Where There is No Vision, the People Perish

Proverbs 29:18 teaches, “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. “

The Law” (torah) is not merely the written Mosaic Law, but the announcement of God’s will by the mouth of his representatives.

Many times God’s people neglected Him. First, we note the licence of Eli’s time,

when there was no open vision.

(1Samuel 3:1-21.) “no vision that broke forth” — no publicly recognized prophet whom the people could consult, and from whom they might learn the will of God.” J.F.B.

Now, where there is no preaching, men perish in their sins; the word being the ordinary means of grace, ( Acts 20:32) of regeneration (Titus 3:5), conversion (John 3:3), faith (Roman’s 10:17), and salvation (Ephesians 2:8-10); without which, men know nothing of Christ, of peace, pardon, righteousness, and eternal life by Him: and where there is preaching, yet it not being of the right kind, there is no spiritual knowledge spread by it, no food for souls under it.” Gill

Secondly, we note, in Asa’s days, when Israel had long been without a teaching priest is related in (2Chronicles 15:3).

2Chronicles 15:1  And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded: 
2Chronicles 15:2  And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The Lord is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you. 
2Chronicles 15:3  Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law. 

2Chronicles 14:2  “And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God.”

The Lord is with you while you are with him. (James 4:8) This is both a word of comfort, that those who keep close to God shall always have his presence with them, and also a word of caution: Gill

1. “He is with you, while you are with him, but no longer; you have now a signal token of his favorable presence with you, but the continuance of it depends upon your perseverance…”
2. . “If you seek him, he will be found of you. Sincerely desire his favor, and aim at it, and you shall obtain it. Pray, and you shall prevail.” See Hebrews 11:6. But,
3. . “If you forsake him and his ordinances, he is not tied to you, but will certainly forsake you, and then you are undone, your present triumphs will be no security to you; woe to you when God departs.” M.H.

The third instance of note is when the impious Ahaz “made Judah naked”

2Chronicles 28:19  For the Lord brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel;

for he made Judah naked, 

(had dealt wantonly in Judah; or margin, Revised Version, had cast away restraint in Judah , he had allowed Judah to break loose from all restraints of true religion, and to turn to any idolatry that they preferred.

and so of the divine protection.

Judah was without vision.

and transgressed sore against the Lord.

Fourth of notice or “when the people were destroyed by reason of lack of knowledge of Divine things (Hosea_4:6).

Hos 4:6  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. 

Friends, all of these can be lost by Christians though our salvation remains secure –The path of life, the perfect will of God, a sense of his presence, sense of his love. When without vision, people perish, they are made naked and forsake the protection of a robe of righteousness. And:

Isaiah 61:3  reveals more to be lost” … “beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

Beauty is ours , joy, praise, righteousness, a secure planting, and He is glorified in our midst. Oh praise his name. Love ya