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

Proverbs 29:18

Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

Proverbs 29:20

Explanation:
The passage we have considering this week, Proverbs 29:1-3 and 12-20, has had the theme of discipline. The first pattern we pointed out in the passage was the theme of leadership and discipline. Good leaders are self-disciplined and they bring discipline to those in their stewardship. That led us to a second pattern of discipline and blessing. The right kind of discipline brings freedom and not bondage. This pattern leads us to a third, the pattern of rebellion and destruction that we looked at yesterday. We can continue to see this pattern in today’s text.

In the first part of verse 18 we see an oft quoted statement. The word translated “vision” hear is speaking about revelation from God. Where there is no special revelation from God present the result is death. Why would there be no revelation from God? In one sense it may be an evangelism problem. The Word of God has not been taken to a group of people. In another sense it may be a leadership problem. There may be no Word of God because it is not being proclaimed by leaders. If it is not being proclaimed then it is not being obeyed. When revelation from God is ignored and disobeyed the result is death. Rebellion leads to destruction.

The man discussed in verse 20 is not called a fool. Even a wise person who speaks too quickly will come to the same result as the fool. The book of Proverbs consistently describes the results of the fool as destruction. How do we speak too quickly? We speak before we have thought through a matter biblically. We speak before we bathe a matter in prayer. We speak before we have all of the information that is needed to give an answer. In this there is disobedience and maybe even rebellion. Both have consequences. Rebellion leads to destruction.

Application:
Our thinking, speaking and acting must be informed by the wisdom contained in the Word of God. Our actions must be borne out of of a life of prayer. The opposite of rebellion is submission. Discipline is the consistent submission of our hearts and lives to the God who created us and redeemed us. We who know Christ as our Savior have been bought twice, and so we must embrace a life of discipline as a reasonable response to His grace.

There is a pattern of leadership and discipline, discipline and blessing, and rebellion and destruction. Make the decision to embrace discipline!

Response:
• How is your living and leadership being informed and affected by God’s revelation in His Word?
• Think about the last 24 hours. Have you been disciplined in your words? Are you speaking hastily?