Torah is Light
6: 20-23
A proverb is a short and memorable saying designed to be our blueprint for living in the world that ADONAI has created. It is important to note that proverbs are not promises; they are generally true principles, all other things being equal.
This is Solomon’s tenth teaching (to see link click Aj – Proverbs for the Youth). He offers several insights about the value of placing God’s Word at the center of our lives. Let’s begin with Proverbs 4:4, where the wise king recalled the instruction of his own father, David, when he said: Let your heart hold (Hebrew: tamak) fast to my words, keep my mitzvah, and you will live (4:4). Take note of the words hold fast. In the Hebrew, the word translated “hold fast” means to grasp, have a firm grip of, or seize. It is the same verb, tamak, found in the Isaiah 4:10 statement of God’s promise to His covenant people: Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I Am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; moreover I will uphold you with My righteous right hand (41:10). The word uphold is a translation of the same verb, tamak. This Hebrew word most often appears in two contexts: God’s people holding fast to biblical wisdom (3:18). As God’s Word gets a firm grip on you, it truly does uphold you!155
My son, obey your father and mother’s commands, and don’t neglect your mother’s teaching (6:20 NIV). Up to now, we have inferred to the teaching in this section as that of Solomon, and indeed he is the one who speaks. On the other hand, it is important to point out that he represents not only his own wisdom, but also that of the son’s mother as well. As the mother is mentioned elsewhere (see Ak – Obey Your Parents), we point out that this is a rarity when compared with the wisdom teaching of other, related Near Eastern texts.
Always bind them to your heart. Perhaps the heart is mentioned here because it is the core of one’s personality. If one’s heart is disobedient, then disobedience will follow soon afterward. And tie them around your neck (6:21 Hebrew). Note 3:3, where covenant love and faithfulness are to be bound on the wise person’s neck. Also, 7:3 charges the son to bind the father’s teaching on his fingers. The image recalls the instruction ADONAI gave Isra’el upon entering Canaan. After commanding His people to love Him with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength (Deuteronomy 6:5), God said this: These words, which I am commanding you today, are to be on your heart. You are to teach them diligently to your children. Speak of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up. Bind them as a sign on your hand, they are to be as frontlets (phylacteries) between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts (Hebrew: mezuzahs) of your house and on your gates (Deuteronomy 6:6-9).
God’s covenant people took these words so seriously that they crafted little leather pouches, phylacteries, placed copies of important scriptures inside, and then literally bound them to their right hands and their foreheads. Faithful Jews do this for important ceremonies to this very day. The Israelites also attach mezuzahs to their doorposts. These small containers also hold important, handwritten Scriptures written on strips of paper. While there’s nothing wrong with these traditions, the LORD’s point is more practical. He wants His Word to permeate every household and to penetrate each heart. He wants our culture and lifestyle to revolve around Scripture. It’s great to have family devotions, but it’s even better to make the Bible as common in conversation as the weather, sports, daily news, public events, or neighborhood happenings.156
Then the father informs the son that his teaching will bring benefits all the time. When you walk, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you awake they will speak to you (6:22 BSB). For their command is a lamp and their instruction a light (6:23a NLT), giving guidance to one’s conduct. As signaled by the initial “For,” this verse provides a reason to maintain obedience to the teaching of the parents in this passage, and they do so throughout the book. The command (not yet spoken) will illuminate the path – thus implying that the son’s journey will not meet unseen obstacles. That path is called the path of life because it promotes a long and rich life experience.157 Psalm 119:105 declares: Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. This suggests we should actively rehearse principles of righteousness in our minds. This mitzvah is the commandment our parents are to give us. For those who did not have the sort of wise upbringing that would help them in these areas, Solomon’s wisdom in the book of Proverbs is an apt substitute. And for those who were privileged to have boundaries and wisdom taught parents, Solomon calls for us to remember their lessons and heed them well.158
However, even though that path is well lit, staying on it is not easy. It involves corrective discipline (1:2 and 7). These two words are also frequently used in the book and refer to the hard work, suggestive even of physical punishment, that it takes to keep doing the right thing. The son’s own sin nature would be to give in to the strong temptations that might lead him to leave the right path, so corrective discipline is sometimes necessary. Although painful (see the commentary on Hebrews Cz – God Disciplines His Children) keeps us on the right path, leading us in the way of life (6:23b NLT).159
If you want to make Scripture a more natural part of your household culture, the transformation begins with you, regardless of your position in the family So don’t tell anyone, but try this experiment: For the next month, set aside fifteen minutes each day to read between ten and twenty verses of the Bible and then think quietly about them. Keep a record of comments people make about the changes they notice in you.160
Dear heavenly Father, praise You for Your Word. When I meditate on Your Word it reveals how great You are – it is the most peaceful and comforting thing that anyone can do! Renewing our minds is so important for everyone to do, especially for me. But whoever did receive Him, those trusting in His name, to these He gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12). A fresh look at life, by renewing our thoughts on You, is so encouraging and gives me the strength and wisdom to fight against worldly thoughts and to win the battle! Be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2b-c). In Messiah Yeshua’s holy Name and power of His resurrection. Amen
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