Proverb for the Day 6:23-24 — A Different Way To Live!

For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life, keeping you from the immoral woman, from the smooth tongue of the wayward wife.

Verse 23 notes that “father’s commands” (:20) and “mother’s teaching” (:20) are a “lamp” and a “light” to illuminate “the way to life” for their son (:20).

The guidance of loving parents can be so powerful – offering the same kind of direction and understanding about life as the well-known “lamp” and “light” of God’s Word (Psalm 119:105).

But “the corrections of discipline” sound like such a downer – just plain old punishment!

Although I’ll suggest the phrase actually offers so much more. “Corrections” are designed to put us back on course, after we got sidetracked.

“Discipline,” coming from the same root as being a “disciple,” speaks of voluntarily submitting to a “way of life.” It’s all about being willing to make changes and commit to following a planned system of doing things.

At first glance these verses has a pretty negative feel – like others always telling me what to do and punishment every time I do wrong! Yet I actually think it offers some pretty optimistic concepts.

All who are willing to receive direction from those who care for us and accept discipline as being for our own good are well down the road of a pretty exciting and meaningful “way to life.”