Without a Vision

 

"Without a vision, the people perish" is one of those partial Scripture verses people quote from time to time. I don't remember when I first heard it, but it was long ago, and my first understanding of it was very modern-day American: If you don't have an inspiring plan for your future, your life will turn out numb and meaningless. 

Well, plans are good. Stepping out to pursue something you believe God is leading you toward is even better. But what's wrong with my initial interpretation is that it's so me-centered, which is to say, individualistic. Let's look at several translations of the verse in Proverbs 29:18, because the wording varies in interesting ways.

"Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he" (KJV).

"Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but happy is he who keeps the law" (NKJV).

"When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful" (NLT).

"Where there is no vision [no revelation of God and His word], the people are unrestrained; but happy and blessed is he who keeps the law [of God]" (AMP 2015).

Notice the difference between "perish" and "cast off restraint" or "are not restrained"--these would seem not to be that close in meaning. My study suggests that "perish" is the less accurate of the two renderings; this verse is not, for example, meant as a call to evangelism. Taking several translations side by side reveals that "vision" isn't referring here to an individual's specific dream for their own life, but a revelation to an entire people of what God requires. The focus is society, or community. Think about this in terms of American society today. Have we cast off restraint? We absolutely have. There is nothing new under the sun, because the ominous ending of the Book of Judges describes us well: "In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes." We are no longer united under God as king, nor are we united politically (both parties declare "Not my president!" when someone from the other party is in office), nor do we allow anyone to tell us what to do. Our lifestyles, short of stealing and killing, are our own business. 

We turn individualistic and throw off restraint when we see no vision for us as a people. And then perhaps we begin to see where the perishing comes in. Freedom is only freedom with some restraints in place. A toddler who can run with glee all over a fenced-in yard will soon not be so gleeful if the fence is removed and they can run full-tilt into a parking lot, pond, or street. 

Without divine guidance, we run wild. And as a society, have gotten much, much unhappier. "But whoever obeys the law is joyful," says the NLT, and suddenly we are back in the singular. No matter what else is going on, no matter who is doing what, when we stick with God and His ways, even in the midst of community chaos, we can, as individuals and as the body of Christ, experience joy in Him.