The wise man and correction - both sides of the fence

Proverbs 29: 1 He who is often rebuked, (and) hardens his neck, Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

NKJV
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In the above verse I put the word "and" in parenthesis because the NKJV adds it for clarity, but if you read it without the "and" you get quite a different meaning to the passage.

Here is my take on it.

He who is often rebuked (will without a doubt ) harden his neck.

Wow this is a powerful warning to teachers, PARENTS, mentors, work supervisors, managers, pastors etc, about the danger of rebuking too harshly too often.

Do you want those under your care to be hard hearted to instruction?
Do you want those you are charged to shepherd to march determinedly away from wisdom because you did not follow wisdom's example?

If so then rebuke your children. Do it often to it loudly teach them to tune out instruction and hate correction, because the very next part of the verse tells us of a certainty what will happen when they do.

They will "suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. "

God help me to keep my children's hearts and teach them to LOVE wisdom...

AND INSTRUCTION!
.
Proverbs 1:7

But if this is true then the corollary is just as true. When we as God's children find ourselves in a situation that is full of chastisement and rebuke, we MUST MUST MUST guard our hearts so that we don't become the stiff necked/hard hearted fool of Proverbs.
(Incidentally the word for instruction there means chastisement. Not advice, not counsel but a good old fashioned spankin.)

Are you inviting God's wrath by resisting his chastisement?

Lord I pray that I you will give me the wisdom and humility to bear up under your rod so that I might mature into a man who reflects you glory. AMEN!

The wise man and correction - both sides of the fence

http://pollys-peak.blogspot.com/2005/08/wise-man-and-correction-both-sides-of.html