Proverbs 22:15 DRIVING FOOLISHNESS FROM YOUR CHILD

Modern Western View of Children Little Children – according to our society – are innocent little people. “They don’t know better”, thus are given a pass at wrong-doing. We may even laugh and think that the otherwise unacceptable behavior is “cute”. At some point, our reaction reinforces that “cute” behavior

The Reality of Children Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child… (Pro. 22:15) …A child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother. (Pro. 29:15) For this reason we are taught to “train up a child in the way he should go” (Pro. 22:6)

A Difficult Environment What Children are given: Time: much of it is set to play, not training. Means: toys, games, gadgets… and lots of it! Freedom/Liberties: Many parents may not have had foolishness driven out of them…making it difficult for them to drive foolishness out of their children.

Biblical Passages to Consider (NKJV) He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly. (Pro. 13:24) 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. (Pro. 23:13-14) “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him.” (Pro. 22:15)

What Is The Rod of Correction? Is it literal? Is it symbolic of corporal punishment? Does it refer to a concept: ie “accountability”?*

W.F. Adeney (Pulpit Commentary) The primitive rigour of the Book of Proverbs is repudiated by modern manners. Not only in domestic training, but even in criminal law, people reject the old harsh methods, and endeavor to substitute milder means of correction. No doubt there was much that was more than rough, even brutal, in the discipline of our forefathers.

W.F. Adeney The relation between father and child was too often lacking in sympathy through the undue exercise of parental authority, and society generally was hardened rather than purged by pitiless forms of punishment. But now the question is whether we are not erring towards the opposite extreme in showing more

W.F. Adeney tenderness to the criminal than to his victim, and failing to let our children feel the need of some painful discipline. We idolize comfort, and we are in danger of thinking pain to be worse than sin. It may be well, therefore, to consider some of the disadvantages of neglecting the old-fashioned methods of chastisement (1950, 9: ).

Summary Discipline is all encompassing in the training of our children. Eph. 6:4 It starts with teaching them right from wrong. It includes warning, exhortations, and rebuke. It also includes – when the various methods of discipline have gone unheeded – “the rod of correction” (corporal punishment) to drive foolishness far from your child.