The obedient man or woman observes God's Word, keeps His ways, and lives.

“He that guards the commandment guards himself;
in scattering his ways, he dies”
(Proverbs 19:16, Miller’s translation).

Part 1

“He that keepeth the commandment.”
This person is concerned with doing right.  He/she doesn’t live by feelings, but by God’s Word.  They are guided by His commands.  They realize the importance of obeying God.  This requires knowing God’s Word.

“He that keepeth,” that is guards or watches “the commandment.”  There are two crucial thoughts here.

1. A believer treasures up “God’s law” in his/her heart.  We must know what God has said!  If we don’t know God’s Word, how can we obey it?

2. A believer translates “God’s law” into life.  Here is where most believers fail.  It is not how much of God’s Word is in us, but how much of His Word are we obeying?

“It is one thing to know the will of God, it is another thing to do it.  Knowledge must come before obedience, but knowledge alone will not save the soul from death”[1] (Miller).

“He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth” (Proverbs 10:17).

The person who “keepeth the commandment” loves God and His Word.

“Keepeth his own soul.”
There is safety for the one who “keepeth the commandment.”  This man or woman knows what it is to guard his/her heart.  The Word of God has an essential place in this believer’s life.  The reward of treasuring up and doing the Word is guidance and protection.

“Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.  The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death” (Proverbs 13:13-14).

Notice the things that Solomon says a wise believer “keeps.”

“He that keepeth his mouth…” (Proverbs 13:3).
“He that keepeth his way…” (Proverbs 16:17).
“He that keepeth understanding…” (Proverbs 19:8).
“He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his soul…” (Proverbs 19:16).
“He that keepeth his mouth and his tongue…” (Proverbs 21:23).
“He that keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit…” (Proverbs 27:18).
“Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son…” (Proverbs 28:7).
“A wise man keepeth it in [his words] till afterward…” (Proverbs 29:11).

“Keeping the commandment” is a necessary action on the part of all genuine believers.  It is “guarding your heart!”  What about those who will not obey God?  Come back tomorrow and let’s talk more.

Quote:  “Just as a servant knows that he must first obey his master in all things, so the surrender to an implicit and unquestionable obedience must become the essential characteristic of our lives”[2] (Andrew Murray).

[1] From Miller’s notes in The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary, the electronic version in eSword.
[2] Andrew Murray’s quote Downloaded: Monday, July 20, 2020. From: https://www.christianquotes.info/quotes-by-topic/quotes-about-obedience/.