Psalm 17:8
“Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings.”
One of the very first signs of Autumn in our area is the arrival of Apple Harvest season. We live in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, known for its Civil War history and equally famous for being the “Apple Capitol of the World” with its vast orchards and significant apple production, which yields around 12 million bushels annually. Many of the local orchards are just down the road, offering a “pick your own” option from the acres and acres of trees that bear countless varieties of this delectable fruit. The orchards also supply numerous companies that produce apple cider, apple juice, and applesauce. We often visit the local farmers’ markets, especially when the word goes out that Apple Cider Donuts are for sale! A fair amount of baking takes place in my own kitchen using the apple bounty we bring home.*
It’s funny how often the word “apple” is used in everyday language: “American as apple pie,” the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” he’s a wise apple,” or “he’s a bad apple,” and “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
Another familiar phrase, “the apple of his eye,” refers to someone cherished above all others and signifies a deep affection for a person. We find in God’s Word the following verses of Scripture, where the word “apple” describes God’s love and protective care for His people. In Hebrew, it refers to the pupil of the eye, which is delicate and worthy of safeguarding:
• Deuteronomy 32:10: describes God as the One who keeps Israel as the apple of His eye, under His protective care.
• Psalm 17:8: shows David asking God to keep him as the apple of His eye, seeking divine protection from enemies.
• Zechariah 2:8: warns that harming Israel is like touching the apple of God’s eye, highlighting God’s care and sensitivity for His chosen people.
• Proverbs 25:11: refers to “apples of gold in settings of silver,” symbolizing wisdom and valuable insights.
How encouraging it is to know that, while the apple symbolizes scriptural themes of temptation and disobedience, it is also a symbol of redemption, restoration, hope, abundance, blessings, love, beauty, and sweetness, and most of all, of God’s care and protection.
In this season of thanksgiving, every time you pull out that peeler to prepare your favorite apple variety for a pie, tart, crisp, crumble, cake, or cookies, remember to thank God for the humble apple and thank Him that He looks upon you as the apple of His eye. He sees you. Every part of you. Everything you are going through, He sees. I pray you sense that today, dear reader!
Dear Heavenly Father, we are so thankful for Your care for us, that Your watchful eye is ever upon us because of Your deep affection for us, Your children. Though at times we are bumped and bruised, may we remain sweet, loving, and beautiful in Your sight. For Your sake and glory, we pray. Amen.
– photo by Devotions For All Reasons
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*Rustic Apple Pie
Ingredients:
3 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
3 Tablespoons butter, cubed
1 egg whisked with 2 teaspoons water
2 teaspoons Crystallized brown sugar (Demerara) to sprinkle the top, if desired
1 pie crust for a 9” pie
Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
2. In large bowl, stir together the apples, brown sugar, granulated sugar, flour, salt, and lemon juice. Set aside to allow the apples to get juice.
3. On a well-floured surface and using a rolling pin, roll out the pie crust into a large circle; you will want the crust to be larger and a bit thicker than a normal pie.
4. Fold the pie crust dough in half and lift the dough, placing it on a large, parchment-lined baking sheet. If it hangs over the edge at this point that is fine.
5. Stir the apple mixture one more time to mix the juices and apples, and spoon the mixture onto the middle of the crust, leaving it somewhat piled up but even. Fold the edges of the crust over the apples so that you have about 2-4″ “rim” of crust. The center of the apple mixture should be visible. There is no need to be perfect. Try to make sure there are no cracks, however, so the juice doesn’t seep out. Place the cubes of butter evenly on the top of the apples.
6. With a pastry brush, brush the egg wash evenly on the crust.
7. Sprinkle with crystallized brown sugar if desired.
8. Bake until the filling bubbles and is golden in color, 35- 40 minutes. If the crust appears to brown too quickly, lay a sheet of foil over the top until the pie is done.
9. Cool slightly (10 minutes) and then slice into wedges with a sharp knife or a pizza cutter. Enjoy!
