“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” (Proverbs 23:13-14).
Three simple, yet significant, truths are embedded in these two sentences.
Truth # 1: EVERY child requires chastisement. Because there is foolishness bound up in the heart of every child which can only be removed by chastisement (Prov. 22:15), every child needs the board of education vigorously applied to the seat of learning.
Truth # 2: Every child requires firm, memorable chastening. “If it doesn’t hurt, there won’t be much learnt.” These wise words of Solomon are egregiously misunderstood if construed as endorsing either child abuse or the substitution of a “time out” for chastisement.
Truth # 3: Chastisement is essential to a child’s spiritual growth. Every person who disobeys God will be eternally punished by Him. Wise, loving parents strive to instill in every one of their children a strong aversion to disobedience and folly. The fear of the Lord which results in the hatred of and departure from evil (Prov. 8:13, 16:6), the prolonging of one’s days (Prov. 10:27), and serves as a fountain of life (Prov. 14:27) necessitates firm, memorable, and consistent chastisement.
