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The man knows something of himself who sincerely offers this plaintive petition, "Keep me. Is there not a sorrowful confession implied? But it implies knowledge of God too. What He is and will do. The keeping desired is that with which men guard the eye. It means, therefore —

I. KEEP ME WITH MANY GUARDS AND PROTECTIONS. The eye is kept by eye bones, eyelashes, eyelids, which serve as outworks, fences and barricades to protect the pupil of the eye, God has bestowed extraordinary pains upon all that concerns the eye. Sentries keep ward lest it should be imperilled. Whenever it is threatened, with agility so brisk that it seems almost involuntary, the arm is lifted up and the hand is raised to screen it. All the members of the body may be regarded as a patrol for the wardship of the eye. So should we pray to be kept with many protections — providence, grace ordinances, the Holy Spirit, the angels.

II. WITH CONSTANCY, UNINTERMITTING CONTINUANCE. The eye is always guarded. Without our thinking of it. If a grain of dust enter, forthwith a watery burnout is exuded to carry it away or to dissolve it. The pain is a mercy, for it makes you restless until you get relief. When you fall asleep the curtains fall, the blinds, as it were, drop down, and the windows are shut up securely with lash and lid. So, and in yet other ways, doth the parable of the eye suggest the prayer of the text. Evermore, O Lord, watch over me. Remark here, that at no season is a Christian more in danger than when he has just been in communion with God. The footpads in olden time did not meddle with the farmers as they went to market; it was when they were coming home, and bringing back their money bags full. Our ships of war attacked the Spanish galleons not on their way to but from America, when they knew them to be laden to the Water's edge with silver and gold. You need keeping, then, always.

III. FROM LITTLE EVILS, THE DUST AND GRIT OF THIS WORLD. Your eye needs not to be guarded so much from beams as motes. Be this your prayer, "Keep me from what the world calls little sins." To one, a Puritan, who was offered great preferment if he would but comply with the government demands, it was said, "Others have made long gashes in their consciences: could not you make a little nick in yours?" But those "little nicks" swiftly run to the rending of the conscience from top to bottom. There was an officer who kept in his house a tame leopard which had been born in the house. It had grown up as harmless as a domestic cat. But one day when its master was asleep it gently licked his hand. The creature's tongue passed over a slight but recent wound. A little blood oozed out. The taste roused the demon spirit of the beast at once, and had it not been promptly shot its master's life would have been its victim. When the thief cannot break in at the door himself he puts a boy through the window, and then the great door is speedily opened.

IV. SENSITIVE, TENDER IN HEART, AS THE APPLE OF THE EYE. God has made it thus sensitive for its own protection. The conscience should be a real indicator: if in good keeping it would be a wonderful tell-tale. It will startle you from your lethargy, it will arouse you as with an alarm.

V. AS THE EYE OUGHT TO BE KEPT. It should be "single," clear, far-seeing. As an ornament, for the beauty of the countenance is in the eye. So should we "adorn the doctrine" and the Church of God. Useful, a genuine Christian will pray to be useful, not like a glass eye, a mere counterfeit. And then, though the remark may seem strange and quaint, I would entreat the Lord to keep me in the head. Solomon has made the shrewd remark, "The wise man's eyes are in his head, but the fool walketh in darkness." I would give this a spiritual turn, and ask to be kept in Christ Jesus. Of what use were the eye of a man if not in the head? And what we, apart from Christ? There are some to whom this prayer is, nothing, for they are not Christ's. Let your prayer be, "Lord, save me, or I perish. Once saved, you may pray to be kept.

( C. H. Spurgeon.)

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KJV: Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

WEB: Keep me as the apple of your eye. Hide me under the shadow of your wings,