"What med'cine else can cure the fits of lovers when they lose their wits?
Love is a boy by poets stil'd; then spare the rod and spoil the child."
In this poem, he is giving reference to the practice of spankings/corporal punishment between adults in the bedroom. Believe me, I am not mocking God’s Word, I am attempting to understand His Commands. We have too long been carrying around what great-grandmomma them’ said was scripture.
However biblically speaking, the closest scripture in regards to “spare the rod, spoil the child” I found was Proverbs 23:13-14: "Withhold not correction from a child: for if thou strike him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and deliver his soul from hell."
It is my thought that we should understand the full definition of “Rod“ and “Correction” in Hebrew. This scripture is very important so I think to determine its full definition here the question is what was Solomon’s really stating?
Correction means “muwcar” which translates to discipline, chastening - - -which addresses verbal correction. The “child” is “na’ar” (Hebrew) and is a boy, lad or youth and the “child” is between the ages of 5 and 21. Children under age 5 are called “nurslings” and at 21 they are adults.
In the Hebrew language, there are three key words that are translated into English as “rod”. The one used in Proverbs is “Shebet”. The Shebet was the large walking staff held by the head of a family, the shepherd’s crook, or the king’s scepter. The book of Esther states that when the Shebet is extended to someone that they find life, but when it is spared it brings death.
“Beatest” is to strike but in this scripture it is followed by “he shall not die”. “He shall not die” is “muwth” (Hebrew) and means to die, kill, have one executed, perish, to die prematurely by neglect of wise moral conduct. In verse 14, it tells us that through beating with the Shebet we can save our child’s soul from death. “And shalt deliver” is “natsal”(Hebrew) and means to snatch away, deliver, rescue, save, strip and “his soul” is “nephesh”(Hebrew) which means soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, desire, emotion, passion, the breathing substance, the inner being of man.
Could this scripture be that the rod are rules, stiff and ridged, they don't bend? And a spoiled child could one who has no regard for the rules set forth. If we look at this verse in a literal mindset, couldn’t we FIRST strike him/her with our “Rod of Correction” i.e. love, example, and teaching?
Let's think about how our children view us as parents? Do we really have any authority over them? Do they respect us? Are we parenting our children or they parenting us? Are we enabling them to be insufficient adults? Are we teaching them by example?
I believe a Biblical proverb should regulate and govern our life. That it should teach us how to live, what to and not do. It is the Wisdom of God... however there is a difference between our knowledge and God's Wisdom? We as humans can know many things and not be wise in applying those things.
We can fail to use that knowledge or fail to use it correctly. If we aren’t using our ROD OF CORRECTION(LOVE, EXAMPLE, TEACHING) FIRST OR WHEN OUR CHILDREN ARE YOUNG… what’s left when they are older but the RODS OF ALTERCATION AND INCARCERATION?
8 comments:
Well after reading on the subject, I immediately felt compelled to respond. This is TonTon speaking and I took the time out of my sooo busy schedule to speak boldly in the Holy Ghost to a society we live in about the issue of "spare the Rod, Spoil the Child". I really don't believe we have misinterpreted the scriptures I just believe the world has taken the scripture out of context. The world outlook on punishment, scolding,correction, spanking, whipping, etc. is not in order with the Word of God explained and demonstrated so clearly in the book of Proverbs. Now for example, the world says if you spank your child your child will be taken away from you. You spank your child too much and the child calls 911 and says my parents are beating me. My answer to that is if you don't beat them who will? Now is some cases this is the case. Granted, the world will would act in this manner. The world is the world filled with violence, foolish acts, etc. Now when it comes to the Word of God, we are to live our lives and pattern our lives after, according to the Word of God. The book of Proverbs clearly states and gives practical insights and guidelines for life. First,Proverbs 1:7 says, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Knowlege: but fools depise wisdom and instruction. Now the world does not fear God which means they don't have much knowlege about God's word which in turn classifies you as a fool and a fool depises wisdom and instruction. Which leads to the point that the world's way of using the rod or not using the rod will have a entirely different meaning. Now it don't take a fool to understand wisdom it takes a wise man to understand wisdom. Should we beat our children like the Bible clearly states in Proverbs 23:13?