A willingness to listen, desire to learn, and spirit of humility are essential for one to be able to acquire wisdom. But there is one more component that is necessary – discipline. The instruction which we listen to, learn, and receive in humility will get us on the path of wisdom. Discipline keeps us on the right path once we are on it. If we ever stray from the path, discipline is what gets us back on track. So the wise man says, “Apply your heart to discipline and your ears to words of knowledge” (23:12).
“My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord or loathe His reproof, for whom the Lord loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights” (3:11-12).
Discipline is not pleasant when it is being administered. The discipline of the Lord often comes to us today in the form of rebuke and correction from His word, and the negative consequences that come as a result of our disobedience. We are not to reject or loathe it. The reason why the Lord disciplines us is not because He hates us, but because He loves us and wants to guide us to the way that is right. The Hebrew writer explained this passage when he discussed the suffering those brethren were experiencing at the hands of wicked men (Hebrews 12:5-10). We are disciplined because we have a loving Father in heaven who is committed to raising us properly. The Hebrew writer added: “All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness” (Hebrews 12:11). Ultimately, this discipline is for our good, even though it may not seem to be from a short-sighted perspective. This is why Solomon says elsewhere, “A wise son accepts his father’s discipline, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke” (13:1).
“He who neglects discipline despises himself, but he who listens to reproof acquires understanding” (15:32).
We have just noticed that discipline is not pleasant, but is necessary and, ultimately, for our good (Hebrews 12:11). The reason why it is good for us is that through discipline we gain understanding which leads to wisdom. One who tries to avoid discipline may do so in an effort to preserve himself, but if we look into the future, discipline leads us to the blessings of wisdom. One who rejects discipline is not helping himself, but is harming himself, thereby showing that he “despises himself.”
“A slave will not be instructed by words alone; for though he understands, there will be no response” (29:19).
The slave was one who was obligated to obey his master’s instructions in all things. In this way, it is an appropriate comparison to our responsibility to obey the Lord. There must be more than just teaching (“words alone”), otherwise, what is there to motivate the slave to obey? Even if the slave hears the instructions and understands them, there is no reason to obey the instructions without the threat of real consequences for disobedience – discipline. Discipline is necessary to motivate one who knows what is right to actually do it.
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Though discipline is necessary for one to learn, many do not see the point of trying to learn. The book of Proverbs contains a few passages that deal with the benefit of discipline and the end result of it.
“Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days” (19:20).
The New American Standard translates the second part of this verse, “that you may be wise the rest of your days.” The King James Version is slightly different: “That thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.” The former emphasizes a progression of gaining wisdom while the latter emphasizes the goal of possessing wisdom in the end. In either case, discipline is about our future, rather than the present. In the future, the discipline that leads us to grow in knowledge from God will result in wisdom, understanding (12:1), and honor (13:18).
“For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light; and reproofs for discipline are the way of life” (6:23).
In the previous verses, we saw that discipline leads to wisdom (19:20), understanding (12:1), and honor (13:18). If these were not enough to convince one of the benefits of discipline, the wise man adds here that the path of discipline is “the way of life.” It will help us avoid trouble in this life (6:24-35), as well as the next (7:22-27).
“A fool rejects his father’s discipline, but he who regards reproof is sensible” (15:5).
Knowing the benefits of discipline, it is a fool who rejects it. One who is sensible will accept discipline because he knows that it is ultimately for his good.
“Stripes that wound scour away evil, and strokes reach the innermost parts” (20:30).
This verse mentions the unpleasant nature of discipline. Though we might be able to immediately see the point of this verse as it relates to the discipline and training of children, the principle applies to every type of discipline. Discipline is not just about punishing wrongdoing. It is also not just about suffering consequences as a fact of life. There is another purpose to discipline – scouring away evil. Discipline that is properly administered, and is also properly regarded by the one being disciplined will help him to remove sin from his life, not just outwardly, but from his heart.
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Unfortunately, not all are willing to accept discipline as being for our good. Some will reject it. This has consequences.
“Grievous punishment is for him who forsakes the way; he who hates reproof will die” (15:10).
