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[[File:homefather.jpg|right|thumb|250px|If someone has to spank their child that is often a sign that they have already failed or neglected their child somewhere or somehow as a parent.]]

== The Rod ==

In order for us to follow the mission of Christ we need to be in one accord with Christ and therefore with each other. The [[Pharisees]] thought they were in accord with [[Moses]] just as many people thinking they are Christians today believe they are in accord with Christ... but are not.

If we have [[Christ]] in us we will seek to follow [[The Way]] of Christ naturally. Therefore we must actually love the real [[Christ]] and not one made up by men who creep into homes deceiving, seducing and snaring people that may have a desire to follow sinful or [[covet]]ous ways.<Ref>2 [[Timothy 3]]:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with [[Divers_lusts|divers lusts]],</Ref>.

True love, challenges our hearts to [[Sacrifice|sacrifice]] ourselves in service to Christ and for those who seek Him. This love is like the love of a parent for their children and they may also challenge their own children to love others in righteousness.

* ''Spare ''the rod'' spoil the child'' comes from [[Proverbs 13]]:24 "He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes."

This word '''rod''' is from טבשׁ shebet<Ref name="shebet">{{07626}}</Ref> ''ShinBeitTet'' from an unused root probably meaning to branch off; and is normally translated ''tribe'' some 140 times but also ''rod'' 34 times. 

What is the meaning or sense of a word that means both ''rod'' and ''tribe''?

The appearance of the word ''rod'' here includes the letter [[Vav]]. This is the only place we see this form of ShinBeitTet[[Vav]].

The [[Vav]] at the end of the word may suggest a connection to the next word or following context for a fuller meaning of the BeitNun but here is seen as BeitNunVav. This word for son is followed by the word וְ֝אֹהֲב֗וֹ VavAlefHeyBeitVav which would commonly appear as AlefHeyBeit meaning "to love".

The next word in the original test<Ref>Westminster Leningrad Codex<Br>
חֹושֵׂ֣ךְ בְטֹו שֹׂונֵ֣א בְנֹ֑ו וְ֝אֹהֲבֹ֗ו שִֽׁחֲרֹ֥ו מוּסָֽר׃ </Ref> is ''shachar''<Ref name="shachar">{{07836}}</Ref>  שָׁחַר which is said to mean "to look early or diligently for". But again in this text of [[Proverbs 13]]:24 only the word  ''shachar''<Ref name="shachar"></Ref> has an additional [[Vav]] שִֽׁחֲרֹ֥ו.

The last word in the text is ''musar''<Ref name="musar">{{04148}}</Ref> from the word ''yasar''<Ref name="yasar">{{03256}}</Ref> meaning "to discipline, chasten, admonish". Yasar is YodShemachReish while musar is MemYodShemachReish in the [[Hebrew]].

The word ''rod'' in [[Proverbs 13]]:24 only appears as ShinBeitTet[[Vav]] in this one verse but there is another form that ends in [[Vav]] in [[Judges 21]]:24 where we see the word ''ləšiḇṭōw'' לְשִׁבְט֖וֹ with the letters [[Lamed]]ShinBeitTet[[Vav]] in the verse meaning something like returning "to his tribe" or ''taking their place among the branches or rods of the tree of their tribe''.

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== Beatest him ==


We also see in [[Proverbs 23]]: 
:  "Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge. 13  Withhold not correction from the child:<Ref name="young man">{{05288}}</Ref> for [if] thou beatest<Ref name="beat">{{05221}}</Ref> him with the rod<Ref name="shebet">{{07626}}</Ref>, he shall not die. 14  Thou shalt beat<Ref name="beat">{{05221}}</Ref> him with the rod<Ref name="shebet">{{07626}}</Ref>, and shalt deliver his soul from hell." Proverbs 23:12 

The Hebrew word ''naar'' translated "'''child'''" in this text is far more often translated "'''young man'''" or "servant".<Ref name="young man">{{05288}}</Ref> The root word consists of the Hebrew letters NunAyinReish but in this text we see '''[[Mem]]'''NunAyinReish. That variation only has 4 occurrences in the Bible. The three other times it is always used to denote '''young and old women or men'''<Ref> [[Genesis 19]]:4, [[Joshua 6]]:21, [[Esther 3]]:13</Ref> not children.

The [[Hebrew]] word we see for '''beat''' is NunKafHey.<Ref name="beat">{{05221}}</Ref> But here in Proverbs only we see '''Tav'''NunKafHey. The word we are told means '''beat''' without the additional letter [[Tav]] is said to mean everything from "smite" or "slay" to "stricken" or "given". To add a '''Tav''', the letter for "Faith", it could be reasonable to suggest the ''correction'' these verses are calling for include ''speaking the truth''. Since the truth can hurt it would seem reasonable that the ''rod'' is not made of iron or wood but actually represents something else.