( For if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die). Yes, we should. No we should not beat our child like the master beat the slave out of anger, bitterness, and trifling thinking which is some cases led to death. We must beat our children with the rod with love, fear, compassion,and. mercy. Now the rod was used for different things in the Bible such in the book of Psalms, David is crying out in Psalms 23( thy rod and thy staff they comfort me). This tells me the rod and staff corrects and comforts. Our rod that we use as parents should correct and guide. Correct and comfort. Now the world would say how is a beating comforting? Until they come into /knowledge of who God is they will never understand. However, when we chasten, correct in love it will be comforting to the sould when the child is delivered from the pit of hell. Amen or in this life, jail or drugs and lavish lifestyles,etc. Proverbs 13:24 says, "he that spareth the rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. In other words, if you don't chasen your child you don't love your child and it does include using the rod. Now I could talk on this subject all day but I just dont have the time... But for the sake of understanding you take a shepherd which God is our shepherd like David said, The Lord is my shepherd. The shepherd has a rod and a staff that he uses to keep the sheep in line, safety. If the sheep reject or disobey the shepherd then he has to use his rod of correction which may cause the shepherd to strike the sheep in love. Simply because he knows the sheep cannot comprehend the danger that lies ahead wait for him if he is not under the covering of the shepherd. The shepherd literally strikes the sheep to get him to obey his guidance when he gets out of line. ( acting in disobedience in out of the safety of the Shepherd). But because the shepherd loves the sheep and realizes there are great blessings ahead he will not allow that sheep to be destroyed. (Love is the Motive not anger because the sheep disobeyed). What more should a parent do for his child if you love him?
In conclusion, Proverbs 26:3 says, A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back. Now we hate to say it, but it true when you depise wisdom you are classified as a fool. So therefore the rod is designed for the back when you get out of line and disobey and defy authority. (Not just "Children" but adults that are still considered children in God's eyes) :) It's the word and we as believers live by the word not by the world's standards. Seek wisdom and in all thy getting get understanding.
God bless,
TonTon
TonTon, I agree with you however, there are "children of God" as well as "the world" who believe that "beat" is literally beating the child without verbal corrrection first and it is that mindset I find questionable. Because we as children of God know that when He has told us to do something and we are disobedient/slow in His will that He will/can strike us with unbearable issues whether it be illness, finances, etc. ...so maybe I should rephrase one of my initital questions,"Has this "quote" been past down from generations to generations in the Christian community without the correct reference of interpretation?
This is what it means...Beat yo kids! Don't kill 'em, just show them that you are the boss and they need to mind you! I ain't raising no bad kids! That's foreal. God don't like ugly, and I'm getting tired of seeing bad kids in church, who don't get whoopings! I'm gonna whoop them myself!!!!
coolsw,
My goodness it appears that you have control issues that go far beyond kids. However, I do agree with you about seeing kids in church or other public areas who appear not to have been properly trained how to behave. But then again, what about the parents, do some of us know how to act in public? We can sometimes be far worst than children in "God don't like ugly" manners. You can't teach what you don't know...do we then go with what we think we know or want to do?
That's very good commentary, Tean. I do believe that it is important to know why you feel how you do and do what you do. Does it stem from God, or our own personal beliefs? I believe that you are always look for the best interest of the child, and not for your own personal gain, know what I mean? It's so easy to get caught up in what we think is right for children, when each child is different, just as we as adults are different. We have the right to act a fool in public, so why shouldn't they? It's not right, and we should lead by example. What do you think?
anonymous,
Isn't that what Jesus did? Lead by example? Sometimes, I think we just expect children to know how to do things, how to behave...but if they have never been taught aren't they going to go with what they have seen us as parents do or some other adult or child? I have also seen children act like an adult should in some circumstances and the adult act like a child.
IT IS AMAZING TO SEE GOD USING PEOPLE THAT YOU LOVE TO DO HIS WORK. PLEASE KEEP IT UP AND DON'T EVER GET DISCOURAGED BECAUSE GOD NEVER DID.
LOVE YOU,
MOSETTE
Love you Mo!!!!! Thank You! Can't say I won't get discourage but as long as this is what God says He wants me to do,I will
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