When I was in college I played soccer. I wore contacts, which seemed like a good idea for a sport where you put your face on the ball a lot (actually it was supposed to be your head, but I missed…a lot). One day, as I was diving to head the ball into the net, the defender took a swipe at the ball, missed, and hit me right on my eye with his toe. Blood came from my eye immediately. I thought for certain I had lost that eye. Even though the contact broke apart in my eye (they were glass contacts back in those days), I did not lose sight. I’ve been thankful ever since!
To highlight the incomparable preciousness of his teaching, Solomon orders his son to protect it as the apple (ison, i.e., pupil) of his eye (eneyka; see 4:25). This most delicate and yet most precious member of the human anatomy (cf. 3:14-26; 8:11; 31:10) is essential for illumination and guidance-without it there is only darkness (cf. Deut. 32:10; cf. “apple, daughter, of the eye” in Ps. 17:8; cf. Zech. 2:12; Matt. 6:22, 23)-and so epitomizes what needs the most diligent protection.
Workers and athletes alike know the importance of wearing eye protection. Eyes are especially vulnerable, and so it is vital that thought be given to protecting them. Equally, thought should be given to protecting the valuable teachings of God (which here were coming through the boy’s father). We don’t worry about protecting that which is worthless. We protect that which is valuable. God’s word is valuable.
So how are we to protect the teachings of God? First, we acknowledge how valuable they are to us. This is more than ‘lip service.’ We develop a genuine love for the word of God (cf. Psalm 1:2).
Second, we store God’s word in the one place it cannot be touched – in our minds and hearts. This has always been God’s plan for His people (cf. Jer. 31:31-34; Heb. 8:10). It is not possible to do this without concerted study and meditation.
Third, we stay away from people and places that might provide harm to His word (Ps. 1:1).
Denny Petrillo
