focus

When it comes to Christian leadership training, Proverbs 29:18 is one of the most relied upon verses in the Bible. The passage we looked at last week, Habakkuk 2:2-3, while popular, doesn’t enjoy as much recognition as this one does.

Most often I’ve heard it quoted in the King James Version:

“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” – Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)

Dramatic, isn’t it? It sounds like a warning that without a definite and coherent vision, the salvation of souls is at risk. Because another popular verse also mentions the subject of perishing.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16 (KJV)

Is a vision so important that without it, people face certain doom? Not quite! The New King James Version revises the meanings of vision and perishing.

“Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but happy is he who keeps the law.” – Proverbs 29:18 (NKJV)

This translation treats vision as a message or a disclosure; it’s news. And people need revelation because without the ideas expressed in a vision, society runs amok.

You can see how trainers could use this verse in the KJV to warn, even threaten, church leaders with the indispensability of crafting and communicating a vision. Without it, their churches might die.

Other teachers adopt a minder perspective expressed in the NKJV. They believe vision is imperative, but stress the need to lay it out in ways people can understand and embrace. Absent the revelation of a clear vision, congregation members will resort to doing their own thing, and the resulting ministry chaos can damage or derail a church.

A third version, the New American Standard Bible, integrates the two previous versions.

“Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, but happy is he who keeps the law.” – Proverbs 29:18 (NASB)

Like the KJV, the NASB retains the language of vision but like the NKJV, it tempers the consequences of failure.

What is God telling us through this verse? We can answer this question by examining the structure of Proverbs 29:18.

The writer (whether King Solomon or someone else) crafted this verse in a poetic form of antithetic parallelism. This academic phrase refers to a verse that has two halves, with the second saying the opposite of the first.

What’s more, we can detect a literary form that aids memory and retention of the ideas. In English, the verse follows the pattern of A B C C’ B’ A’.

• A – vision : A’ – law
• B – people : B’ – he
• C – unrestrained : C’ – happy

We have three groups of opposite. The first members of each group follow an ABC sequence while the second are set in reverse order: CBA.

I noticed a slight difference in the structure of the verse in Hebrew. Here is a literal rendering:

          A           B           C                   C’               B’             A’

No vision   loosen   people   but   he who   keeps   the law   happy

Inserting all this into the format I used above, the sets look like this:

• A – vision : A’ – law
• B – loosen : B’ – keeps
• C – people : C’ – he

Let’s look at each group.

The Issue

Solomon (or one of his associates) contrasts a lack of vision (“no vision”) with adherence to God’s law. While these seem to have nothing to do with each other, the Old Testament indicates otherwise. Several Bible verses identify the Word of God and vision.

“Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD before Eli. And word from the LORD was rare in those days, visions were infrequent.” – 1 Samuel 3:1 (NASB)

“Once You spoke in vision to Your godly ones, and said, ‘I have given help to one who is mighty; I have exalted one chosen from the people.’” – Psalm 89:19 (NASB)

“Disaster will come upon disaster and rumor will be added to rumor; then they will seek a vision from a prophet, but the law will be lost from the priest and counsel from the elders.” – Ezekiel 7:26 (NASB)

So rather than speaking about a dream of the future or a plan for people to enact, Solomon focuses on Scripture.

I acknowledge that Proverbs 29:18 can and will motivate church leaders. Like the rest of the Bible, this verse has relevance for pastors and others guiding the growth of believers in Jesus Christ. But this proverb specifies the content of that vision. It must be an articulation of the Word of God. Anything else is a misuse of this verse.

The Action

Without a vision of God’s Word, what do people do? They “perish” or “cast off restraint.” The Hebrew verb (para`) refers to leading or being led in a loose or undisciplined manner. For example, when Moses was on Mt. Sinai receiving instructions from the Lord, the Israelites remained below, getting antsy. Things got so out of hand that they insisted Aaron make them a golden calf to be their god. Descending the mountain, Moses discovered the resulting chaos.

“Now when Moses saw that the people were out of control–for Aaron had let them get out of control to be a derision among their enemies– 26then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, ‘Whoever is for the LORD, come to me!’ And all the sons of Levi gathered together to him.” – Exodus 32:25-26 (NASB)

The verb has a milder meaning, too. Rather than outright rebellion, it can include indifference or disregard.

“Heed instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.” – Proverbs 8:33 (NASB)

The alternative for believers is faithful adherence to God’s Word. We are to keep His teaching. This verb (shamar) is quite common; it occurs 475 times in 431 verses in the Old Testament. Its meanings include to keep, guard, observe, or give heed.

God’s Word provides us with all the instructions we will ever need. And His guidance is so valuable, we should guard what He gives us. Twice Paul tells Timothy to protect the spiritual treasure of the gospel.

“O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called ‘knowledge’ ²¹which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you.” – 1 Timothy 6:20-21 (NASB)

“Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.” – 2 Timothy 1:13-14 (NASB)

No alternative to the gospel of Jesus Christ is worth it!

The Individuals

The last group has at best a mild contrast: a group versus a person. Plural versus singular. Not much there.

But we know the power of peer pressure. We recognize people are capable of doing things in mobs they’d never consider doing on their own. It’s easy to jump in and follow the crowd. The challenge is to stop, take a step back, and reflect. To pray about the situation. To ask the Lord for His will about the matter, and about how we should respond. But this takes time and patience, and how soon we discover both are in short supply!

It’s not that crowds are always wrong; that’s not Solomon’s point. He’s reminding us that to grasp the way of the Lord might isolate us. In time, we will find other believers, but that in-between period is tough! Having a clear vision of God’s truth helps. His Word overrides the opinions of thousands.

The Outcome

In the format, I listed only three categories, but I left a word out: happy! It’s separate from the structure of the verse.

What strikes me is that both parties are pursuing happiness. The crowds chase after it by doing whatever they want. But wise people seek the will of God. And they’re the ones who end up getting blessed.

I say blessed because that’s the root meaning of the Hebrew word ‘esher. And in the Old Testament, this blessing ties into knowing and doing the Word of God.

“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.” – Psalm 1:1-2

“How blessed are those who keep justice, who practice righteousness at all times!” – Psalm 106:3

“How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, who seek Him with all their heart.” – Psalm 119:2

“Now therefore, O sons, listen to me, for blessed are they who keep my ways.” – Proverbs 8:32

The blessing that attends those faithful to Scripture carries over into the New Testament. Even though it’s written in Greek and not Hebrew, the same thought applies. Jesus announces blessings, called beatitudes, for those who live according to God’s kingdom (see Matthew 5:3-12). There are other verses, too.

“While Jesus was saying these things, one of the women in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore You and the breasts at which You nursed.’ ²⁸But He said, ‘On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.’” – Luke 11:27-28 (NASB)

“If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.” – John 13:17 (NASB)

Application

The Word of God has enough to keep us busy! Whether we’re church leaders or not makes no difference. Without the vision God provides us in the Bible, we’re blind. We know neither where we are or where we’re going. But through Jesus, He offers healing for our eyes and direction for our paths. Join Him on the journey!