THE AUDITORIUM SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS
JANUARY 28TH, 2007
THE COMMAND TO REMEMBER
Introduction: All of us have forgotten to do important things, but in these verses we are commanded to remember - implying that it is a sin to forget these commands.
I. My son, forget not my law.... (1)
A. Solomon’s son is commanded to “forget not” the law of God.
1. The Bible is filled with warnings about forgetting God.
- Deuteronomy 6:12, Psalm 78:7, and Psalm 119: 16
2. The only way to constantly remember the words of God is to study them daily.
3. Failure to keep God’s Word ever before us will not only result in moral failures, but forgetting God’s Word is a sin in itself.
B. The Law of God, referred to by Solomon, incorporates the ancient Law of Moses and the moral precepts of Solomon.
1. Solomon is equating his words as equal to God’s Words.
2. We must remember that Solomon was both wise and inspired by God.
3. Practically, these are the Proverbs of Solomon; but ultimately, they are the Proverbs of God.
II. “Let thine heart keep my commandments.” (1)
A. Solomon continues to emphasize the importance of God’s Wisdom entering the heart.
1. Remember Proverbs 2:10.
2. Solomon speaks of the heart as the great revealer of man’s intentions and godliness.
- Proverbs 4:23, 23:7, and 31:11
B. Solomon’s son is to live according to God’s Word from the heart.
1. A mental knowledge of God’s Word is not enough.
2. There is such a thing as “heart knowledge” when it comes to God’s Word.
- Heart knowledge is when you deeply believe what you are nodding your head to.
3. Your convictions are determined by those things in your heart hat you believe to be true.
4. Notice that it’s not your head t hat keeps commandments, it’s your heart. (1)
C. Solomon considers it a point of major importance that his son keep God’s commandments from his heart.
III. Solomon focuses on TWO characteristics of God that his son is to remember. (3)
A. Mercy - “benevolence, tenderness, mildness, pity, or compassion towards offenders.”
1. Keep God’s Word from the heart, but remember God’s mercy towards you.
2. When you offend God, remember that God still loves you.
B. Truth - referring to the whole body of Scripture, with all of its commands and admonitions.
C. Mercy and Truth are to be : (3)
1. Bound around the neck so that you can carry then wherever you go.
2. Written on the table of your heart; meaning, engraved into the core of your being.
IV. What are the results of keeping God’s commandments from the heart? (2 and 4)
A. You will have “length of days, and long life.” (2)
- A godly life will make you healthier and happier in all area of your life.
B. You will have “peace.” (2)
- referring to the inner peace of a clear conscience.
C. You will “find favour and good understanding in the sight of God....” (4)
- You’ll have God’s nod of approval on your life.
D. You will “find favour and good understanding” with man as well.
- You’ll have a quality of character that will cause men to respect you.
Conclusion: A godly life must be lived from the heart or it’s not really lived.