Proverbs 6:21 “Bind them continually upon your heart; Tie them around your neck.”
From the start of the Book of Proverbs, Solomon wants the reader (referred to numerous times as MY SON) to take significant actions with his teaching. For instance, in just the first 7 chapters, we find:
Proverbs 1:8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
Proverbs 2:1 My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you,
Proverbs 3:1 My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands;
Proverbs 3:3 Let not mercy & truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,
Proverbs 4:10 Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And the years of your life will be many.
Proverbs 4:20 My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.
Proverbs 4:21 Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart;
Proverbs 5:1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom; Lend your ear to my understanding,
Proverbs 6:20 My son, keep your father’s command, and do not forsake the law of your mother.
Proverbs 6:21 Bind them continually upon your heart; Tie them around your neck.
Proverbs 7:1 My son, keep my words, And treasure my commands within you.
Proverbs 7:3 Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart.
Our verse for today’s date is a continuation of Proverbs 6:20, where there was an appeal to KEEP and not forsake the teachings the reader has received. To make sure the reader does not forsake (forget – discard) he calls for the reader to BIND and TIE God’s Word. Bind and tie. Two very descriptive words that speak of securing.
As a way of illustrating what it means to bind, let me take you back to my days growing up on a farm. On our farm, we had a hay baler that my grandfather called a hay binder. As he grew up, hay was gathered loosely. He would use a pitchfork to toss the cut hay into a pile. There were no strings. The hay lay loosely in the barn. But then my family purchased a hay baler where hay was compacted into a rectangular bale with two strings that bound the bale together. As the hay baler would BIND the loose hay, we are to BIND the Word of God tightly to our hearts.
The idea of TYING the Word around our neck is to have the Word of God so close to you that you can immediately have it to implement the teaching as any temptation or trial comes to you. IT IS RIGHT THERE is the idea.
This is continual – “Bind them continually.” Keep on learning verses to bind upon your heart.
How quickly can you RECALL Bible verses? How quickly can you recall what GOD has said when hit with a temptation? How quickly does a promise of God flood your mind to give you peace and strength when life hits you with a trial?
Continue Strong, securing God’s Word in your heart,
And remember to daily DATE the Word