Proverbs 23:11-15

Proverbs 23:11-15
English Standard Version
​11 for their Redeemer is strong;
    he will plead their cause against you.
12 Apply your heart to instruction
    and your ear to words of knowledge.
13 Do not withhold discipline from a child;
    if you strike him with a rod, he will not die.
14 If you strike him with the rod,
    you will save his soul from Sheol.
15 My son, if your heart is wise,
    my heart too will be glad.

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We're picking up mid-thought from last time when Solomon tells the people not to move the ancient landmarks that show the division of the Land that the LORD gave to His covenant people.  This isn't a simple property rights issue, but the security of our eternal inheritance and if anyone is able to steal or take that away from us.  Solomon points back to how the salvation of the LORD's people was bought with the price of blood with the Passover Lambs--it was that night that the LORD called Himself the Redeemer of His people Israel and said that He had bought them with a price and that they belonged to Him and were not their own.  This pointed to a greater redemption and a greater price that would be paid by Jesus as our Passover Lamb on the cross.  It is because God was looking forward to that sacrifice that He could credit Jesus's righteousness onto the accounts of the Old Testament saints.  Their inheritance of the Promised Land pointed to a greater gospel truth of the New Heavens and the New Earth (and possibly the Millennial reign of Jesus too, depending on your views of eschatology and when you believe the Millenium happens).

The one who redeemed His people is also the one that will sit in judgment over them.  He will not let the wicked go unpunished, and will be their Judge, but will also be their Justifier.  In this case, moving the ancient boundary markers gives the LORD just cause to act as the prosecuting attorney against them, and they will have no defense.

Make time to listen to good teaching, sound doctrine, and wisdom.  You will have to search it out and treasure it when you do find it.  There are many people who speak nothing worth listening to, but treasure those who preach the gospel and the Word of God and correctly divide it (interpret and apply it) both for themselves and for the others they are preaching to.

Next, Solomon once again tells the people (though I think he's speaking more directly to his son here) to not withhold discipline from children.  Perhaps this is a mistake the Solomon made that he realizes now, or perhaps it's a mistake that he sees his son making that he wishes to speak to for the sake of his grandchildren before it is too late.  Solomon says that correct discipline should offer reproof without risk of death or great bodily harm.  The goal is not to injure the body, but to save the soul as hopefully the child repents, turns away from evil, and turns towards God.  Hopefully he understands the love of God better through the love of his father (and mother) who loved him enough to discipline him, just as the LORD loves His children enough to correct them.

Finally, Solomon says that the thing that would make him the happiest would be if his son would also be wise (remember that Solomon's wisdom was a gift from the LORD so that he could rule over the LORD's people well).  Solomon knows that if his son is to rule over and shepherd the LORD's people, he too will need the LORD's wisdom.  However, that will not be the LORD's plan for Solomon's sons.  They will make foolish decisions that will divide the nation into two kingdoms.  We've already seen that with 1 and 2 Kings and 1 and 2 Chronicles.