Proverbs 23:13,14 – “Do not withhold correction from a child, for if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. You shall beat him with a rod, and deliver his soul from hell.”
Apparently there were squeamish parents alive in Solomon’s day too. The proposed form of punishment, a rod, would be a very unpopular instrument for correction in our day. I have heard many stories from our elders who have recounted the days when parents instructed children to go outside on the farm and get a stick or branch from a tree suitable for punishment. I’ve yet to hear one story of abuse and I haven’t had any old- timer break down and cry when they were telling the story. They were usually laughing at their former plight. Solomon assures us that children will not die when they are beaten.
We could argue all day long about different forms of punishment and their psychological impact upon children. The fact remains that more damage is done over the long haul when children are left to themselves and their behavior goes unchecked. The main point of this passage is in the opening statement: “Do not withhold correction from a child.” The word “correction” in the Hebrew means reproof, warning, instruction, and restraint. Think about these four words when disciplining a child. Reproof means to prove again. This obviously involves dialogue to help understand the wrong behavior. Warning is necessary to understand the consequences of the same action in the future. Instruction will help the person (or child) being corrected to grow from the error. Restraint is by all means in order if the behavior cannot be personally corrected.
Solomon uses some very strong language about the effects of discipline— “You shall…deliver his soul from hell.” In the short-term administering the discipline is unpleasant. In the long-term we are helping our children to grow to become strong men and women.
How can we apply this to our Heavenly Father correcting us?