The word for '''rod''' has the root of ''shebet''<Ref name="shebet">{{07626}}</Ref> ''ShinBeitTet''. But it  appears as '''Beit'''ShinBeitTet. The letter ''Beit'' added to a word that can mean branch or God's house here<Ref>{{beit}}</Ref>  suggest that by the adding of this one letter at the beginning of the word can suggest the rod consists of the housholds of God. The only other place this form appears is in [[Ezekiel 47]]:23 where it is translated relating to the word "'''tribe'''". 

A literal interpretation that some how these verse are encouraging the beating of anyone or much less children to teach them about God is absurd. 

The Kingdom of God was a network of families that set a moral standard of what was right and wrong based on the leading of the branches of the tree of life cultivated in a [[peculiar people|peculiar nations]] that were baptized in the [[Ten Commandments]].

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== Branches or rods ==

As we saw in [[Proverbs 13]]:24 the term for "rod" appears as ShinBeitTet[[Vav]] but there is another form that ends in [[Vav]] in [[Judges 21]]:24 where we see the word ''ləšiḇṭōw'' לְשִׁבְט֖וֹ beginning with the letter '''[[Lamed]]'''ShinBeitTet[[Vav]]. related to returning "to his tribe" or ''taking their place among the branches or rods of the tree of their tribe'' by what you do.


: "And the children of [[Israel]] departed thence at that time, every man '''to his tribe''' and to his family, and they went out from thence every man to his inheritance."  [[Judges 21]]:24 

This idea of returning everyone to their family and to their inheritance was part of the essential message of the Jubilee and the coming of the Messiah. The law of God is built into God's creation and through the power of the Love that created it and gives life. To stray from those principles is to stray from life and the [[righteousness]] of God.

This is what the [[faith]] of [[Abraham]] and the nation of [[Israel]] was all about. The the ministers of Christ like the [[Levites]] before them served the ''tents of the congregations'' as the people were willing to gather and serve one another. The same was true of the congregations of [[Christ]] who gathered in [[tens]] as he [[commanded]] to provide a [[daily ministration]] of [[pure religion]] through [[faith]], [[hope]], and [[charity]] providing the ''wages of righteousness'' through [[love]]. Seeking that government of God called the kingdom of God instead of the [[wages of unrighteousness]] of the world requires that we [[repent]] of the [[covetous practices]] of [[force]], [[fear]], and [[fealty]].


[[Israel]] as a nation was not to be bound together by schemes like the  [[Golden calf]] nor by [[compacts]] of [[force]]d [[corban]]. It was to be bound together by [[love]]. The same is true of the [[early Church]]. And certainly should be true for the [[family]].

Another word  הטמ ''matteh''<Ref name="matteh">{{04294}}</Ref> ''MemTetHey'' composed of different letters is also translated ''tribe'' 182 times, ''rod'' 52 times, ''staff'' 15 times, ''staves'' once. It is said to be from the word  הטנ natah ''NunTetHey'' which means to ''stretch out'' or ''turn''. Letters in [[Hebrew]] have meanings that can help us understand the full meaning of a word. See [[Sophistry]].

[[File:Golem2.jpg|right|250px|thumb|A parent by nature is a giant to a child and by nature a child wants to please their friendly giant. If a child is displaying a willful spirit where did that spirit come from? <Br>Could it have come from the spirit of a parent or ''other willful spirits'' given influence over the child who want to impose their will on the child by the use of fear through  physical violence by the infliction of emotional if not physical pain?<Br>More about [[Golem]].]]

[[Proverbs 13]]:24 is a part of a list and is preceded by [[Proverbs 13]]:23 "Much food [is in] the tillage of the poor: but there is [that is] destroyed for want of judgment."

This is a reference to the precept that was the sin of Sodom which is mentioned in [[Ezekiel 16]]:49 "Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy."

Giving without judgment weakens and even destroys people.<Ref>[[Plutarch]], [[Polybius]], [[Benefactors]]</Ref>


== The family of man ==

What is true  in a family applies when you seek to form a [[CORE|congregation]] based on the love of Christ.

It is hard to win the trust of sheep but with consistent guidance of love and patience it can be done.


We cannot force compliance to Christ by forcing others to comply with what we believe is doctrine. We exercise faith by doing all we do in love.

I will not spare the ''rod'' of a good shepherd.
[[File:Pharaoh.jpg|right|thumb|Pharaoh had a sheep crook and a whip. The sheep crook was to guide the people but the whip was to punish or discipline or fire people like [[Moneychangers|Jesus did in the temple]].]]

* [[Revelation 3]]:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.<Ref>Proverbs 9:8  Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
Proverbs 27:5  Open rebuke is better than secret love.</Ref>

Most of us do wrong by habit and of course you can train people to do good by forcing them to do it over and over again and by fear of punishment. But to win the hearts of people according to the ways of Christ, our tactics and policies must be His tactics and policies. That does not mean that a parent or even an adult may never use force to obtain compliance what righteousness is at stake and certainly not when safety of others is at stake. You may. But force is not used to win the hearts and minds of the people. And we need to desire that our children hear the wisdom of Christ in us.


