Proverbs 6:20-23
“My son, keep your father's advice…
Do not forsake the rules of your mother…
Because a father’s advice is a lamp...
And the rules of a mother are lights…”
I know from my own experience, as a father, the majority of my instruction has dealt with the everyday disciplines in the lives of my children. I am the one that posted the daily chore schedules, and to some extent I was a sort of sheriff in our home…keeping the peace. When my children needed reprimanding, I usually was the one to do it, as rightly I should be. It is a shame to a father that has no time to command his home in love. This discipline provides a realm of boundaries, which are not meant to hem in a child…but rather provide a wall of safety and security. Children need to feel safe and secure, not open and exposed.
“…a father’s advice is a lamp …” A lamp is something that is held to illuminate your present path up close. It deals with your daily guidance. There is no other day more important than today, because we do not have the past, nor can we worry about the future. The one moment that we do have under our control is today. Thomas J. Watson “Nothing so conclusively proves a man’s ability to lead others as what he does from day to day to lead himself.” A successful week is 7 successful days. A successful month is 4 successful weeks. A successful year is 12 successful months. A successful life is one that is focused on making…as many moments in life as possible...successful ones.
“…the rules of your mother …” A mother is a comforter and an encourager. She is constantly reminding her children of how wonderful they are, and what they are to become. She gives them constant hope and vision for their future. She has meetings with teachers, principles, and will do about anything in support of her children and their future. Thus the word rightly says in Proverbs 29:15 “…a child left to himself brings his mother to shame.” In other words a child left to defend himself alone will bring his mother shame for not making proper intercession for her child.
“…the rules of a mother are lights …” Rules and laws are hopes that extend themselves into the future. They are promises that can be obtained through faith and hope. Lights in biblical times were often referred to as the sun and the stars, natural positions permanently set in the heavens by Almighty God that do not change. They serve as compasses with which we can navigate through the difficult waters and darkness of life. The light stands as visions, dreams, and hopes that are to be reached out for and attained. When we travel on vacation, we most often times are focused on the stretch of highway that is directly in front of us. However, we are from time to time pulling off the road in order to refer to the map, which guides us to our ultimate destination.
This is a perfect analogy of the difference in the advice of a lamp, and the rule of a light. King David writes in Psalms 119:105 saying, “Your word is a lamp for my feet (My Present Steps), and a light for my path (My Future Direction).” We must be careful that we don’t stumble and fall on the pebbles at our feet...as we gaze upon the mountains in our future.
Finally, let us be encouraged with this last thought! Whether we walk in the day, or in the night...mountains are conquered...one step at a time! Therefore, let us make sure each one of those steps...and thereby conquer every mountain that stands in our path!