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Wednesday 02/04/26
Thru the Bible: Proverbs 29
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Good thing Paul didn’t pursue his dreams!
Proverb 29:1-27,
“(1) The one who stiffens his neck after numerous rebukes will suddenly be destroyed without remedy.
(2) When the righteous become numerous, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.
(3) The man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but whoever associates with prostitutes wastes his wealth.
(4) A king brings stability to a land by justice, but one who exacts tribute tears it down.”
By “exact gifts” is meant something very much like taxation as it is used in other places in scripture.
“(5) The one who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his steps.
(6) In the transgression of an evil person there is a snare, but a righteous person can sing and rejoice.
(7) The righteous person cares for the legal rights of the poor; the wicked does not understand such knowledge.
(8) Scornful people inflame a city, but those who are wise turn away wrath.”
A scoffer refers to foolish, arrogant, bragging talk (Prov. 1:22), as well as to the scoffers or babblers
“(9) When a wise person goes to court with a foolish person, there is no peace whether he is angry or laughs.”
In the Niphal stem it could be passive, but is more frequently reciprocal: “to enter into controversy” or “to go to court.” The word is usually used in connection with a lawsuit, but can also refer to an argument (e.g., 1 Sam. 12:7; Isa. 43:26); cf. NAB “disputes”; NASB “has a controversy.”
“(10) Bloodthirsty people hate someone with integrity; as for the upright, they seek his life.
(11) A fool lets fly with all his temper, but a wise person keeps it back.
(12) If a ruler listens to lies, all his ministers will be wicked.
(13) The poor person and the oppressor have this in common: the LORD gives light to the eyes of them both.
(14) If a king judges the poor in truth, his throne will be established forever.
(15) A rod and reproof impart wisdom, but a child who is unrestrained brings shame to his mother.”
The use of the word mother is most likely a rhetorical variation for “parent”. We saw this back in Proverbs 17:31 & 23:24-25.
“(16) When the wicked increase, transgression increases, but the righteous will see their downfall.
(17) Discipline your child, and he will give you rest; he will bring you happiness.
(18) When there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but the one who keeps the law, blessed is he!”
Now here is an often misquoted and misapplied passage. In fact, it is my strong opinion that the misunderstandings and misteachings of this verse have done more to lead the body of Christ into spiritual exile than nearly any other passage! When coupled together with two others, as it often is, the results can be catastrophic!
These misinterpretations often arise from three things:
- Not quoting the ENTIRE verse
- Removing it from its greater context
- Poor translations of the Hebrew text and give way to terribly misleading beliefs!
So let’s start with one of the greatest fixes for misunderstanding – especially a proverb that is failing to read the entire verse or series of verses.
As I have taught you from the beginning of this book of Proverbs is that parallelism is employed A LOT! As such, there are MANY times when it is literally impossible to ascertain the meaning of part of the proverb without the other part.
In this case, the first part is made crystal clear by the second part.
First part – When there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, BUT
Second part – the one who keeps the Law, blessed is he!
So THE topic is keeping the Law!
Regarding poor translation, a particularly bad one is the Brenton translation which says,
“There shall be no interpreter to a sinful nation: but he that observes the law is blessed.” – Proverb 29:18
But many only loosely translate the verse as saying something like this,
“Where there is no vision, the people are uncontrolled; but he who keeps the law will be happy.” – Proverb 29:18 BBE
And the KJV is even more misleading saying,
“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” – Proverb 29:18.
So first off, the most common way to quoting this verse is by:
- Using the word “vision” alone with no reference to the vision’s source being God
- Using the word “perish” instead of casting off restraint
- Failing to even make mention of the latter half of the verse
All three of these lead to some deplorable errors!
To make matters worse this verse is often coupled together with an out of context and only partially quoted passage in Habakkuk 2:2. Outside of its immediate and greater context simply says,
“(2) Write down this vision; clearly inscribe it on tablets so one may easily read it. (3) For the vision is yet for the appointed time”
These two verses are used together to encourage people to pursue their dreams, to be intentional about defining their dreams and writing it out so that they can keep it as a goal to work towards and a purpose to strive for. Additionally people are told that whatever their passions are, these are given to them by God to steer their lives towards His will and purpose for them. So it is that these verses are used to give license to make life about our personal desires and what dreams would make us happy. In short, to “Christianize” prideful pursuits and arrogant, self-focused lives.
How like the devil to take God’s word and twist it so as to convince people that in doing the complete opposite of what God’s word instructs is actually pursuing God’s intention for your life.
Consider God was actually saying through Habakkuk…
“(1) I will stand at my guard post and station myself on the lookout tower. I will watch to see what He will say to me and what I should reply about my complaint.
(2) The LORD answered me: Write down this vision; clearly inscribe it on tablets so one may easily read it. (3) For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it testifies about the end and will not lie.
Though it delays, wait for it, since it will certainly come and not be late.
(4) Look, his ego is inflated; he is without integrity. But the righteous one will live by his faith.
(5) Moreover, wine betrays; an arrogant man is never at rest. He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, and like Death he is never satisfied. He gathers all the nations to himself; he collects all the peoples for himself.”
So this was an encouragement AWAY from selfish pursuits, arrogance and pride not towards pursuing our dreams!
Finally to make matters even worse these two verses are often driven home by a misquote and misapplication of the verse found in Habakkuk 1:5 which says,
“Look among the nations and watch— Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you.”
Which is taken from the NKJV and is more easily twisted, cherry picked out of its context otherwise it is quite accurate.
This is taken to mean that if you will be careful and diligent to guard and pursue your “god given” dreams, what God will do in accomplishing them will so utterly astound you that you wouldn’t believe it even if you saw it.
