A Secure Life In the Apple of God's Eye

Sep 22

Sep 22 A Secure Life In the Apple of God's Eye

Devos and Studies, Psalms Devos_Studies, God's Word, Personal Faith, Trust

A Life of Faith

Many Christian believers use the phrase—walk by faith—to describe living by faith. But I wonder—Is this a reality in their life or just a cliché?

My wife and I learned to live by faith through our experience of trusting in God.

For much of our early life together, we lived week to week in a financial sense. Many weeks held no promise of a paycheck. We learned to trust in the Lord because we needed to. It seemed the Lord purposely stripped us of self-reliance.

I know we appeared naïve, even foolish, to others with our simple childlike trust. Even our ventures in ministry made little sense to our family and friends. This was especially true when we moved overseas as missionaries, then returned fifteen years later.

A life of faith is a life of trust.

Trust becomes real when it becomes necessary. I can say, “I trust God,” but those are mere words until I choose to show it by my actions.

This is what King David reminds us often, as in this psalm.

Scripture

A prayer by David.
Hear my plea for justice, O Lord. Pay attention to my cry. Open your ears to my prayer, ⌊which comes⌋ from lips free from deceit.
Let the verdict of my innocence come directly from you. Let your eyes observe what is fair. [vss 1-2]
You have probed my heart. You have confronted me at night. You have tested me like silver, but you found nothing wrong.
I have determined that my mouth will not sin. I have avoided cruelty because of your word. In spite of what others have done, my steps have remained firmly in your paths. My feet have not slipped. [vss 3-5]
I have called on you because you answer me, O God. Turn your ear toward me. Hear what I have to say. Reveal your miraculous deeds of mercy, O Savior of those who find refuge by your side from those who attack them.
Guard me as if I were the pupil in [apple of] your eye. Hide me in the shadow of your wings. Hide me from wicked people who violently attack me, from my deadly enemies who surround me. [vss 6-9]
Arise, O Lord; confront them! Bring them to their knees! With your sword rescue my life from wicked people. With your power rescue me...
I will see your face when I am declared innocent. When I wake up, I will be satisfied ⌊with seeing⌋ you. [vss 13-15]
(Psalm 17:1-9, 13, 15 GW) [Context– Psalm 17]

Reflections and Insights

Corrie Ten Boom, made famous by her book (and in the movie) The Hiding Place, knew Hitler’s Germany would face God’s judgment. Why? Because of their genocide upon the Jews, the apple of God’s eye (Zech 2:8 GW).

She knew Israel was the nation God raised up and chose as His people. King David appealed to God for His protection when he said, “Guard me as if I were the pupil [apple] in your eye.”

The pupil is the center of our eye, but figuratively known as the apple of the eye. This speaks of an acknowledgment of need and vulnerability. David reveals his trust in God when he expresses his need and shows his vulnerability.

King Saul slandered and persecuted David before he was a king, and while he was king by his son Absalom. Yet, he continued to trust God rather than take matters into his own hands.

Prayer is an act of faith. It’s a commitment of the soul

When we pray, it is not mere words spoken into the air. We commit our needs and our trust to the Lord.

King David understood that no matter who his enemy was, God was greater.

He even had this assurance beyond life on this earth. As he says, “I will see your face... when I wake up.” This shows His trust in God—a genuine faith. Even when surrounded by enemies and the possibility of death, he still trusted God.

David understood he was in the center of God’s sight when he placed his trust in God alone. This applies to you and me when we live a life of faith.

When we trust in God with childlike faith, we will be in the center of God’s eye (Matt 6:26 GW).

Digging deeper to Make it personal...

Review the Scriptures above as you consider the following questions

How does King David begin his appeal to the Lord?
Why does he say he's confident in prayer?
In what way does he speak of his relationship with the Lord? Do you think this is boasting?
What and from who is David asking to be protected? Why?
What is King David's final declaration of confidence? When will this happen?
Do you trust in God more than yourself or others?
Have you learned to trust God in a deeper way through times of trials and testing?
How has God answered prayer for you? How has this increased your faith?
Are you confident in God's care and protection over you and the lives of your family?