Keywords: Apple of His Eye * Jews * Christians Israel * Christian Zionist * Jewish Roots * Israel * Jews Chosen People

The Apple of His Eye

"For he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of His eye." Zech 2:8

 

"For you are a people set apart as holy for ADONAI your God. ADONAI your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his own unique treasure. ADONAI didn't set his heart on you or choose you because you numbered more than any other people - on the contrary, you were the fewest of all peoples. Rather, it was because ADONAI loved you, and because he wanted to keep the oath which he had sworn to your ancestors, that ADONAI brought you out with a strong hand and redeemed you from a life of slavery under the hand of Pharoah king of Egypt."  Deuteronomy 7:6-8

 

"The Apple of His Eye"
By Mikael Knighton
Christians Standing with Israel

Over the millennia, there has never been a people who have experienced adversity, persecution, and hatred to the degree to which the Jews have. Indeed, not even a biblical scholar is needed to accurately discern this factual, albeit unfortunate truth: the annals of history have been none too kind to the Jewish people.

Yet, albeit forced to live a maligned and battered existence--past and present, these are a people that have persevered like no other. Not only have they persevered, they have thrived. These are a people who have experienced and relished in the fruits of God's unshakeable, unbreakable promises, and these fruits remain bountiful. The Jewish people are precious in the eyes of the Father. Indeed, they are "the apple of His eye".

Scriptures lend support for the Jewish people donning the title of "the apple of God's eye" on no less than five, separate occasions:

1.)  Consider the 32nd chapter of Deuteronomy, commonly referred to as "The Song of Moses". In this chapter, Moses speaks to a rebellious Israel so that they may reacquaint their memories with "days of old"--days in which their obedience walked hand-in-hand with God's kindness:

"Remember the days of old,Consider the years of many generations.
Ask your father, and he will show you;
Your elders, and they will tell you:
When the Most High divided their inheritance to the nations,
When He separated the sons of Adam,
He set the boundaries of the peoples
According to the number of the children of Israel.
For the LORD's portion is His people;
Jacob is the place of His inheritance.
He found him in a desert land
And in the wasteland, a howling wilderness;
He encircled him, He instructed him,
He kept him as the apple of His eye."

2.)  In Psalms 17, we observe as David, being pursued by his enemy, Saul, appeals to the Lord to examine his righteous heart and deliver him from the throws of his enemy:

"I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God;
Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech.
Show Your marvelous loving kindness by Your right hand,
O You who save those who trust in You
From those who rise up against them.
Keep me as the apple of Your eye;"

3.)  In Proverbs 7, Solomon, speaking in the name of the Lord, stresses the importance of wearing as armor, against all lustful temptations, the Word and commandments of God:

"My son, keep my words,
And treasure my commands within you.
Keep my commands and live,
And my law as the apple of your eye."

4.) Perhaps the two most "direct" Scriptural examples lending support to the Jewish people as "the apple of His eye" can be found in the books of Lamentatons and Zechariah.

In the second chapter of Lamentations, Jeremiah mourns the destruction of Jerusalem, as well as the kingdoms of Israel and Judah by the Wrath of God. This is another example of the type of adversity that has become synonymous with Jewish existence. Although it was at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar that Jerusalem was destroyed and many of its inhabitants killed, Jeremiah sees the catastrophe entirely as God's wrath poured out on His people for their disobedience, and thus it is to Him that he laments. Even in His wrath, they remained precious and cherished in His eyes, and history has shown time and time again that if it takes Him breaking His people to get them to turn to Him, He will do just that:

"Their heart cried unto the Lord,
O wall of the daughter of Zion,
let tears run down like a river day and night:
give thyself no rest;
let not the apple of thine eye cease."

5.)  Finally, consider the second chapter of Zechariah, which brings this examination of Scriptures to a close on a very good note. It is here that Zechariah envisions the physical restoration of Jerusalem--one that far surpasses its original boundaries. It is here the prophetic declaration is made that Jerusalem would become "a city without walls", and one that would grow exponentially. If you've ever been to Jerusalem, you will see a city whose suburbs and settlements are beginning to approach Ramallah to the north, Jericho to the east, and Bethlehem to the south. Furthermore, in Zechariah's vision the Lord makes it clear that He, and not walls, will serve as Jerusalem's protection:

"Deliver thyself, O Zion,
that dwellest [with] the daughter of Babylon.
For thus saith the LORD of hosts;
After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you:
for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye."