The “apple” of God’s eye
O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(Anglican Book of Common Prayer, 2019, Proper 27)
Psalm 17:1-9 NRSV
Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry; give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit. From you let my vindication come; let your eyes see the right.
If you try my heart, if you visit me by night, if you test me, you will find no wickedness in me; my mouth does not transgress. As for what others do, by the word of your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent. My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped.
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me, hear my words. Wondrously show your steadfast love, O savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand. Guard me as the apple of the eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings, from the wicked who despoil me, my deadly enemies who surround me.
We rightly consider ourselves, individually and corporately, to be the apple of God’s eye—and, with David, declare it with confidence. Think of how you catch a glimpse of a plump, perfectly formed red McIntosh in a bowl: for a moment, you forget about everything else, and your eyes expand in proportion with your growing desire to take it in. David pleads with his God to persevere with him and defend him from his enemies. We do the same through the challenges we face. In fact, we are now not the perfect fruit God sees when he looks at us. We are bruised by sin and cut by impurity, but he is over time and through trials forming us to be his object of love without fault, just as he created us to be. He “keeps” us faithfully, even to the realization of that delectable vision he has of us.[1]
J. A. Motyer
David’s clear conscience arose from following God’s revealed way, his paths, without deviation. The motive for dealing with a crisis by prayer is that God will (always) answer. Prayer brings our needs right to ‘The Deity’ himself. We must remember that there are other grounds for prayer than a clear conscience. We appeal with equal certainty on the basis of our needy state, of divine forgiveness, and of the name of Jesus.[2]
Matthew Henry
Those that are, through grace, going in God’s paths, should pray that their goings may be held up in those paths. David prays, Lord, still hold me up. Those who would proceed and persevere in the ways of God, must, by faith prayer, get daily fresh supplies of grace and strength from him. Show thy marvelous loving-kindness, distinguishing favors, not common mercies, but be gracious to me; do as thou usest to do to those who love thy name. [3]
O Almighty God, you pour out on all who desire it the spirit of grace and of supplication: Deliver us, when we draw near to you, from coldness of heart and wanderings of mind, that with steadfast thoughts and kindled affections we may worship you in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Anglican Book of Common Prayer, 2019)
Arise, My Soul, Arise
[1] https://anglicancompass.com/today-in-the-spirit-proper-27c/
[2] J. A. Motyer, “The Psalms,” in New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, ed. D. A. Carson et al., 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), 496.
[3] Matthew Henry and Thomas Scott, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, 1997), Ps 17:1.
Musings and Contemplations 
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