Read Proverbs 24 at Bible Gateway.
Hebrew paragraph divisions
Pro 23:6-24:14 {p} Desire, pursue wisdom, its benefit endures/ evil, gratification of the flesh is fleeting
Pro 24:15-18 {p} The righteous may fall but will rise again/ they do not rejoice when their enemy falls
Pro 24:19-22 {p} Don’t fret because of evildoers, they do not have a future/ their calamity is sudden, so fear the Lord
Pro 24:23-27 {p} Judge rightly + rebuke the wicked/ provide for your sustenance, then build your house
Pro 24:28-29 {p} Don’t bear witness against without a cause/ even if you have a cause, don’t return evil
Pro 24:30-34 {p} A man who is lazy rather than diligent in his work, poverty will come upon him
Pro 23:6-24:14 chiastic structure
The amazing chiastic structures loaded with wisdom for parents keep coming. We saw in the last few chapters that there is a difference between the rod of correction and the rod of anger, and we unpacked the 1A.2 pair, not withholding correction from a child. Today we learn that the reason we do not withhold correction from a child, is that a child, whose heart is bound up with foolishness, is stumbling toward death. Death and destruction is the end of foolishness, if one does not turn. And godly correction is designed to help children make that turn. Godly correction delivers a child from death.
If you see someone on the road to death, and stand back with your arms folded and say nothing, that is not love! (Pro 13:24).
This parenting wisdom from His word, which may have been known in past times when His word was known and taught among men, has been lost to us for at least several generations. But He is opening up His word again in our day, and revealing treasures of gold and silver from it. He is merciful and gracious, to the fatherless, and to the fathers who did not know how to deliver their children who are stumbling toward death. But once He opens the eyes of parents, may we be quick to change our way, if our practice does not line up with His wisdom. ♥
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