The Vital Importance of Spiritual Vision
"Where there is no vision the people cast off restraint" Proverbs 29:18. "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" Hosea 4:6.
The first quotation above is from the Book of Wisdom. The wisdom of that statement has been overwhelmingly proved by much history and experience. There is a sense in which this explains a vast amount of spiritual tragedy, both individual and collective. This will be explained as we proceed. But first we must define the terms.
1. The Text - Its Interpretation and Meaning
(a) "Vision" - What is Meant by the Word?
This is the word used to define and summarise the message of the Prophets: e.g. "The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz".
Sometimes it was as in a trance, or dream, but this was by no means general or invariable. It certainly was not essentially a matter of ocular or objective presentation, so that the matter took visual or oral form to the senses. The "vision" came in various ways, and the method is of little account. It is what it amounted to that is important. That was
The Message from the Lord for the Hour
We should resolve it all into that. If we have the message of the Lord for the hour we have what the Bible means by "Vision". If we have what the Bible calls vision, we have the message of the Lord for the hour; although the full fulfilment may reach far ahead.
It can therefore be easily seen that the absence of such a message - especially if the hour is a critical one - could have grave results. The Bible give various instances and explanations of the absence of "vision".
Hosea 4:6,7 gives 'rejection' as the cause, and note the serious reaction of the Lord to this rejection.
In 1 Samuel 3:1 spiritual declension is the cause.
Or it might be because of diversion and preoccupation with things other than the supreme purpose of God.
Again, the spiritual organ of vision may be so injured by selfish interests, or sinful indulgences, or neglect, as to make seeing almost impossible.
Whatever may be the cause, the result is serious.
That leads us to
(b) "Perish" (A.V.) "Cast off Restraint" (R.V.)
But neither translation gives the full content. By using various words or phrases we could get nearer the meaning. 'The people let go: fall to pieces: go loose: run wild: or disintegrate.'
A good example is seen in Israel at the foot of Sinai worshipping the calf. The Lord told Moses that they had "broken loose".
It may be disconcertedness, bewilderment, consternation, distractedness, terror. Or it may be disappointment, grief, perplexity, or impatience.
The causes may be many, but the effect is disintegration. A disintegrated life or community is one that is useless and helpless; weak, defeated, and paralysed.
So much for the definition - at present.
2. The Message
(a) If what is indicated above is true, then surely the first part of the message is that of the vital importance of there being a word from God for the hour.
It is essential to God's purpose that there is in critical times and ominous days a vessel with the essential message of God.
It is difficult to imagine a more grievous and tragic situation than that of there being no voice to interpret nor message to govern in a day when people are pealed, broken and bewildered.
(b) What is the essential element in 'vision', or the message from God?
It is certainly authority - the voice of authority.
We could almost paraphrase our text thus - "Where there is no voice of authority the people go to pieces".
But this authority is not in the tone or strength of voice or utterance. It is not in the force of personality, or in any human factor in itself.
What is
The Nature of Authority?
(a) It is clarity and certainty as to God's end and objective. That is a statement made. We do not intend at this point to indicate or discuss what that end is, but it will readily be seen and realised that if there is not clarity and certainty as to what God is set upon, working toward, and supremely concerned with, there most certainly lacks the essential integrating factor in life and work. For things to be ends in themselves; merely to be doing things without an all-dominating, adequate, and supremely justifying Divine purpose is to result in collapse, loss of heart, and 'going to pieces' in the day of the fiery ordeal.
(b) Then it is clarity and certainty as to God's method. Again, without at the moment trying to indicate what God's method is, we but emphasize that God does have a method - His own appointed and designed method - of reaching His end. That end is not going to be reached either willy-nilly or by ways of man's inventing, choosing, or designing. It is just on this point that a vast amount of miscarriage, frustration, and loss have marked so much expenditure.
To be able to indicate the boundless method of God is to have that kind of authority which, though it may be flouted or rejected meantime, will be vindicated by eventual proof.
(c) Further, it is clarity and certainty as to God's means. Does it need stressing that God has always shown Himself to be very jealous regarding the means employed for His purpose? To be clear and sure on this matter is to be where God can commit Himself, and that is always authority. While this matter of means may apply to numerous things, it is discernible in Scripture that God has His means chosen and appointed for reaching and realising His end, and that He does not normally depart from it; and never so, finally.
