Image generated by ChatGPT (OpenAI) using the DALL·E model (see explanation below)
“My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. Bind them always on your heart; fasten them around your neck. When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.”
Proverbs 6:20-22 NIV
More wisdom! It’s always a good thing to learn from the wise, in this case King Solomon (son of King David). Going through these random hits on the Book of Proverbs, I’m slowly building a nice library of devotionals based on these gems of wisdom. If you’re feeling the need for more wisdom today, click the button below to access a list of the 85 or so Proverbs that I’ve studied so far:
Chapter 6 of Proverbs is a cautionary tale against two common pitfalls: folly and adultery. The first set of warnings targets such foolish things as being lazy, lying, shedding innocent blood, devising wicked schemes, rushing into evil, bearing false witness (a sin!), and stirring up conflict. The second half of the chapter focuses completely on the topic of adultery, cheating on one’s spouse with another man’s wife or a prostitute.
You think humanity would learn something from the wisdom of the ages, but sadly, that isn’t true. One National Institutes of Health study cited frequently online says that one partner in 88% of couples studied cited infidelity as a major contributing factor to divorce. Wouldn’t you think that the older a person is, the less likely they are to commit adultery? Statistics show that most people who cheat have been married for 20 to 30 years and are between the age of 50 and 60, and for men, cheating on a spouse peaks when they’re in their 70s!
With those facts and figures in mind, it’s plain to see that mankind is not becoming any wiser and that people are not taking the wisdom of Proverbs to heart.
Proverbs 6 begins with the words “My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching,” indicating that as we grow into adolescence and then adulthood, we should not forget what our parents teach us. Sadly, not all parents are perfect and either teach their children the wrong life lessons or neglect teaching them at all, instead handing that job over to teachers or the friends of their kids.
The home — both in Biblical times and now — is supposed to be a place where both parents guide their children toward a faith-filled life. That doesn’t happen when the parents themselves make bad moral choices, are “too busy” to teach life lessons, or there is only one parent providing instruction and discipline. That’s why an upbringing in church is so vital, offering a way for the young to hopefully get moral instruction that they may not be getting at home.
Next comes the admonition to (in reference to the father’s commands and mother’s teaching) “Bind them always on your heart; fasten them around your neck.” Enduring Word offers these comments on this verse:
i. Bind them: “here it pictures him memorizing them in such a way that they are permanently impressed on his essential mental and spiritual being that prompts his every action.” (Waltke)
ii. “Implicit in these verses is the basic understanding that a good home life — i.e., father and mother sharing the rearing of the children together — will go a long way to prevent the youth from falling into immorality.” (Ross)
Having the moral lessons of one’s parents always in mind as we progress through life, bolstered by continual study of God’s Word, we can be hopeful that we will remain on the moral path for the rest of our lives.
Speaking of paths, let’s look at verse 22: “When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.” The Bible Says had a wonderful explanation of this verse:
Solomon then moves to the benefits of conforming our thoughts to God’s ways. When you walk about, they will guide you (vs 22). Wisdom is a practical enterprise. If it does not affect what you are doing, your actions, it has not truly taken hold. How does it take hold? You internalize the teachings, fusing them to your self continually. This helps guide your behavior. It informs your steps. It allows you to walk in ways that lead to life, benefit, and flourishing. The alternative leads to various forms of self-destruction.
Furthermore, when you sleep, they will watch over you. Truth allows your rest to be restful. This is an allusion to peace. In Hebrew, “shalom.” “Shalom” is the idea of all things working together as they ought; harmony of the soul. Anxiety and restlessness are natural consequences of fighting against reality, straining against the truth. Aligning with God allows you to rest, to be at peace.
When you awake, they (the commands) will talk to you. The commandments of God (passed through father and mother) will speak to you. They will be the little voice inside that communicates to you in moments of duress and challenging decisions—all moments. Because your heart has been conformed to God’s ways, your actions will follow the path that lead to your greatest good.
During these three times (walk, sleep, and wake), we see positive outcomes of upholding commandments. They cover the entirety of human existence—as you walk about, as you sleep, as you awake. Total protection. This is the path to our greatest possible life experience.
The implication of this verse should be fairly obvious. Following commandments taught to us by God-fearing parents, clergy, or self-study of God’s Word aligns our actions with God’s will and enhances our lives.
Description of the image at the top of this devotional (from ChatGPT):
A father, mother, and teenage son are walking together along a road through the Judean countryside in the late afternoon. At a fork in the road, the parents stop while the son continues along the correct path by himself. He looks back once at them—not uncertainly, but with affection and understanding—while the parents watch him go. The path ahead is illuminated by warm sunlight.
The symbolism: they have guided him while they could; now their teaching goes with him. The parents themselves remain behind, but their wisdom continues to “walk” with him.
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I pray that You inspire parents to provide their children with Biblical instruction to follow and remember for the rest of their lives. May parents serve as positive mentors to their children by being living examples of a Christian life, and may all who study Your Word be transformed by Your grace and love. AMEN.