Today, I want to cover a verse that is often misquoted: Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Many times when a pastor, or other type of leader, gets up to give a plan for the future, they some times will quote from Proverbs 29:18. When asked why other preachers and pastors are not as successful they will often reply, "Well, the Bible says that where there is no vision the people perish, and they just did not have a vision of growth for the future." And while that may be true about that pastor and his lack of vision for the future, the fact is the Bible is not speaking of "a vision of the future" here in this verse. The word vision comes from a Hebrew word which means, "oracle." This is evident by the part of the verse that is never quoted: but he that KEEPETH THE LAW, happy is he. The failure comes when there is no preaching of the truths of God's Word. When we proclaim the truth of God's Word, we give the hearer the opportunity to inherit true happiness through obedience.
As we continue to read and study God's Word every single day, let's take heed to this verse.
That is a very good point about verse 18. I notice also it's proximity to verse 17, which says, "Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul." When we fail to instruct our children, not only do we lose a whole generation, but the generations to come are lost as well. Is that not the reason America is where she is today?
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy how we can each focus on a different facet of a chapter. My favorite here is:
ReplyDeleteEvery word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. [Proverbs 30:5-6 KJV]
I think of Eve's discussion with the serpent, when she added to God's command: And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. [Genesis 3:2-3 KJV]
"Don't touch it," isn't what God said. And God didn't say "lest ye die," He said: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. [Genesis 2:17 KJV]
Tammy - I saw that as well. The sad truth is we have generations that are bringing their grandchildren to church because the parents (children) have stopped coming. I have been praying and striving as a pastor to stop that trend, but I am convinced that the more I try to do, the less the parents think they have to do. We often fail to realize that it is not enough to just bring our children to church, but we have to "bring church home" to them.
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely right, Bro Brad - the vision that we need is clear understanding of the Word of God. A life based on God's Word will prosper, but a life based on ignorance of it will stumble and eventually perish.
ReplyDeleteProverbs 29:13 The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the LORD lighteneth both their eyes.
One way I see this coming to pass is when the Lord gives the poor wisdom to see the deceitful man for what he is (and can be cautious of him or stay away from him), and opens the deceitful man's eyes to see that this poor man actually has nothing he can take from him, and therefore he leaves to go deceive someone else.
My apologies for the double post -- but I read the wrong chapter on Saturday!! The verse focus for me in Chapter 29 is 29:21
ReplyDeleteHe that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length.
Such a picture of God's bringing up His servants to have them become His chidren. Such care He provides to their training!