It is interesting to note that the Proverbs given to Israel were short, pithy statements of wisdom to be taken home in the pocket of one’s life to use when needed. At anytime these "condensed parables could be expanded to longer stories of wisdom for the benefit of the hearer. Let us keep this in mind as we look at today’s "blessing."

Proverbs 19:18 gives timely, concise advice to all parents. It would do you well, if you have a young child, to heed such counsel! "Chasten thy son WHILE THERE IS HOPE, and let not thy soul spare for his crying." I think the important words in this verse are "WHILE THERE IS HOPE!"

Recently we looked at the word "HOPE." Let’s review quickly the meaning. The dictionary defines the word "As a desire with expectation of obtaining what is desired. Or a belief that it is obtainable." Keep that in mind as we proceed.

What does "chasten" means? Does it mean "Sit in a naughty chair?" Does it mean "no television for a week"? Does it mean "Go to your room?" I have news for you. "Chasten" means "correct by punishing." Now we have to figure out what "punishing" means.

Once again I turn to my dictionary. It says that punishment is "a penalty inflicted upon an offender as a retribution, and incidently for re-formation and prevention." I gather from this definition that "Chastening" is given to a child who has disobeyed, in some manner, what his parents or an authority has asked him to do or not do.

There seems to be a time limit to such "chastening." Notice the rest of the verse: "WHILE THERE IS HOPE!" That is the time limit! We discussed "hope." The idea of punishing a child for disobedience is that when the child grows up to be an adolescent, he will be obedient.

When he becomes an adult, he will be a law-abiding person with potential of fruitful opportunities. If the "chastening" or "punishment" is not given early (WHILE THERE IS "HOPE") there is no sense trying to make a boy or girl obey anymore. IT IS TOO LATE! They are bent for disobedience and breaking the law. They will write graffiti on walls and tear down stop signs. They will rob stores for drug money, etc. etc. A "child" who has learned to obey will be law abiding BECAUSE he learned to obey his parents!

Now go back a few chapters to Proverbs 13: 24. "HE THAT SPARETH HIS ROD HATETH HIS SON: BUT HE THAT LOVETH HIM CHASTENETH HIM BETIMES!" "Betimes" means EARLY or PROMPTLY! A parent who does not discipline his child does not really love his son or daughter. Is that hard for you to hear?

Our verse in chapter 19 continues: "AND LET NOT THY SOUL SPARE FOR HIS CRYING.!" No one want to hear his child cry. But a parent cannot be swayed by tears when there has been disobedience. If a parent wavers in the discipline, the child will not shape up!

A child, who can manipulate his parent, will have a rude awakening when he tries such tactics in school and/or in the business world. Mother and Daddy are not able to come to the rescue when the police arrest the son or when the daughter has stolen from the local Walmart.

Now as to the "naughty chair." It worked for my sister. I remember her sitting on a chair when she had been disobedient. "No Television for a week" will work for a teenager who has learned to obey as a small child. When one of our sons was a young man, he had some kind of infarction of our rules. I do not remember what it was. He was a very good son. But I knew I had to punish him. He was way too old and big for spanking. So I took away a sports activity. That was a strong punishment for him. I felt bad. He obeyed. He did not sneak away and do it anyhow. He had learned to obey.

I remember seeing our adult son discipline his toddler when she misbehaved in church. It hurt me to see her taken out and spanked over and over again. I said nothing. Soon that little girl could sit in church without a peep! Her father had not "spared for her crying." I have seen other children very disruptive who were never taught as a small child to be quiet in church! (ysw)