Proverbs 29

“Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, but happy is he who keeps the law.  A slave will not be instructed by words alone; for though he understands, there will be no response.” Proverbs 29:18-19 (NASB)

I have spent all my adult life in the music business and in local church music ministry.  As a touring recording artist, I have partnered with over 1000 local churches’ efforts in all 50 US states to share the gospel and encourage believers.  There is a very close relationship between music and preaching, which is evident throughout the Bible.  Martin Luther said that music is “the handmaiden of theology.”  Music serves theology.  Music is the soundtrack for vision (proclamation of God’s Word).  When the music and vision are in sync, it makes the transition from pedestrian life to corporate worship effortless.  But it doesn’t matter how good the music is when the vision is off.  Things just never come together, and the congregation is left with less than they hoped for, less than it could have been.

I have heard today’s verse preached from the perspective of a pastor’s vision for a church, for a building program, a small group effort, or perhaps, a way to reach young people.  While that is true from an operational standpoint, this proverb is not speaking of a pastor’s vision but God’s vision as revealed in His Word, the Bible.  Lack of vision (in Proverbs 29:18-19) is contrasted with keeping the Law.  So, the presence of vision means aligning oneself with the Word of God.  God is saying that whenever people depart from His Word and seek to do ministry for Him, yet apart from His articulated way to worship Him, it always ends badly. And we see that throughout the Bible.  

Consider the days when Samuel was called by God:  “Now the boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. And the WORD OF THE LORD WAS RARE (my emphasis) in those days; there was no widespread revelation.  And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see, and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the Lord where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down, that the Lord called Samuel. And he answered, ‘Here I am!’” 1 Samuel 3:1-4 (NKJV)

Consider the generation after Joshua: “When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who DID NOT KNOW THE LORD, NOR THE WORK WHICH HE HAD DONE (my emphasis) for Israel. Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served the Baals; and they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; and they followed other gods from among the gods of the people who were all around them, and they bowed down to them; and they provoked the Lord to anger. They FORSOOK THE LORD (my emphasis) and served Baal and the Ashtoreths.” Judges 2:10-13 (NKJV)

Indeed, we are a generation that lacks vision…in our nation and in our churches.  We’re reading the Bible to align our values with God’s vision. The seeds of REVIVAL!