other and want to start a family.  Marriage is much, much more.  It is a relationship established and upheld in Heaven. The laws concerning faithfulness in marriage are to be like the apple of our eye.

Photo Credit: Little Cabin In The Woods

How often do we see the big picture of our marriage?  It’s easy to get caught up in the little, day-to-day moments and forget that God’s ways are to be the apple of our eye!  This led us to wonder where this term came from and to dig deeper for its meaning.  Answers.com has this to say:

The term was originally used in the Bible and it was used to signify someone of great worth ‘whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye’, someone who was very precious. The ‘apple of your eye’ is the iris or center of the eye. If someone were to touch the apple of your eye it would be very painful and so it is protected by the eyelid. The biblical imagery is that we are the apple of his eye and God is the eyelid who protects us.

Modern usage of this idiom usually refers to something that is especially beloved.

Sight IS precious and here we see that “insight” is just as precious.  This passage tells us to consider it our intimate friend.  Just what is insight?  Noah Webster defines it thus:

Sight or view of the interior of any thing; deep inspection or view; introspection; thorough knowledge or skill.

Those who possess wisdom and insight will be able to withstand the temptations of other loves.  These other loves aren’t necessarily a physical person, they can be anything that draws our heart and passion away from the home; it can be a hobby, friendship, work or you name it.

Photo Credit: Daily Women Tips

Here’s the key question to ask: Is your marriage the central, most important relationship in your life next to God?  If it isn’t then you must ask why?  What have you allowed to cloud your vision?  What is it that has drawn your heart away?  What has become the apple of your eye?  God wants to do a miracle in your marriage and restore sight to your blind eyes.  Don’t miss this opportunity to put your marriage back where it belongs – in the center of your heart and vision.  God promises to hear us when we cry out to Him.  The first step is to see our lack.  He will restore sight to the blind.