This chapter has several themes including the need to accept correction.
“A fool rejects his father’s discipline, but he who complies with rebuke is sensible. A scoffer does not love one who rebukes him; He will not go to the wise. One whose ear listens to a life-giving rebuke will stay among the wise. One who neglects discipline rejects himself, but one who listens to a rebuke acquires understanding.” (v5, 12, 31-32)
Just like every piece of God’s instruction, our culture has twisted and warped discipline. We have reframed it to be a bad thing, full of connotations. We have promoted ‘human rights’ to such a high place that most ‘forms of discipline’ are now ‘human rights violations’. Yet, God says discipline is a good thing to be invited and embraced. Why the contradiction?
The world has warped many forms of discipline into physical beatings and verbal assaults – it seems some define discipline as breaking down someone’s spirit until they’re a sobbing mess. This is more akin to torture than to discipline. This warped application of ‘discipline’ does need to be abolished as a ‘human rights violation’.
In contrast, God’s discipline comes from a place of love and gentleness. A rebuke (the most common form of biblical discipline) is a verbal correction in alignment with God’s word. It’s completely non-violent and non-judgmental, encouraging a person to follow God’s commands in the most loving way possible (the majority of Paul’s letters rebuke people).
When properly applied in alignment with God’s guidance, discipline is an incredibly powerful and healthy thing. It helps us keep on the paths of righteousness and opens our eyes to sin that has (unknowingly) crept in (Satan often blinds us to our own sin). I encourage us to invite trusted individuals to speak God-honoring discipline into our lives, so that God may redeem our faults.
Father God, our Loving and Wise Lord, we thank You for Your gentle discipline. We ask for discernment in inviting those who love You to speak into our lives, so we may draw nearer to You. Please help grow the fruit of Your Spirit within us, so we too may lovingly speak into others’ lives. May all of our words and actions honor and glorify You. Amen.
~ Conqueror in Training