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Habitually returning to error or the habit of sin is usually the result of ''Trauma'' where there is a part of our heart and mind that has been stunted or closed off. It becomes like a dark corner or room in our minds from which evil may influence us or those around us.

People need compassion and love which often includes forgiveness and patience to remove the influence coming from the dark trauma in our hearts or the hearts of others. Sin can be nothing more than [[Addiction]].

From the beginning God has wanted us to choose to follow Him and walk with Him. He did not want brother to rule over brother like [[Cain]] and [[Nimrod]] by force. He wants us to follow the ways of Abraham, Gideon, Moses and Jesus Christ.

*  "I am the good shepherd, and know my [sheep], and am known of mine." John 10:14

We must choose to follow the narrow path He leads us on. This is not an intellectual choice but a spiritual one. Many will not understand this because they live in the [[Trees|tree of knowledge]] and imagine they make choices by their own reason. 

Somewhere in our spirit our pride or humility will filter the evidence of truth, accepting or rejecting that validity and reason of God and His divine will. Our intellect is often used as a ''rod'' to steer us away from the inconvenient truths that God has laid before us.

Many who we have loved will not love Christ enough to hear His whole gospel. Anything less than the whole gospel is a lie.

The truth is there are many people who think they are Christ-loving, Bible-honoring, grace filled, gospel-preaching, self-debasing, peace-loving believers but are not. You know they are not because they do not do what Christ said to do. In fact they are doing exactly what the [[Pharisees]] did.

In truth most modern day people who call themselves christian, are not serving God but are by their ways and means serving the ends of the [[Fathers]] of the [[world]] and Satan.

'''How do they do that?'''

They fail to be the social [[welfare]] of the people according to the perfect law of liberty by providing for one another through true love and [[pure religion]] that is not a snare or a trap. Even more, their ministers encourage and condone the people to go pray to the men who call themselves benefactors and exercise authority one over the other by offering a welfare that is a snare and a trap. This action entangles them in the [[Bondage|bondage]] of the [[World|world]] again.

In order to keep the people under a strong delusion of false salvation these benefactors will need some ministers and priests out there doing good works to keep fooling many. They need to present some form of godliness but will be denying the power thereof.

: 2 Timothy 3:5 "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."

They will need to keep pointing to the few quotes that talk about belief in Christ and that supposedly being all you have to do. They will never point to all those places where He instructs a person to...
* keep commandments in order to have [[eternal life]], 
* seek the [[kingdom of God]] first,
* strive to be [[righteous]] if you want to be saved, 
* [[Charity|give]] or you will not receive, 
* [[forgive]] or you will not be forgiven, 
* be [[doers]] or you are not one of mine.
* pray to your [[father]] in heaven 

If you really believed, all these things would be evidence of your faith. But that is not what we see in the modern Church.

Do we believe in what Jesus said? 

Or do we believe in the doctrines of men gleaned from parts of the gospel?

The true ministers of God know the love and patience of God and know that he has sent them to rebuke those who think they are Christ-loving, Bible-honoring, grace gospel-preaching, self-debasing, peace-loving believers. Those people are actually allowing, promoting and condoning the same Corban of the Pharisees along with many other "damnable heresies" and delivering the people back into the yoke of bondage of the world.

Many preachers water down the gospel to keep their congregations whole. But we are not to be preaching our gospel but Christ's. The congregation must belong to Christ, not to the pastors. The ministers of God are supposed to be calling all to repentance, including those who think they are Christ-loving, Bible-honoring, grace gospel-preaching, self-debasing, peace-loving believers. Instead, those calling themselves ministers are going the way of the Pharisees and sending the people to pray to the men who call themselves benefactors but exercise authority.

We were directed not to be that way, and those who believe in Jesus should easily see that it is coveting your neighbor's goods to desire those benefits. This was and is the gospel of Christ and those who will not receive it are not Christ-loving or Bible-honoring and they will not be saved until they truly repent.

Many will not repent just as many Pharisees did not repent because they knew neither Moses nor Christ even though they thought they were Moses-loving, Torah-honoring, God-preaching, self-debasing, peace-loving Pharisees.

Yes! Many ministers will say they prophesied and preached in His name, and in His name cast out devils, and in His name have done many wonderful works and outwardly appear righteous unto men by their own standards, but within they are full of hypocrisy and iniquity... because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold and they will not sustain a society by faith, hope and charity. 

Instead of doing it as Christ said and the [[early Church]] did, they will not attend to the [[weightier matters]] and they will not turn away from the Corban of the modern state Church which encourages all to pray to [[Caesar]], [[Pharaoh]] and [[Nimrod]] to feed His sheep. Nor will they lift a finger to set the table of the Lord.