Where There Is No Vision
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton
Text: Proverbs 29:18
I. The vision or revelation under consideration is not imagination or foresight
A. Of course, we do need to have prudence – the ability to see what comes next, but this isn’t the passage to use
B. This passage is talking about divine revelation, a vision in the night, a dream, or a prophecy.
1. Vision is another word for the Scriptures - II Chronicles 32:32
II. We need revelation from God
A. In order to understand God
1. We would know nothing of God if He did not reveal himself - I Corinthians 2:11-12
2. We cannot discover God as one would in a science experiment - Romans 11:33-34
B. To be in fellowship with God
1. Sin separates us from God - Isaiah 59:1-2
2. We cannot be in sin and be in fellowship with God - I John 1:5-7
3. Yet, it is God’s revelation that explains what sin is - Romans 7:7
4. Flights of fancy and personal feelings won’t bring us close to God
C. To do the will of God
1. A servant cannot do his master’s desires unless he is told what they are - Ephesians 5:15-17
D. To know our purpose
III. Without vision, we have not restraint
A. The KJV says “people perish.” The word para means to throw off, to let loose, to uncover, to make naked.
1. Used in Exodus 32:25 when the people threw off restraint, they let themselves loose
B. Without God’s teaching people are unrestrained - Romans 1:28-31
C. “Out of touch with God, man loses his humanness, and thus goes wild, becoming little better than the animal world” [George Kufeldt].
D. There are millions of people perishing because they have no guidance from God
1. Is it a wonder that the world has gone wild?
2. I Peter 4:1-6
IV. The key to happiness
A. Following God makes us blessed (happy)
B. It isn’t enough to have God’s revelation if we don’t heed it - James 1:21-25
