Proverbs 22:15
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Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
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David spoke of being conceived in iniquity (Ps 51:5), and he told us children tell lies right from birth (Ps 58:3). Wise parents observe young children lying by furious screaming for no reason at all - they are lying and/or angry to demand attention.
Children are selfish, willful, impatient, lazy, discontent, liars, conceited, rebellious, etc. They do not need to be taught these things, as they know them instinctively from birth.
Without training, children only know foolish thought processes and reactions to life. If they are not corrected and taught wisdom, they will pursue these errors to a life of hell. And the best and only way of such correction and training is by the use of the rod.
A rod is a straight, slender wand of wood or other material that applied to the back can cause moderate pain without any bodily harm. It stings rather than thuds. It is called the rod of correction, for its purpose is to correct the foolishness raging in every child.
It was often a hickory stick, a popular American tree, and thus the old educational phrase, "Reading, writing, and arithmetic, all taught to the tune of a hickory stick." Consider Encyclopedia Britannica's entry for flogging in its 14th edition:
FLOGGING has been one of the most universally utilized methods of punishing public crimes, as well as a means of preserving family, domestic, military and academic discipline.
A foolish, rebel child, Bob Dylan, wrote (1964), "The Times They Are A-Changin." Parents do not spank much anymore; and of course, the amount of public crime and general rebellion, especially among youth, is much greater. But truth does not change.
And truth is simple. The rod of correction will save children from hell in this life. We still kill capital offenders; but many want to outlaw spanking, which would save such fools from killing others and thereby themselves (10:13; 13:24; 23:13-14; 26:3; 29:15).
Jesus was born without foolishness, without sin; He always obeyed His parents (Luke 2:51). And our Heavenly Father uses the scourge on all His children (Hebrews 12:5-11).
Children arrive programmed. No matter how sweet and darling mothers may believe, their hearts are void of wisdom and full of foolishness. They do not know or want right.
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