So, usually Psalm 13 is the primary source for justifying the physical [and all too often extreme] punishement of children. While no one [I hope] would say that the abuse perpetrated against the 13-year-old in the story above is justified, I have to ask: Does Psalm 13 really say that and justify any kind of physical child abuse?
MACCLESFIELD, N.C. (AP) -- An autopsy report shows a 13-year-old boy left tied to a tree for 18 hours in June died of dehydration and heat stroke.
WRAL-TV reports that Tyler McMillan's autopsy shows his body temperature was 105.6 degrees when he was taken to the hospital. Tests showed a pattern of dehydration.
Authorities say Tyler McMillan's parents found him unresponsive on June 12 after he had been tied to a tree overnight as punishment. His father, Brice McMillan, and stepmother, Sandra McMillan, have been charged with murder and felony child abuse.
The autopsy also found Tyler had insect bites on his arms and legs, bruises on his buttocks and legs that may have been caused by a rod-like instrument and marks on his wrists and ankles consistent with plastic ties.
The Hebrew word used in the Psalm [and 191 times in the Hebrew Scriptures] is šēḇeṭ. A masculine noun meaning a rod, a scepter, and a tribe. As a rod, it represents [among other things] a common tool used as a shepherd's staff.
Does a shepherd beat his sheep with his staff? I don't think so.
I would guess that a shepherd would apply his staff to his sheep to bring then back into the flock after wandering off -- firmly for sure -- but also not a beating of any kind.
I think it's called discipline [you know: 'training'] -- kinda related to disciple-ing -- making disciples, training them, you know: "teaching them to observe all that I have commanded" -- just like he said at the end of Matthew.
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