“Let the righteous smite me in kindness and reprove me; It is oil upon the head;” Psalm 141:5
The Bible uses graphic language. Today’s Verse (from KJV) has the word “smite”; not a word we use today. We would say strike or smack. Someone punching or open hand slapping. This is how David describes the Reproof he needed. More than just words. A physical sensation along with words of rebuke and admonition. He called it kindness, and though we aren’t as familiar with the reference, “oil upon the head”, in the Proverbs we’re told “Faithful are the wounds of a friend”. Same picture.
So how do we assimilate this into our world? Well, culturally, we may not be punching or slapping each other when we say hard things to our friends, but I think what we “say” at times needs to “hurt” and “wound” to be effective! Something to think about today!