Proverbs 6:20-22 (ESV)
20 My son, keep your father’s commandment,
and forsake not your mother’s teaching.
21 Bind them on your heart always;
tie them around your neck.
22 When you walk, they will lead you;
when you lie down, they will watch over you;
and when you awake, they will talk with you.
The son is reminded tokeep his parents’teaching, and ultimately, the command of the Lord. He is to memorize Scripture, doing whatever he can to keep the rule of the Lord in his heart and mind. Like a shepherd leads his sheep, the command of the Lord guides the way of the one obedient to his word. And as sheep need the shepherd’s help to navigate through dangerous territories on their journey to pasture, so will the wise one need the wisdom of God’s word to get through the troubles of this life. The wise son sleeps in safety and wakes up to eagerly learn and apply more from his teachers. Life in the ancient world was demanding, and life in the modern world has its share of difficulties too. But the word of the Lord remains throughout the ages. Determine to be directed by Scripture as you face life’s challenges today.