Foolishness in the Heart of a Child - Proverbs 22:15

In the book of Proverbs Solomon said, “the mouth of the strange woman is a deep pit:he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein”, and in chapter twenty-two and verse fifteen of Proverbs Solomon said, “foolishness is bound in the heart of a child” where we read,

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child;

but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

The verse begins, “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child;” Solomon began with the words, “foolishness is bound” or “folly and silliness exists as tied, leagued together and confined” “in the heart” which means “within the soul, mind and will” “of a child” or “belonging to a lad, lass or youth such as from infancy to adolescence”. Solomon shared how silliness and folly are leagued together within the soul, mind and will of children from infancy to adolescence. 

The verse continues, “but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.” Solomon added the words, “but the rod of correction” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover the staff, branch, shaft or scepter pertaining to discipline, chastening, doctrine, rebuke and instructions” “shall drive it” which means “will remove, distance and put foolishness” “far from him” or “separate and apart from the child to a great and extended degree”. Solomon said the scepter or staff of discipline would remove “foolishness” from a “child”.

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Solomon how discipline is important for children because they are inclined to act in “foolish” ways. “Correction” is never to be in the form of abuse, however the release of guilt through punitive measures puts a child on a path for success for their future. Solomon will later declare, “a child left to himself brings his mother to shame” (See Proverbs 29:15), and too many children get on a wrong path because they have little or no direction given to them. God loves us, and when we yield to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and discipline and correct us as His children to “drive away” any “foolishness” that is within us. (See John 1:12)

Next time Solomon shares about, “he that oppresses the poor to increase his riches”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".