Proverbs 7:1-2 (ESV)
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.
The father again exhorts his son to take his instruction seriously. The Hebrew verb translated “keep” is shamar. It means to guard, watch over, preserve, or observe. The word describes conforming one’s actions to what has been commanded. Throughout the Old Testament it is often used of keeping God’s commands. Deuteronomy 6:17 says, “You shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God.” A wise son does not merely hear these words. He guards them carefully and lives according to them. This instruction is meant to dwell within him and become part of who he is.
The command is then intensified. “Treasure up my commandments with you.” The Hebrew verb translated “treasure up” is tsaphan. It means to store something carefully because it is highly valued. These commands are to be treated as a prized possession. Wisdom is not something to treat lightly or give only passing attention.
Next comes the reason. “Keep my commandments and live.” Obedience to wise instruction is literally a matter of life and death. Wisdom seeks to protect the young man and preserve his life. Those who walk in the ways of God find life, while ignoring his commands leads toward destruction. How we do or don’t respond to God’s word makes all the difference.
The father adds a vivid image. “Keep my teaching as the apple of your eye.” The Hebrew word translated “apple” is ishon. It literally means “the little man” and refers to the pupil of the eye. In the ancient world, when someone looked closely into another person’s eye, they could see a tiny reflection of themselves, which gave rise to this expression. The pupil sits at the very center of the eye. It is extremely sensitive and carefully protected. If the pupil cannot function, vision disappears and darkness follows. In the same way, the son must guard the teaching he receives. Just as we instinctively protect our eyes, we should carefully protect God’s word in our lives. It should remain central to our attention and be guarded from neglect.
What about you? How much time do you spend on your phone, on social media, or browsing the internet? Why is it often easier to scroll through a screen than to sit quietly with God’s word? Do you guard your time in Scripture, or do the cares of life crowd it out? Resolve today to open God’s word attentively and let its truth direct your thoughts, decisions, and actions. It is time well spent and will leave you with no regrets.