Exploring Street Theology

 The golden apple

The golden apple is an element that appears in various national and ethnic folk legends or fairy tales. Recurring themes depict a hero such as Hercules retrieving the golden apples hidden or stolen by a monstrous antagonist.

In biblical thought the notion of a valued apple is beautifully put in Psalm 17:8 "Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings."

The phrase, “the apple of your eye,”  first was used in the Bible comes from a Hebrew expression that literally means “little man of the eye,” and it refers to the tiny reflection of yourself that you can see in other people’s pupils. To be the apple of someone’s eye clearly means that you are being gazed upon and watched closely by that person. Your very image is dancing in the eyes of that person!

Other verses in the King James Version of scripture use this endearing phrase and add to it’s meaning;

• Deuteronomy 32:10: "He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye". Depicting the lengths God will go to rescue the apple of his eye.
• Proverbs 7:2: "Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye". Here the writer reveals how we should live as Gods treasured possession
• Lamentations 2:18: "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". Speaks of our relationship with our creator.
• Zechariah 2:8: "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". And finally Zechariah reveals the protecting providence of God towards the Apple of his eye.

Loving heavenly Father, how happy I am to know that You are my Almighty God and You are ever watchful to save me from all the dangers and enemies in this world! I surrender myself and my family under Your special care.  I submit my sitting, standing, walking and travelling under Your loving eye.  Cover me and all of us under Your protecting wings.  Be a wall of fire around me. May Your beautiful name be glorified through me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.