Do the Right Thing
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Key Verse: “My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.” Lesson Scripture: Proverbs 6:16-28 |
OUR KEY VERSES PROVIDE a stark contrast to the things previously mentioned (vss. 16-19) as hated by God. First, he addresses us as sons, pointing out the close personal relationship that he desires to have with his people. We are told by the Apostle John, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: … Beloved, now are we the sons of God.” (I John 3:1,2) The Key Verses continue by telling us that we should obey God’s commandments and laws, just as a child is expected to obey the instructions of their father and mother. The obedience spoken of is not out of duty or fear of punishment, but rather ‘upon thine heart.’ Obedience should become a part of our innermost motives and thoughts, symbolized by the heart. God’s law is also to be tied ‘about thy neck.’ Something that is tied about the neck is noticeable to others. Our adherence to God’s law should be noticed by all those with whom we associate, whether they be family, coworkers, brethren, neighbors, or even our enemies. We should not, however, display our obedience in a holier-than-thou manner. This would give evidence of pride, one of the very things previously stated in our lesson that God hates. Obedience should be humble, noticed by others as stated concerning the apostles, “They took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”—Acts 4:13
Concerning God’s law, Proverbs 6:22 says, “When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.” In other words, God’s law, if striven for and followed after, will be a guiding and protecting force in every moment of life. Such was the condition of the nation of Israel as long as they abode under God’s law. It guided and protected them through every difficulty, helped them gain victories over their enemies, and even provided for their fleshly needs and sustenance. It was only when they disobeyed and failed to keep his laws that they lost the keeping power of God’s providence and protection, until they repented and were brought back to a fuller measure of favor.
Verse twenty-three of our lesson states, “The commandment is a lamp; and the law is light.” What a beautiful symbolism is here shown! A lamp shedding forth light helps one to see the path. Without light one is likely to stumble and fall over the rocks and other impediments lining the pathway, or worse yet, walk off the designated path altogether, becoming hopelessly lost in the dark. God’s commandments, his Truth as contained in the Holy Scriptures, is the light that guides our path. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”—Ps. 119:105
The last part of verse twenty-three says, “Reproofs of instruction are the way of life.” God realizes that we are weak and fall short, and so he has arranged our life such that we are continually given experiences which, if properly accepted and acted upon, provide valuable instruction leading to “life and godliness.”—II Pet. 1:3