Mensa Otabil - Remember God's Law
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This week, we are looking at the Book of Proverbs, and we’re going to focus on Proverbs chapter 3. So we start with Proverbs 3:1 and 2: My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life and peace, they will add to you. The Book of Proverbs is a very practical book; it gives us a practical guide for how to run our lives in a godly way. It is based on observations that the children of Israel made concerning their dealings with God, and so it’s a very important rule to have as we begin a new year. It teaches us valuable lessons for everyday living.
The first thing we notice in chapter 3: 1 is the nature of God’s word. The passage describes the word of God as law: «My son, do not forget my law.» God’s word is not a suggestion, and when we read God’s word, He is not giving us an option that we can choose to follow or not follow. God’s word is the rule. Yes, you can decide not to follow the rule, but it is the rule, and anytime you depart from it, you are departing from the standard. The word of God is law; it’s the rule, and it is also a command. It’s not something that you can really debate or negotiate. God’s word is law, and God’s word is a command.
The address goes to a person who is now receiving God’s word; he is called my son, and we can also say my daughter. The instructions here come from a higher authority to a lower authority. The word of God is law, and the word of God is a command. The second thing it says is, «Let your heart keep them.» This means that God’s word is something we must hide in our hearts; it’s something we must observe, something we must apply to our lives, something we must live by. It is a rule by which we live our lives.
It says that when we do that, there are benefits. It states that the word of God will give us length of days, long life, and peace. Length of days, long life, and peace — that is what we are all looking for. We want to live long, have a good life, and find peace in our lives. How do we do this? By seeing the word of God as a law and a command. This is the first approach we must have to God’s word so that when we come to it, we allow it to rule over our own thoughts, desires, and expectations. We shouldn’t take what is in our culture and elevate it higher than what is in the word of God. We shouldn’t take what we’ve learned in a book and place it above the word of God.
The word of God is the law, it is the rule, and it is our command. I pray that this week, as we encounter all these Proverbs-practical guides from God’s word-you will take them as rules and commands, which will grant you long life and peace in 2021. Let’s share a word of prayer together. Say with me: Heavenly Father, your word is my instruction. Teach me how to apply your word to all aspects of my life. In Jesus' name, amen and amen.