Prov 6:20-22 is derived from the commandment to honour thy father and thy mother.  Solomon instructed his son to keep his father’s commandment and forsake not the law of his mother.  He instructed him to “Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about they neck.”  He wanted the commandment and the law to be ever present with his son.  In Prov 6:22, when Solomon referred to the benefits of keeping the commandment of his father and not forsaking the law of his mother, he referred to them as “it.”  The law and the commandment are the same; they are one.  Thus Paul wrote in the New Testament, “Children, obey your parents (they should be one) in the Lord: for this is right,” [Eph 6:1].  Whether the command comes from Mom or Dad, it should the same and must be obeyed.

Practically, we can apply Solomon’s admonition to his son to us.  We are sons of God when we are saved.  And we must keep our Father’s commands, as well.  We don’t keep them to get saved; Jesus already did that for us [Rom 10:1-4].  We keep our Father’s commands because we are now his sons and he has commanded us to do certain things.  His commands are found in the words of God.  They are the words of God as you can tell by reading Ps 19 and Ps 119.  Thy Father’s commandment:

Will lead you – “When thou goest, it shall lead thee.”  Rom 8:14, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”  The way the Holy Spirit leads you is through the words of God.  Last week I visited with a fellow who has just started reading the Bible.  He said that each morning when he reads the Lord gives him direction for that day.  Recently, I have been praying specifically for guidance on a couple of matters.  The direction has been clearly given in the scripture.  I remarked to God in prayer that his leadership in the Bible is as clear as the sunshine on a cloudless day.  When you go, the words of God will lead you if you keep them in your heart and and keep them close like tying them around your neck.

Will keep you – “when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee.”  David said in Ps 4:8, “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.”  When you read your Bible daily and believe what you’re reading, it has a way of settling you down and bringing you peace.  The fellow I talked with last week said, “My life is centered now.”  That’s a perfect way to describe it.  The things that used to keep me awake at night were the things that worried me and even scared me.  When you follow what God says in the Bible, your worries cease and your fears abate.  Your faith and trust in the Lord abound.  And you sleep really well at night.

Will talk with you – “when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.”  It is interesting to me how much the Bible speaks first thing in the morning.  Most of us need to wake up with a cup of coffee or the like.  We sort of gradually come to life when we wake up.  Nevertheless, if you will reflect on the word of God as you are rising, you might be surprised to find how much the Lord talks with you through the things you have already read.  When your mind is fresh and uncluttered in the morning, the Lord’s thoughts can occupy your mind and talk with you.  The morning instruction from the Lord is essential in my life.  

Conclusion: Let thy Father’s commandment in the words of God lead you when you go, keep you when you sleep, and talk with you when you wake up.  You will find your life will be centered just like the fellow with whom I talked last week.  And mind you, he has only been reading the Bible for a few months.  It really works.