My son, keep your father’s command, and do not forsake the law of your mother. Bind them continually upon your heart; tie them around your neck. When you roam, they will lead you; when you sleep, they will keep you; and when you awake, they will speak with you. For the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light; reproofs of instruction are the way of life[.] Proverbs 6: 20-23, NKJV.
Gracious God, in the name of Your Son Jesus Christ we approach Your Mercy Seat. Please accept us into You holy presence, and teach us as we wait for a Word from You. In the precious name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
Today we are going to look at the second half of the Scripture we studied yesterday, “When you roam, they will lead you; when you sleep, they will keep you; and when you awake, they will speak with you. For the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light; reproofs of instruction are the way of life[.]” This is a rather interesting portion of Scripture. Let us begin by taking a look at the word roam. Among other things, it means to “wander around aimless.” One of the definitions that caught my attention was: “move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment” (Free Dictionary by Farlex, emphasis provided).
The reason this definition caught my attention was because it reminded me so much of the experience of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15: 11-32)! This young man left the comfort and security of his home, and went to the “big city” in search of . . . ? I do not believe he himself knew what he was searching for. But the Scripture gives us a glimpse into his thoughts: ” ‘ “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father . . ” (17, 18a).
He had received instruction at home, in both theory and example, that had made such an impression on him, that when he realized that he had wandered far away from home, these teachings came back to him, and brought him to “his sense.” Whether awake or asleep, these teachings spoke to him. He knew that although he had been taught principles of uprightness and integrity, there was also an abundance of forgiveness for the erring. He knew that there was love in the home of his childhood, so much that even the servants were treated as a part of the family.
Therefore, when he found himself dying from starvation, he realized that he was in the wrong place! “This is not the way it is at home.” So he arose, and went home. True to what he had been taught, his father was waiting to receive him! There was plenty of love, plenty of forgiveness, and plenty of food, in his father’s house. The truths that he had been taught, and that he had internalized, he was now experiencing for himself!
We will continue!