Where there is no vision … Proverbs 29:18
I am sure that many of you will recognize this proverb: Where there is no vision the people perish. Proverbs are short, catchy sayings that help us to understand and remember important truths. That is true for the Book of Proverbs and for proverbs in general. Here are some examples of ordinary proverbs – not found in the Bible:
- The pen is mightier than the sword.
- When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
These are well-known proverbs, but if you were hearing them for the first time; and if someone were to say just part of the proverb, would you understand it? Would it make sense? For example, if I say:
- The pen is mightier, or
- When in Rome
Because you are familiar with these sayings you are probably finishing them in your mind. But if they were new to you, they would not make sense. They would just be nonsensical words. Yet, that is exactly what we all do with Proverbs 29:18. Every time you hear this proverb, including in sermons, you only hear the first half of the proverb. “Where there is no vision the people perish” is not the whole proverb. This is what Proverbs 29:18 says: Where there is no vision, the people perish: but happy is he who keeps the law.
This proverb makes a comparison between two categories of people: the unhappy and the happy, those who do not even hear from God, and those who obey Him.
Church leaders sometimes use this proverb at the beginning of a project (like building a new church), or at the start of a new year (when we are setting goals and casting a vision for the year ahead). Setting goals and getting people motivated is all well and good, but using this verse as the basis for doing so is twisting God’s Word to say what it doesn’t say,
As it happens there are TWO reasons why we misunderstand this proverb.
- Because we do not read the whole proverb – so we miss the point.
- We only quote it from the KJV.
Now, before you send me angry emails, let me reassure you that I value the KJV very highly. It is an excellent, much-loved translation of the Bible. But it was translated 400 years ago. In that time the English language has changed. In addition, more (older) manuscripts have been uncovered. The science of textual criticism has also improved, as has our understanding of ancient languages. The result of all this is that, Proverbs 29:18, in the KJV, does not convey the intended meaning particularly well. There are now much better, clearer translations of this verse available. I encourage you to look up Proverbs 29:18 in several different translations (and in different languages). You might be surprised at the variety and clarity you will find.
Here are two good modern translation:
NLT – When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful.
ESV – Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law.
Keep in mind that these proverbs were written during the Old Testament period of the Kings, a time when God spoke to His people through the prophets. The prophets were God’s mouthpiece. The vision, or prophetic vision, or revelation, refer to God’s Word spoken through His prophets. What wise King Solomon was getting at is this: Where there is no word from the prophets, when people are not hearing from God, they run wild. They cast off restraint. They have no boundaries. We need to hear from God, otherwise we will end up totally lost and even deeper in sin.
You may remember the story of Samuel. When he was a boy helping Eli in the temple, and God called to him: “Samuel, Samuel”, he thought it was Eli calling him. Why didn’t he recognize the voice of God? The text tells us: “In those days the word of the Lord was there, there were not many visions” (1 Samuel 3:1). There was an absence of prophetic vision so that people were running wild, and so God called Samuel to be His mouthpiece, His prophet to speak the Word of God to the people.
Application for today
So, if this was written to people in a time when God spoke directly through His prophets, how does it apply to us today? Well, the good news is that God still speaks through His prophets. Although there are no Old Testament prophets walking around today, speaking direct words from God; God still speaks through His prophets and apostles because their words were written down. God’s Word is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. God still speaks today – every time we read the Bible.
So, please allow me to leave you with an up-to-date paraphrase of this proverb:
Where people are not sitting under the sound preaching of God’s Word, where they are not studying and understanding the Bible, they will inevitably ruin their lives: But those who live in submission to God’s Word will be fulfilled, happy and blessed.