The way that is being forsaken is the way of wisdom. Those who reject God’s standard and do not walk according to it will be punished. The goal of discipline (“reproof”) is correction so that the one who once rejected God’s ways will return to them. One who “hates reproof” will continue on the path that leads away from life and, without an appropriate change of direction, will eventually face death – not physical death (which we must all face), but eternal separation from God.
“Cease listening, my son, to discipline, and you will stray from the words of knowledge” (19:27).
The wise man is, of course, not trying to persuade his son to stop listening to discipline. He is simply explaining the consequences of ceasing to listen. He “will stray” – indicating not a possibility, but a certainty – from true knowledge and wisdom, following instead the path that leads to punishment and death (15:10).
“A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools” (26:3).
The whip and the bridle were necessary for these animals because they could not understand and decide to take the right path on their own with nothing more than verbal instructions from their owner. Therefore, the whip and the bridle were necessary in order to persuade them to do what was expected of them. The longer it took for them to listen and respond appropriately, the more pain and discomfort the animal would feel. In the same way, “a rod [is] for the back of fools,” in that one who rejects discipline and refuses to follow wisdom will continue to suffer the consequences of his disobedience.
“A man who hardens his neck after much reproof will suddenly be broken beyond remedy” (29:1).
The hardening of the neck refers to one’s heart becoming calloused. Though he may be disciplined in order to be corrected, his conscience has become seared (cf. 1 Timothy 4:2) so that he will not abandon his sin. Eventually, after rejecting discipline for so long, he will be broken suddenly (cf. 6:15), meaning his sin will catch up with him and he will reach the point of no return. This is when his calamity (6:15) comes. There will come a point in the future when everyone who rejects discipline and continues in the path of wickedness will no longer have any hope of correction and avoiding the ultimate fate for their folly.
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The passages we have noticed so far on the topic of discipline have had to do with receiving discipline. But what if we are the ones needing to exercise discipline and reprove others? The book of Proverbs contains instructions that teach us how we are to administer discipline, and warns us of how it will often be received.
“He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself, and he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself. Do not reprove a scoffer, of he will hate you, reprove a wise man and he will love you” (9:7-8).
The dishonor one receives when he corrects a scoffer is from the scoffer himself. He is not interested in learning the way of wisdom. He simply wants to do what seems right to him. Therefore, if you try to correct him, “he will hate you.” Elsewhere it says, “A scoffer does not love one who reproves him, he will not go to the wise” (15:12). Rather than responding with gratitude, as the wise man will, the scoffer will respond with insults directed toward the one attempting to correct him. One must have a thick skin if he is going to correct others, or else he will soon abandon his attempts.
“Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the discipline of fools is folly.” “A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.” “Though you pound a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his foolishness will not depart from him” (16:22; 17:10; 27:22).
The first verse listed above describes the discipline of fools as being a futile endeavor. The reason for this is because the fool is not willing to listen. He is not interested in the truth. Therefore, any effort to teach him will be in vain. One with understanding has it because he has desired it and has worked to obtain it. Therefore, because of his good attitude, any rebuke that is necessary “goes deeper” into him and helps him to grow. In contrast, a fool has no desire to gain understanding. Therefore, the discipline that would help the wise man, though it may be administered a hundred times to the fool, will not cause any change in him. Though he may be crushed, “yet his foolishness will not depart from him.”
“Strike a scoffer and the naive may become shrewd, but reprove one who has understanding and he will gain knowledge” (19:25).
From the earlier passages, it may seem as though the discipline of fools is pointless. If they will not listen and correct their ways, why bother trying to correct them at all? The answer is found in the verse above. When you “strike a scoffer,” though he may dishonor, insult, and hate you (9:7-8), others may be helped by your efforts. Though the scoffer may not change, “the naive” who witness your efforts may learn the lesson that was intended for the one receiving the discipline. As a result, he may become shrewd or wise (cf. 21:11).
“He who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with the tongue” (28:23).
This is another passage that reminds us that it is better to try to correct someone than not, even if we risk the insults and hatred that sometimes come from one who rejects discipline. Flattering the one who needs to change does nothing to help them. Rebuking him may result in insults and hatred (9:7-8). Or it could lead him to “love you” (9:8) as he learns the way of wisdom. “Better is open rebuke than love that is concealed” (27:5). Better to rebuke someone on the chance that he will repent than to flatter him and thus provide implicit encouragement for him to remain in his sin.
