Our text today, at least for the first two passages, is fairly familiar from other passages we have looked at in Proverbs already. Proverbs 6:20-21 starts to set the stage again about warning of the immoral woman and we see many commands that reflect the same flow as we have already seen before. Therefore, we will not spend too much time dealing with each of these concepts individually but we do find the son again being implored to keep the commandment of the father and the law of the mother (Proverbs 1:8-9). This command is repeated in the New Testament in Ephesians 6:1 and is for all children to obey.

The son is then told to bind these two things to the heart and tie to the neck. Binding has been touched on in Proverbs 3:3. Tie, however, has only been seen once in Proverbs. In this text, and it is found only one other place in all of the Old Testament: Job 31:36. If we look, these two times, Proverbs it is translated as tie, and Job it is translated as bind. What is the difference between the bind here and the bind as the first word in the verse? The first word, bind, means to be imprisoned, or to be tying or to keep in a hold (Genesis 39:20). The second word, tie, has the idea of to knot up or to put into a knot around the neck.

This keeps these things right on the person themselves. It is hard to lose something when it it is tied up and put in a lock guard house. That is what the son is supposed to do. But this is not just to be a one time thing. Notice it is to be done continually. This is not a one time deal or a limited event where it is done once and then never again. This is to be done repeatedly so as to not forget the law and command. How often the lessons from our Scripture is forgotten or put aside for a time! Stop to consider, how many lessons from Proverbs 4 did we learn? How many from Proverbs 1? If we are going to honor God and to be obedient we are called to hide the Word of God in our heart (Psalm 119:11).

Have we? It does take work, and it is sometimes a struggle, but we are supposed to do this if we desire to honor and please the Lord with our whole life. This becomes even more important, especially as men, when we start to look at the immoral woman. How many a man fell because they were willing to allow themselves to be led astray because of a smile or a blink of an eye (we will look at this in the coming weeks).

The key we should ask is why? What good does it do and what will it accomplish? Proverbs 6:22 answers those questions. The verse starts off by saying, “When you roam”. When you head out, when you go on your own. When you are by yourself, something draws the connection to this passage and the others. In this case, the command and law will lead. How amazing is that thought. The law, for what it does, has some very good purposes. It is the law that teaches our need for Jesus Christ. Galatians 3:24-26 tells us the purpose of the law is to point us to the reality that we need Jesus Christ. However, in the Old Testament, the law was the way in which we could be in the right standing with God the Father. This was before Jesus came to this earth.

Therefore, the law is not bad, just not able to fulfill the needed requirement of redemption in the heart. But the law (except the ceremonial portion of the law), is good and leading. This law is the law of the Lord and is for us to obey and follow. It is through the command of God we are able to not sin against God (Psalm 119:11). It is through the Word of the Lord our hearts can be cleansed (Psalm 119:9).

What are some of the ways we find how this law and commands are handled? The law is something that is to be loved and thought of all day (Psalm 119:97). How many times our mind and thoughts wander, sometimes to places it should not go? In our text, perhaps the mind is wandering to that lady we met or saw? Ladies, perhaps it is that man who walks past or who has that scent on him that causes you to take a double take? What are the thoughts in that moment? Is it the law of the Lord or is it the desire of the flesh? See how quickly this can turn?

The word roam means to be out and about. When you go about your day, the commands will lead. They will keep you going in the right direction. But notice there is the sleep as well. Not only are these commands and law guiding and leading, we also find they keep. Like a guard, the law and command stand round about watching over you. But we see a shift. The law and command guide when you roam, they guard you when you sleep, and when you wake up, they are ready to talk to you!

How is this possible? That is a good question right next to why? For that, we will look next week.