“Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.” Proverbs 29:18
Devotional Thought For The Day
Two items of importance are mentioned in this proverb, “prophetic vision” and “the law.” The first refers primarily to times when there is an absence of one who receives testimony directly from God – during the Old Testament era, and also to times when no one continues the prophetic office by speaking and teaching the Word of God that was revealed through the prophets and given to us by means of God’s written Word. The second refers to what these prophets wrote down, the written Word of God. In the absence of “prophetic vision” we still have the law, the written Word of God, and we are “blessed” even in the absence of a proper ministry of God’s Word if we “keep” God’s Word in our personal lives – by reading, comprehending, absorbing, believing, and acting consistent with the written Scriptures. And it is important to remember that any “ministry” that conflicts with the written Word of God is discordant with and contradictory to “prophetic vision” and “the law.” Those who engage in this kind of false ministry are to be rejected, for to join with them would be a casting off of restraint – as is well documented in the history of the church and also the various histories of the cults and sects.
In Old Testament times there were often periods where there was a dearth of “prophetic vision.” [1 Sam. 3:1] Yet even in these times, at least after the days of Moses, “the law,” the written Word of God was available. There were also many times when competing “prophets” far outnumbered true prophets of God’s Word, contradicting both the “prophetic vision” and also “the law,” the written Word of God. The same conditions prevail today; within the church few pastors and teachers understand their prophetic calling to teach God’s Word in its truth and purity, and of course the cults and sects have their own “prophets,” writings, documents, and scriptures that govern their “ministry.” So the church is viewed primarily as an “institution,” a social bond between somewhat like-minded individuals, whose “restraint” is governed by their own deliberations and decisions; or as an institution governed by a hierarchy, whose restraint is wholly determined by some “pope.” And cults and sects mimic this, often to grotesque extremes; and today we often see similar grotesque lack of restraint within “churches.” The proverb clearly indicates that when the Word of God is absent, despised, and rejected, these circumstances will follow.
What to do in such times – when churchly institutions fail the prophetic mission by rejecting the Word of God, the written Scriptures [which they are supposed to be servants of], and the whole of society spins into “lack of restraint”? There is one way to retain the blessing of God – and this is to “keep the law” of God. Now surely this means the morality taught by God’s Word, the Ten Commandments. But more importantly it means the whole teaching and instruction of God’s Word – especially in regard to repentance, confessing our sins, and humbly putting our faith and trust in God’s gracious mercy, forgiveness, and steadfast love. When we believe God, and the One Whom He has sent, we pass from death to life, to eternal life, and we will not come into condemnation [Jn. 5:24]. Living in God’s love we will also grow in our love – love for God and for others – and “love is the fulfilling of the law.” [Rom. 13:10] So our love will be shown by our constraint of our sinful nature and its impulses, and our adherence to God’s moral law. If we endeavor to thus “keep the law” in the midst of people who have “cast off restraint,” our tribulations, trials, and troubles in this world will surely increase and multiply; but we have the promise of God’s Word that we will remain blessed.
It is sad to contemplate that this is precisely the circumstances within which we live today. It is sad that many within the church don’t even recognize the dramatic shift that has taken place in regard to “restraint” – and so they think that they can cede certain teachings from God’s Word – the written Scripture – and compromise with those who reject prophetic vision and the law, without losing all restraint themselves. The fact is, such capitulation is precisely the loss of restraint that this proverb warns against! And once we stray from the Word of God we become engulfed in the paganism and immorality of the darkness of this world. So let us determine to hold fast to the Word of God, and to abide in the Word of Jesus, to keep the law – by repentance, true and genuine faith in God’s gracious love, and in a life of genuine love, adhering to and seeking to fulfill the moral law of God, living in restraint. No matter what happens to us in this world, by holding to God’s Word we will certainly be blessed eternally!
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, our sinful nature is such that prophetic vision and Your written Word have little hold on us, and we too struggle to live with restraint. Help us to take Your Word seriously, so that Your gracious and loving hold on our hearts and minds may ever increase, renewing us in the way of true godliness, decency, and love. Preserve us from the wiles of the devil and the deceit of the world around us. Preserve us also from the vicious attacks of the unbelieving, their malice and hatred. Enable us to endure all faithfully until we come into Your heavenly kingdom. Amen.