"Don't Leave Home Without It"
American Express says, “Don’t leave home without it.” They are talking about their credit card, but there are other things you should not leave home without. What do you not leave home without? What do you go back home for, if you forget it? For me, it is my wallet, my watch, and my keys. Solomon say there is something else we should not leave home without.
In Proverbs 6, Solomon admonishes his son to listen to his parents. He says, “My son, keep your father’s command, and do not forsake the law of your mother” (Prov. 6:20). Solomon has spoken before about the father’s command (Prov. 1:8, 2:1. 3:1, 4:1; etc.) and the mother’s law (Prov. 1:8, 6:20). These passages assume that godly parents are giving godly advice, that they are giving their instruction based on God’s Law (see verse 23 below).
In language reminiscent of what Moses said we should do with the Word of God (see Deut. 6:4-9), Solomon continues, “Bind them continually upon your heart; tie them around your neck” (Prov. 6:21). Godly wisdom should be the inward controlling principle (cf. “heart”) and it should be seen by others (cf. “tie them around the neck”). Being bound to the heart and tied around the neck, godly wisdom should be a constant companion.
Solomon goes on to say, “When you roam, they will lead you; when you sleep, they will keep you; and when you awake, they will speak with you” (Prov. 6:22). Notice, Solomon speaks of roaming, sleeping, and being awake. The Hebrew word translated “roam” means “walk” (cf. NASV; NIV). Solomon is talking about leaving the house, being asleep at night, and being awake during the day. In addition, note that godly parental wisdom is personified as a guide, guard, and governess. When godly wisdom is a constant companion, it will direct, protect, and instruct.
Solomon explains (cf. “for”), “For the commandment is a lamp, and the Law a light; reproofs of instruction are the way of life” (Prov. 6:23). It now becomes clear that the parental rules of verse 20 are expressions of the divine law (Kidner). God’s Law, here received through parents, is a spiritual light in a morally dark world.
Don’t leave home without godly wisdom, whether you got it from your human parents or from your heavenly Father, Who used some other means.
Godly wisdom will protect you. “When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you, understanding will keep you” (Prov. 2:10-11). “Then you will walk safely in your way and your foot will not stumble” (Prov. 3:23). The safety here is not physical; it is spiritual. The same Hebrew word for safety is used in Proverbs 1:33, 3:29 and in 10:9, where it is being used of safety from sin. When we follow wisdom, we do not stumble into sin (Prov. 3:6). Wear your seatbelt to protect your body and wisdom to protect your soul.
Thus Solomon is saying, “Don’t leave home without taking godly wisdom with you. Let wisdom be your constant companion. If you do, you will be safe; if not, you will be sorry.”
© G. Michael Cocoris, 1/31/2012.
In Proverbs 6, Solomon admonishes his son to listen to his parents. He says, “My son, keep your father’s command, and do not forsake the law of your mother” (Prov. 6:20). Solomon has spoken before about the father’s command (Prov. 1:8, 2:1. 3:1, 4:1; etc.) and the mother’s law (Prov. 1:8, 6:20). These passages assume that godly parents are giving godly advice, that they are giving their instruction based on God’s Law (see verse 23 below).
In language reminiscent of what Moses said we should do with the Word of God (see Deut. 6:4-9), Solomon continues, “Bind them continually upon your heart; tie them around your neck” (Prov. 6:21). Godly wisdom should be the inward controlling principle (cf. “heart”) and it should be seen by others (cf. “tie them around the neck”). Being bound to the heart and tied around the neck, godly wisdom should be a constant companion.
Solomon goes on to say, “When you roam, they will lead you; when you sleep, they will keep you; and when you awake, they will speak with you” (Prov. 6:22). Notice, Solomon speaks of roaming, sleeping, and being awake. The Hebrew word translated “roam” means “walk” (cf. NASV; NIV). Solomon is talking about leaving the house, being asleep at night, and being awake during the day. In addition, note that godly parental wisdom is personified as a guide, guard, and governess. When godly wisdom is a constant companion, it will direct, protect, and instruct.
Solomon explains (cf. “for”), “For the commandment is a lamp, and the Law a light; reproofs of instruction are the way of life” (Prov. 6:23). It now becomes clear that the parental rules of verse 20 are expressions of the divine law (Kidner). God’s Law, here received through parents, is a spiritual light in a morally dark world.
Don’t leave home without godly wisdom, whether you got it from your human parents or from your heavenly Father, Who used some other means.
Godly wisdom will protect you. “When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you, understanding will keep you” (Prov. 2:10-11). “Then you will walk safely in your way and your foot will not stumble” (Prov. 3:23). The safety here is not physical; it is spiritual. The same Hebrew word for safety is used in Proverbs 1:33, 3:29 and in 10:9, where it is being used of safety from sin. When we follow wisdom, we do not stumble into sin (Prov. 3:6). Wear your seatbelt to protect your body and wisdom to protect your soul.
Thus Solomon is saying, “Don’t leave home without taking godly wisdom with you. Let wisdom be your constant companion. If you do, you will be safe; if not, you will be sorry.”
© G. Michael Cocoris, 1/31/2012.