Select verses Proverbs 29 ESV
18 Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint,
but blessed is he who keeps the law.
19 By mere words a servant is not disciplined,
for though he understands, he will not respond.
20 Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
22 A man of wrath stirs up strife,
and one given to anger causes much transgression.
23 One's pride will bring him low,
but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.
25 The fear of man lays a snare,
but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.
26 Many seek the face of a ruler,
but it is from the Lord that a man gets justice.
27 An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous,
but one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked.
What is a “prophetic vision”? And why does lack of such result in the people casting off restraint? Well, a prophetic vision can be the preaching of the gospel of Christ as Jesus taught it, and as his NT apostles taught it, in its fulness. It can also have to do with the spiritual gift of prophecy which engages us in the spreading of the full gospel message and in the rebuking of the lies, and in making the teachings of the Scriptures practical to our lives and world today according to our present day situations and needs.
Prophecy includes consolation and instruction. “Encouragement,” though, is not just all the feel-good stuff. Another word for this is “edification” which involves “constructive criticism and instruction that builds a person up to be the suitable dwelling place of God.” And encouragement is a “summons, exhortation, entreaty” and “holy urging,” as well as it is joy, gladness, and comfort. And this “holy urging” “is used of the Lord directly motivating and inspiring believers to carry out his plan.” So it can refer to exhortation, warning, and encouragement. (Source: Bible Hub interlinear)
This is severely lacking in our day and time here in America, for the majority all seem to be teaching a diluted and altered gospel message intended to tickle itching ears and to not offend the ungodly, and which does not teach death to sin and walks of obedience to our Lord in holy living, as required of God as part of God-gifted faith which results in forgiveness of sins and eternal life with God. And so the people are casting off restraint, i.e. the commandments of the Lord, in order to live however they want to live.
Now, as God’s holy people today, we are not under the Old Covenant liturgical, ceremonial, sacrificial, purification, and dietary laws and restrictions, including the requirement of circumcision of all males, which the Jews of the Old Covenant were under. But we are not to be lawless. For our Lord died on that cross to deliver us (to redeem us) from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works which God prepared in advance that we should walk in them.
And Jesus gave his life up for us on that cross so that we will now die with him to sin and live to him and to his righteousness in walks of obedience to his commands, and no longer in deliberate and habitual sin. For if sin is what we obey, it will lead to death. But if obedience to God is what we obey, it will lead to righteousness and to sanctification, and its end is eternal life with Christ our Lord. For if profess Jesus as Savior but we make sin our practice, and not obedience to God, then we do not have eternal life with God.
[Tit 2:11-14; Eph 2:8-10; 1 Pet 2:24; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Gal 5:16-21; Lu 9:23-26; Matt 7:21-23; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6; 1 Jn 3:4-10]
Human pride and stubbornness, though, will bring many down. Those who hold on to their pride and selfishness, who don’t want anyone else instructing them in how they ought to live, will go on charting their own course out of stubbornness and rebellion, and so they will continue to fall. Sometimes these are what I term “My Do It” people who are like stubborn children who want to do everything themselves with no one helping them, even if by going that direction they continue to fail time and time again.
Now, if we truly are following the Lord Jesus with our lives, and if what we are teaching and sharing is the true gospel message, and not these altered and cheapened versions of the gospel of Christ, we are going to be hated and mistreated and persecuted for our walks of obedience to our Lord. But we are not to fear our persecutors or what they might do to us, but our trust must remain in the Lord. This does not mean that we won’t suffer abuse. We will. But the Lord will carry us through it all and keep us in his love and care.
Something else that we must guard our hearts and minds against is putting our trust in other human beings who are bound to fail us. We should not be looking to other humans to be our salvation from what ails us as a nation or as the people of this world. For what ails our nations is sin, and only God can deliver us from our addictions to sin and to empower us to live holy and godly lives for the glory of God. So our trust needs to be in the Lord and not in other human beings who are bound to fail us and even turn against us.
Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer
Lyrics by Thomas O. Chisholm, 1897
Music by W. J. Kirkpatrick, 1897
Oh, to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.
Oh, to be like Thee! full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wandering sinner to find.
O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer others to save.
O to be like Thee! while I am pleading,
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love;
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit me for life and Heaven above.
Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee,
Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrYhiK2nQBg
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