My son, forget not my law;
But let thine heart keep my commandments:
For length of days, and long life,
And peace, shall they add to thee.
Here we are still on Jewish ground, but the exhortation is of all importance to us as well as to those who see in long life an evidence of the special blessings of the Lord.
For there is there in the exhortation which should appeal to all. “Let thy heart keep my commandments,” is as much needed word.
This is far more than submission to duty; it is loving devotion to the will of God. “Thy word,” said the Psalmist, “I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against Thee” (Ps. 119:11). And of Ezra it is recorded that he “prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel’s statues and judgments.” (Ez. 7:10).
This preparation of the heart in man which is so truly from the Lord is what is sadly lacking among many whose outward ways testify to the slight hold the truth they profess really has upon them.
Love is the spring of the true service to the Lord. “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14-15) are His own words; and He goes even deeper when He says, “If a man love Me he will keep My sayings” (John 14:23). This is the heart delighting to run in His ways. If His mind be but made known, whether there be positive command or not.