June 22

Jun 22 - Today from Proverbs 22 we look at verse 15
"Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him."

Let's quickly get one thing straight; this is not license for a frustrated and angry parent/disciplinarian to abusively beat a child. It is not a mandate for a cold-hearted legalistic parent/disciplinarian to beat the 'fear of God' into a child. One cannot know the heart of our Father in heaven and take such an approach to this verse. This verse contains two observations of life on this earth:
1. Folly literally means to be perverse. A typical child has a perverse view of the reality of life as God meant it. That perversity comes naturally. It stems from the fallen nature of mankind whereby he fell from a God-centered state and acquired a self-centered state. We are born into sin. I don't think this proverb is speaking of a particularly foolish child. I think it is stating the position that every child has folly bound up in their heart. Parents must not think that their child's self-centered stubbornness and behavior is some kind of cruel exception to the joy of having children. But they also must not believe that the child is to grow in such behavior.
This brings us to the second observation made by the teacher.
2. Folly can be unbound from the heart of a child. There is hope for parents. The key is discipline. The rod of discipline would be analogous of whatever tool the parent needs to administer discipline. One of the best known uses of this word in the entire Bible is found in Psalm 23:4 - "Your rod and your staff, they comfort me." If the rod were a fearful tool of the threat of abuse and pain, it could never be a tool of comfort. The 'fear of God' does not send one to the corner cowering. The ideal tools for administering discipline begin with trust, respect and a nurturing relationship. Added to them are patience, kindness and self-control. That is a picture of our Heavenly Father. He has the same task with His children as we earthly parents do with our children - to unbind from our hearts the perversions of life the way He meant it to be. He didn't come at us with a big wooden stick to beat some sense into us. He came at us with a big wooden cross to prove His love to us and to show that He is worthy of our trust and respect.
Were there times when the Shepherd administered discipline with the rod? Yes, I believe there were. That was reserved for only the very most strong-willed sheep who threatened to disrupt and mislead others in the flock. Most always, this was a young animal. I have heard a teaching from a Pastor in East Europe, where shepherding is still a lifelong career for some today. He said that there were times when the shepherd would actually administer a very trained blow to the leg of such an animal. So concise was the blow that it would cause a clean break in the bone. But . . . that isn't the whole story. The shepherd would then carry the wounded animal on his shoulders until the leg healed. Day and night the former strong-willed young animal would be totally dependent upon the shepherd. Once the leg was strong enough, the shepherd would return the sheep to the flock - and it would often turn out to be one of the most devoted of the flock. It did not develop a fear of another broken leg. It developed a sense of trust and gratitude toward the shepherd. "Cruel," you say? It took a lot of patience and extra effort for the shepherd to create such a bond. It was done out of a deep love for the animal and for unity in the flock. This extreme measure was never administered in a fit of anger. It was done with a very calculated plan to protect and enrich the life of the sheep. We can always take comfort in the rod of the Good Shepherd - whether it is to ward off the attack of wild animals, or to bring us into a deeper and more intimate relationship with Him. His motive is always love.
Discipline can come in many forms; from a teaching, to a strong corrective word, to the removal of privilege, to an administration of pain. The form and level of discipline depends on the temperament and teachability of the child. But one thing is sure, without clear boundaries, there can be no comfort in discipline. This brings us back to the familiar concept of integrity. A child needs to clearly learn the boundaries of moral principle and behavior as set forth by the parents. These boundaries must be consistent, and discipline must be consistent in accordance with the infractions. And, the parents must also honor the integrity of the boundaries. Telling children to behave one way while practicing behavior in another will only enhance the folly of a child. To be a good disciplinarian, one must first be self-disciplined.
Discipline is necessary in the process of being a disciple. But, proper discipline is always under the management of love.