Proverbs 29:18

The book of Proverbs gives us a lot of instruction on a lot of different subjects. One subject that can keep us in God’s wisdom is Godly Follower-ship. Who we follow; where we follow; how we follow are all spoken about in Proverbs. Here is one of them. 

Proverbs 29:18 (NASV)

"Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, 

but happy is he who keeps the law."

Proverbs 29:18 (ESV)

Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint,

but blessed is he who keeps the law.

Proverbs 29:18 (NIV)

Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;

but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.

Here is a great Proverb to illustrate the beauty of Hebrew poetry. Remember the lines in the poetry are supposed to compliment or contrast each other. In the first line of the proverb above we see what happens when people don’t have a revelation. The phrase “no revelation,” used in the NIV, is translated (in the ESV, NASV and KJV Bible) as “no vision.” So, where there is no vision the people cast off restraint—or, as in the other text state, “they perish.” The second line shows us both what happens when we have revelation and where that revelation or vision comes from: The law, another phrase in the Bible for God’s Word, is the real revelation and if we follow that revelation we don’t perish and aren’t in a position to cast off restraint, but rather blessed. God’s Word gives us the revelation and direction we need to so we can be blessed rather than in a state of chaos. The next time you have no direction turned to His revelation!

When we have no revelation from God, we have no ability to restrain our flesh from simply pursuing the open evil that is in our heart.   The heart of man is rebellious and is always seeking its own desires.   The only way to restrain the heart is from the vision of the prophetic word of God.   We can let our minds wander, or, we can focus on the truth of God's Word.   We are to bring our minds into the captivity of God's Word (the "law" in the second line).   When we do allow the law to contain us we can find real blessing ("happiness" in the second line).  The proverb is all about how we respond to the authority of God's Word and how much we appreciate it and glorify God in it.   When we don't have a vision from God or the Law of God to guide our way, we have no hope and we can't find our path.  That will end up in an unrestrained life.  Solomon is warning us to make sure we don't live our lives absent of a vision or the law of God.   Embrace His prophetic revelation and His reliable truth.