I. There is a season when youth becomes independent and intolerant of control, when gentle guidance is mistaken for love of interference and of power, when the youth and the maiden think scorn to follow the ways and maxims of the parent, the friend, the teacher, and take pride in forming a code and gathering maxims of their own; in speaking their own words and walking after the light of their own eyes. These are critical days in every man's life days which determine whether he is to be a pilgrim to the light, or to drop down into the darkness days when he is made or marred for ever. On which side am I? Which have I chosen for my lot? Is the guide of my youth still my guide? that soft voice still my monitor? Is my father's God my God for ever and ever, and have I taken Him for my guide unto death?
II. Notice the reason of this woful departure and falling away: "She forgetteth the covenant of her God." The solemn fact that God's vows are upon her is suffered to pass from her into forgetfulness. She saith in her heart, "There is no God."
And if she, one of ancient Israel was bound to God, by a covenant, what shall we say in this matter? The covenant of our God began in our earliest days. Baptism and confirmation were to us seals of the covenant, most solemn and important. You bound yourselves to forsake God's enemies; you bound yourselves to cleave to Him and serve Him. (1) We are bound by that covenant to stand aloof from Satan. How are we situated with regard to the great enemy of our souls? He is ever busy around us; knowing our weak points, urging our evil tempers, suggesting, prompting, decoying us into sin. Are we his enemies, or are we in league with him? (2) We are to stand aloof from the world. Those who are bound by God's covenant should not run to the excess prevalent in the ungodly world, in adornment of person, in frivolity of amusement, in countenancing any of those employments or meetings where merely self-display is the object; that the person, and the household, and the furniture, and the equipage of the Christian should be modest, unobtrusive, showing the conscientious stewardship of one who has a neighbour to benefit and edify, and a God to glorify, and not the lavish expenditure of one who lives for himself, or for his family, or for the world.
H. Alford, Quebec Chapel Sermons,vol. vii., p. 16.
References: Proverbs 3:1. Clergyman's Magazine,vol. xiii., p. 269; W. Arnot, Laws from Heaven,1st series, p. 106. Proverbs 3:1-4. Clergyman's Magazine,vol. vi., p. 83.Proverbs 3:1-10. R. Wardlaw, Lectures on Proverbs,vol. i., p. 75.