Proverbs 6:21-25

 

Prov 6:21 (KJB)

Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.

 

Bind - Tie

Continually - Perpetually

 

Here Solomon is exhorting his son to be extremely vigilant when it comes to heeding his spiritual advice. In fact, he wants his son to be so cognizant of the spiritual teachings that he suggests that the commandments that he is given him be bound perpetually on his heart, that is, that he always directs his life through the commandments he has learned. By tying them around his neck and binding them on his heart, they will always be available to guide him. This is how we must view the Scriptures. As we memorize them, we call upon them to guide us in every situation to prevent us from getting into trouble. This is why it is imperative that we memorize Scripture and not the writings of men.

 

Prov 6:22 (KJB)

When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

 

Here is a three-fold promise of what the Scriptures will do for us. First, whenever we seek the wisdom of the Scriptures, they will guide us into doing what is pleasing in the sight of the Lord. The Scriptures will never mislead us and will always lead us in the right direction. Where we get into trouble is when we start adding our interpretations, slanting the meaning in our own direction so we get our way. (2 Pet 1:20 KJV) Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. That is called private interpretation and will get us into trouble. The second thing that the Scriptures do is to protect us from the invasion of devils which may try to implant ideas into our head while we sleep. (Psa 3:5 KJV) I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. David understood this principle on a physical level but we understand it on a spiritual level, since there are many evil spirits lurking around just waiting to derail a believer. The third thing we can expect from the Scriptures is when we awake, we consult them and they will guide us from the outset of the day. If we follow the Scriptures from the beginning of the day, we may avoid some pitfalls which would normally be part of any day. The Scriptures can give us continuity in progression rather than having to backtrack to see where a problem has derailed us.

 

Prov 6:23 (KJB)

For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

Reproofs - Rebuke or chastisement

 

The word of God is a lamp to our feet guiding our footsteps. (Psa 119:105 KJV) NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. The Scriptures enlighten us so we continually walk in the ways of the Lord and do not go off in the way of the world. The word helps to bring clarity and stability into every situation, and that is why it is called “light” because it shows us the end from the beginning. It gives us warning that we need to stay on the path of the Lord. Remember, in verse 21, Solomon counseled to keep the words of God ever before us so we may call on them to guide us. Then we see that the Scriptures a reproof of instruction which is the way of life. Since we live in a sinful bodies, it is not hard at all for us to go off in the wrong direction toward sin. Remember what Lot did which got him in trouble. (Gen 13:12 KJV) Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. In fact, that move finally saw him moving into and living in Sodom. That move cost him the lives of some of his family members when God destroyed the four cities of the plains. This is why when we are rebuked for doing a wrong thing, it is in our best interest. There was a church sign close to me which read “accept correction and you will not need that much.” In other words, with every bit of wisdom you acquire and every bit of wrong you avoid, it causes you to grow spiritually and in concert with the word of God. The more in concert with the word of God you are, the less chastisement you will receive.

 

Prov 6:24 (KJB)

To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.

 

Here Solomon once again admonishes his son that keeping those commandments before him perpetually will give him the wisdom to know if a strange woman is flattering him. This may not always mean the woman is trying to seduce the man but she may have another agenda like trying to get ahead in a company or some type of financial gain. (Jude 1:16 KJV) These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage. Jude also touches on this same situation that someone may flatter just to get ahead. I am sure many of us have seen incompetent people get ahead just by use of their flattering tongue. We see this not only in business, but even in the churches where someone totally incompetent spiritually is voted into an office and eventually makes shipwreck of both the church and them. Solomon knows the flattering tongue of women since he had 300 wives and 700 concubines. He is counseling his son from much experience.

 

Prov 6:25 (KJB)

Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.

 

(Prov 31:30 KJV) Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. A woman can look at a man with very seductive eyes and cause him to look back and to get thinking which would derail him. Solomon is counseling his son to be very careful when dealing with a woman’s beauty. Beauty will fade someday but in the meantime it is a deadly weapon in a woman’s arsenal, especially when she uses it to try and seduce someone, either for sexual reasons or for another agenda. I believe that one of the main reasons that there is much divorce today is that many get married because of beauty and not substance. That is why there should be a longer period of engagement, during that time the couple gets to know each other and sees how they act or react in different situations. Some of the most quality women I know would not make the cover of a beauty magazine, not that they are not attractive, but because they do not play the seduction game. They are women of spiritual quality and would all be fantastic to raise children in this evil world. Back to Solomon for a minute, he is warning his son to not gage a woman’s value by her beauty but by her substance. In other words, judge her through your eyes and not with your eyes!

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