The concept of being cherished by God as His "apple of the eye" emerges as a pivotal illustration of the immense privilege granted to those He has called and set apart. This phrase, drawn from Zechariah 2:8 and Deuteronomy 32:10, conveys that a person so described is treasured above all others—a striking truth when considering the billions of people throughout history from whom God has chosen His people. This designation directly connects to the broader discussion of holiness and calling: since only God can make something holy, and He has chosen to make His called ones holy through sanctification, being His "apple of the eye" reflects the extraordinary nature of that calling. It is not merely a high calling, but a holy calling originating from God alone—no one else calls, and no one else can open a mind to His truth. This status as God's treasured possession ties into the central theme of the Sabbath as holy time, since the same God who calls His people precious also declares specific times, like the Sabbath and the Feast of Tabernacles, as holy and set apart for His use. Just as God chooses to consecrate people, making them His own cherished possession, He also chooses to consecrate time, and both require recognition and honor rather than personal redefinition. The danger illustrated throughout involves people deciding for themselves what is holy—whether a day of the week, a fast, or a mode of worship—rather than submitting to what God alone has declared holy. This mirrors the warning found in Isaiah 58, where people fasted and sought God daily yet exploited their brethren and pursued their own pleasure on days meant for Him, mistakenly believing He owed them acceptance. The connection between being God's treasured possession and the call to holiness underscores that being chosen carries responsibility: those who are the "apple of His eye" are expected to honor what God has made holy—His Sabbath, His feasts, and the relationships within His called-out body—rather than trampling on holy ground through self-will, as Moses was warned not to do at the burning bush. The reminder in Leviticus 19:1-2, "You shall be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy," reinforces that this cherished status is inseparable from the command to actively keep His law holy, not redefining it according to personal pleasure or convenience. Ultimately, recognizing oneself as precious to God demands a response of reverence, obedience, and unity with Him, rather than presumption or self-determined worship.