Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Now isn’t that the gospel truth my Friends? Where there is no vision, no foresight, no proper planning or looking ahead, most things eventually come to a dead end or simply fail. In this case though, the writer is talking about nations where there is no divine revelation, no divine guidance from God through one of His appointed spokespeople, be it a prophet or priest. But the same is also true of that situation. If a people don’t have divine guidance and wisdom continually pouring down on them, they will eventually perish. Their morality will suffer greatly, possibly be even non-existent, and without morality, which is basically obedience to God’s known dictates, a nation will surely go under after some time. That’s because the basic laws of God that embrace institutions like the family, the church, the courts, etc. are what keep a nation flowing smoothly and prospering too. If there’s nothing that fosters togetherness, decency, right living, non-violence, peace and LOVE, then there’ll most likely be eventual anarchy and self-destruction. When everybody’s doing their own thing without overall godly guidance, the society will implode. And Friends, that’s exactly why our world is in such a dreadful state right now. In recent years our leaders were not being guided by the moral laws of God, and neither was there much moral suasion amongst the general population. Violence and strife, greed, deceit, jealousy, rights for everybody and everything, rejection of God and widespread immorality were the guiding principles. We’d become like Israel, before Samuel came on the scene and straightened them out, had them running in a more godly direction. ‘And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no vision.’ (I Sam.3:1) Yes people, Israel had moved so far away from the Lord, abandoned their religious principles, rules and values, that it caused a famine, a drought of God’s revelations, of His guidance and direction. And as it continued, it just got worse, perpetuating itself. Eli, the chief priest wasn’t doing his job, while his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas were running amok with Lucifer. ‘Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the Lord.’ (1 Sam.2:12) Things got so bad that the Lord had to use Samuel, a mere child at the time, to start turning things around. ‘Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord; for men abhorred the offering of the Lord. But Samuel ministered before the Lord, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.’ (1Sam.2:17-18) Hn! How sad: a child wearing a priest’s robe, doing priestly duties. What a burden for poor Samuel to bear. But he bore it faithfully and valiantly! Eli’s family eventually lost the chief priest job, and his two sons died on the same day. And the Lord promised Eli: ‘I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart, and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed forever. And it shall come to pass, that everyone that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priest’s offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.’ (1 Sam.2:35-36) Wow! The Lord sure doesn’t make joke Friends. And my brethren, unfortunately, that’s exactly what’s taking place in our world today. Many people are begging for both money and bread. Many of them through no fault of their own, but that of the people on the top rungs of the ladder, who failed them, because they had no vision, they did not adhere to God’s laws, and so the people end up suffering. But we can’t blame the leaders only, we have to accept some of the blame too, for many of us know better than to follow the world’s policies, principles and values which are the exact opposite of God’s. So all of us, from top to bottom have to share in the blame. Sadly though, it’s the people at the bottom who are bearing the brunt of the ‘sufferation.’ In proportionate terms, the rich are still rich and still living comfortably, while large portions of the society have no jobs, houses or food. And it’s getting worse daily. Some pundits claim it will get even worse, before it gets better. Let’s hope they are wrong, like they’ve been on so many other occasions. However my Friends, there’s one essential fact we’ve got to remember if we hope to avert further disaster and rise like the phoenix from our ashes once again. And the essential fact is that the Lord God Jehovah is still in control, and just like he sent the child Samuel to start turning around things in Israel, He will do the same for us, cause He’s promised never to leave nor forsake us, but to be with us always, even to the end of the world. Let’s believe that, store it in our hearts, minds and souls and use it as an anchor or safe harbour when our faith becomes fragile and unsure. Let’s lean upon the Rock, that’s our God. He will not let us down. Much LOVE!…continual disobedience to God’s laws…only leads to disaster… To Be Continued.
Now isn’t that the gospel truth my Friends? Where there is no vision, no foresight, no proper planning or looking ahead, most things eventually come to a dead end or simply fail. In this case though, the writer is talking about nations where there is no divine revelation, no divine guidance from God through one of His appointed spokespeople, be it a prophet or priest. But the same is also true of that situation. If a people don’t have divine guidance and wisdom continually pouring down on them, they will eventually perish. Their morality will suffer greatly, possibly be even non-existent, and without morality, which is basically obedience to God’s known dictates, a nation will surely go under after some time. That’s because the basic laws of God that embrace institutions like the family, the church, the courts, etc. are what keep a nation flowing smoothly and prospering too. If there’s nothing that fosters togetherness, decency, right living, non-violence, peace and LOVE, then there’ll most likely be eventual anarchy and self-destruction. When everybody’s doing their own thing without overall godly guidance, the society will implode. And Friends, that’s exactly why our world is in such a dreadful state right now. In recent years our leaders were not being guided by the moral laws of God, and neither was there much moral suasion amongst the general population. Violence and strife, greed, deceit, jealousy, rights for everybody and everything, rejection of God and widespread immorality were the guiding principles. We’d become like Israel, before Samuel came on the scene and straightened them out, had them running in a more godly direction. ‘And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no vision.’ (I Sam.3:1) Yes people, Israel had moved so far away from the Lord, abandoned their religious principles, rules and values, that it caused a famine, a drought of God’s revelations, of His guidance and direction. And as it continued, it just got worse, perpetuating itself. Eli, the chief priest wasn’t doing his job, while his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas were running amok with Lucifer. ‘Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the Lord.’ (1 Sam.2:12) Things got so bad that the Lord had to use Samuel, a mere child at the time, to start turning things around. ‘Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord; for men abhorred the offering of the Lord. But Samuel ministered before the Lord, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.’ (1Sam.2:17-18) Hn! How sad: a child wearing a priest’s robe, doing priestly duties. What a burden for poor Samuel to bear. But he bore it faithfully and valiantly! Eli’s family eventually lost the chief priest job, and his two sons died on the same day. And the Lord promised Eli: ‘I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart, and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed forever. And it shall come to pass, that everyone that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priest’s offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.’ (1 Sam.2:35-36) Wow! The Lord sure doesn’t make joke Friends. And my brethren, unfortunately, that’s exactly what’s taking place in our world today. Many people are begging for both money and bread. Many of them through no fault of their own, but that of the people on the top rungs of the ladder, who failed them, because they had no vision, they did not adhere to God’s laws, and so the people end up suffering. But we can’t blame the leaders only, we have to accept some of the blame too, for many of us know better than to follow the world’s policies, principles and values which are the exact opposite of God’s. So all of us, from top to bottom have to share in the blame. Sadly though, it’s the people at the bottom who are bearing the brunt of the ‘sufferation.’ In proportionate terms, the rich are still rich and still living comfortably, while large portions of the society have no jobs, houses or food. And it’s getting worse daily. Some pundits claim it will get even worse, before it gets better. Let’s hope they are wrong, like they’ve been on so many other occasions. However my Friends, there’s one essential fact we’ve got to remember if we hope to avert further disaster and rise like the phoenix from our ashes once again. And the essential fact is that the Lord God Jehovah is still in control, and just like he sent the child Samuel to start turning around things in Israel, He will do the same for us, cause He’s promised never to leave nor forsake us, but to be with us always, even to the end of the world. Let’s believe that, store it in our hearts, minds and souls and use it as an anchor or safe harbour when our faith becomes fragile and unsure. Let’s lean upon the Rock, that’s our God. He will not let us down. Much LOVE!…continual disobedience to God’s laws…only leads to disaster… To Be Continued.
SCRIP-BITS 