Proverbs is one of the most fascinating books of the Old Testament, and its teachings are even more relevant in today's world than they were when it was written.

One of my favorites, a most thought-provoking proverb, is Proverb 7:2: "Keep my commands and live, and my law as the apple of your eye" (emphasis added). The term apple of your eye is an old one, first used in Scripture in the Song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32:10. Today it evokes images of something we are fond of or love dearly. But in the Hebrew, it had a deeper, richer meaning. Vine's has this to say: "The 'apple' is the most precious and most securely guarded part of the eye. It feels most intensely the least injury; the loss of it is irreparable."

Do we treat God's law as the "most precious and most securely guarded part" of our lives? We should, just as we closely guard our eyes from smoke, dust and foreign objects, and wouldn't dream of putting just any old thing in them, as they feel "most intensely the least injury."

Are we so careful with our beliefs? Do we allow any idle wind of doctrine that comes along to injure the beliefs we hold dear? Our ministers go over the same subjects again and again because they are so easily forgotten, so easily subject to injury through neglect. Jesus Christ, who inspired the Proverbs, echoed this theme in Matthew 13:45-46 when He likened the Kingdom to a "merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it." He also cautions us not to "cast [our] pearls before swine" (Matthew 7:6). Why? Because pearls are not indestructible or easily replaced. Why take chances with something so precious?

Also, Vine's said "the loss of it is irreparable." That's a disturbing word, irreparable. Beyond repair. We lose our eyesight and we are blind ever afterward. Are we as concerned with losing our spiritual eyesight? We should be, for to lose God's law from our hearts is much more permanent than this physical body. Thankfully we have a loving God who "delights in mercy" (Micah 7:18) and who is quick to forgive us, upon repentance, every time we slip or take His laws for granted.

So let's apply Proverbs 7:2 and keep God's law as the "apple of our eye."