Bind them always on your heart;
fasten them around your neck.
Summary: Solomon encourages us to take more than a passive interest in God’s Word.
What do you fasten around your neck? My wife has a necklace with a small charm for each of her two children and her four grandchildren. When she wears it, she is wearing her love for her family around her neck and on her heart. I love the symbolism. Shouldn’t we do the same with God’s Word?
When Moses was reminding the Israelites of God’s Law, just before they go into Canaan, he said something similar: “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.” (Deuteronomy 11: 18) The problem is that it is easy to lose sight of what the symbols mean. After all, a symbol is not the real thing. It is only a reminder of the real thing.
Solomon calls for us to go a step farther than symbols. He wants us to fasten his words around our neck and bind the words themselves on our hearts. Do not lose sight of them. Keep them always before you.
Does that make a difference?
Yes, it does. Our heart is the center of what is important to us. It is the place where we keep our real treasure. If you do not accept the words God speaks through Solomon, then you will not allow them anywhere near your heart. If you let them into your heart, then you can choose whether to keep them there.
Application: Read the Bible, study our Father’s commands, take them to heart.
Food for Thought: Does this verse apply to more than Solomon’s instructions about adultery? How?
First I’d like to say that I wholeheartedly agree with what you wrote in today’s blog. “Our heart is the center of what is important to us. It is the place where we keep our real treasure.” Putting God’s Word there, for me, has been a great growing experience. God’s Word has a tendency to push sinful thoughts out of my heart (does the heart think? I think you know what I mean lol). More so, I find I am at peace more and more, find contentment more and more, and things that used to make me sad and angry, although still present and to be dealt with, no longer bring an emotional response like that.
Does this verse apply to more than Solomon’s instructions about adultery? How?
When I read the whole passage I get the impression Solomon is opening his comments with a basic truth about truth and wisdom. I believe that applies to a whole lot more than instruction on adulteries alone. Truth given to you in love is something that will protect you, so keep it where you are most vulnerable.
Chris,
Thank you for sharing “from your heart.” 🙂 Your words are a wonderful testimony about the power of our Lord’s presence in our lives, IF we let him in.
👍🙏
I am with Chris. Yes, these truths apply to more than Solomon’s instruction about adultery. It refers to all wisdom literature and, indeed, to all of God’s word. All of God’s word is God breathed with the Holy Spirit speaking through the human agent. All of it is useful to instruct us and equip us. 2 Timothy 3: 16 – 17; 2 Peter 1: 20 – 21.
Jesus said something similar to Solomon in Matthew 7: 24 – 27. In that case it dealt with listening to Jesus’ instruction.
All of Scripture, including Solomon’s words in Scripture, are useful and can be applied to every area of our lives.
Thanks Rich!
Amen!
My son, observe the commandment of your father And do not forsake the teaching of your mother; Bind them continually on your heart; Tie them around your neck. When you walk about, they will guide you; When you sleep, they will watch over you; And when you awake, they will talk to you.
Proverbs 6:20-22
This is such an interesting spot. Solomon goes from telling his son about what attributes God hates, to saying that his teachings will be a guide to his son all the time, and he gets more specific about how they will protect him from adultery.
How important it is to listen to our parents…. How much more important to listen to our heavenly Father, in all things.
A,
Nicely said! 🙂