The process of keeping something as the apple of your eye, produces a particular behavior that shows what is in the center of your focus. Proverbs 7:1-3

The Hebrews word is ʾî·šôn, which means center, was used to reference the center of the eyeball, where the pupil is located as well as our attention. When something is in the center, the other items around it can compliment and express the importance of what is in the center.

When we keep the knowledge of God’s word as the apple or focus of our life, we can do the three things that Solomon mentions in the first two verses before

The first thing is to “keep it”. When we keep things in the center we not only know where it is, but we also see the other elements that we place around it, but do not cover it up so we always know where it is.

Secondly we “guard it”. When we treasure something we protect the use of it. We might lend it out, but we’re cautious of who we lend it to. So we have some assurance and hope, that it will not be broken.

Lastly we follow it. As God’s Word is in the center, there are instruction that we gather the more we go through it.

God’s word is not something just to be looked or to be in proximity of. We need to study it, guard against things that will draw us away from it and follow the path it highlights for us to follow Jesus.