AI said this passage
“—is often mistaught as a blanket promise of positive, personal breakthroughs or impending revival. It is frequently stripped from its context of divine judgment to serve as a motivational slogan for “something big” coming in a believer’s life.”
In the NET it is better safeguarded from cherry-picking as it says…
“Look at the nations and pay attention! You will be shocked and amazed! For I will do something in your lifetime that you will not believe even though you are forewarned.”
The word does not mean specifically “forewarned”, but in the context it does mean that because God goes on to say through Habakkuk WHAT was being foretold and it was regarding the future judgment of Judah in being deported into Babylonian exile!
Returning to our verse in Proverbs 29:18, I again asked AI how Proverbs 29:18 is most often misquoted in modern teaching and this was the response…
Proverbs 29:18 (“Where there is no vision, the people perish”) this is commonly misquoted in modern teaching to promote corporate-style vision casting, strategic planning, or goal-setting for churches.
Common Misinterpretation: “Without a vision [a long-term plan or goal], the people [church/organization] perish [fail/decline]”.
It is often used to suggest that organizations without a “vision” or “visionary leader” will fail, rather than its intended meaning regarding the necessity of obeying divine revelation (the Word of God).
To confirm my suspicions regarding the type of personalities which typically promote these misunderstandings I asked AI the following question –
“Who are the major, well known “Christian” teachers who use Proverb 29:18 to “Christianize” pursuing and living for your dreams.”
The reply was this…
Proverbs 29:18, particularly in the King James Version (“Where there is no vision, the people perish”), is commonly used by several high-profile Christian teachers, pastors, and motivational speakers to promote the concept of “vision-casting,” setting personal goals, and pursuing dreams.
In this context, “vision” is often re-interpreted from its original meaning (divine revelation/prophecy) to mean a personal, God-given dream for one’s life or future.
Here are some of the most prominent teachers and influencers who use this interpretation:
- Joel Osteen: Frequently emphasizes having a “vision” for your life, instructing followers to visualize success and use personal dreams as a means of “moving toward” what God has promised.
- Rick Warren: Author of The Purpose Driven Life, he has used this verse to emphasize the importance of church leaders having a clear “vision” (a picture of the future that produces passion) to avoid becoming stagnant.
- Steven Furtick: Known for high-energy, goal-oriented teaching, his ministry frequently emphasizes “vision” as a requirement for accomplishing big, God-given goals.
- Bill Hybels: In his book Courageous Leadership, he directly links this verse to the idea that without a vision, people “can’t focus, can’t reach their goal, can’t follow their dream”.
- Joyce Meyer: Often uses this verse in the context of “writing the vision and making it plain” to encourage followers to document their personal goals and dreams to align with God’s purpose.
Context of Usage:
These teachers typically interpret the verse in the following ways to “Christianize” the pursuit of personal goals:
- Vision as Personal Dream: “Vision” is interpreted as a “map” or “blueprint” for your life.
- Encouragement to “Dream Big”: The verse is used to suggest that not having a “big” plan for your life leads to stagnancy or “perishing”.
- Goal Setting: “Vision” is equated with “setting goals” and “planning”.
- “Write the Vision”: Often, this verse is combined with Habakkuk 2:2 (“write the vision and make it plain”) to urge followers to visualize and write down their personal dreams.
Alternative Interpretations:
It is important to note that many theologians and Bible commentators argue that this usage is a misinterpretation of the original text, which actually refers to the need for God’s prophetic word (revelation) to prevent moral lawlessness (“casting off restraint”), rather than a personal dream for success.
Now MANY Christians have understood and taught these verses correctly without the benefit of deeper study aids or AI searches, but by the most powerful resource we have which is the person and ministry of the Holy Spirit. He is the One Who leads and guides believers into the truth! But one HAS to have ears to hear for His work to be effective.
Jesus and Paul BOTH said that they wanted to offer more teaching, instruction and guidance but that those they were addressing were not able to hear it. We cannot afford to be those people!
This is why I have really pressed the truth that neither your past traumas, victimizations or future dreams and aspirations are solid guides for God’s direction for your life! I often reference Paul who is very verbal in the New Testament about desiring to go to the Jews, but knowing God called him to the Gentiles. If Paul had pursued his dreams and aspirations… the things he was passionate about, he would have missed the will of God 100%!
This is furthermore, one primary reason among many, that I determined LONG AGO not to use “church growth” programs, because one of the FIRST questions they ask you is “What is YOUR vision for this church”? They do this because they want to differentiate you from the herd and capitalize on our distinctiveness from competing churches. Driving patrons who might share or be able to get caught up in your unique vision.
Truth is, you will search in vain for ANY such teaching or even suggestion in the body of the New Testament regarding local assemblies. According to scripture we ALL have the same goal and God given vision. There is NOTHING which should distinguish one assembly from another in terms of our purposes and goals! You will find this truth represented on our website. It is an unpopular truth which, so far as I have been able to see, is almost missing entirely from modern churches. Even mainstream denominational churches tend to attempt to distinguish themselves from others by declaring themselves to be an “apostolic church” or an “evangelical church” or an “maturing in Christ church” or an “expository teaching church”, “topical, textual, anecdotal, narrative, exegetical, thematic and Doctrinal teaching churches”. “Holy Ghost churches”…etc. the list of options is rather impressive.
Worse of all, is that most of them are not bad, only too narrowly focused! Most churches should be all of these and more! Yet each one is often set forth as representing the biblical and moral high ground.
In the end, the ways in which Proverb 29:18 can be exploited to lead into devastating error are nearly endless. So again, what DOES it really say and mean?
“(18) When there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, BUT THE ONE WHO KEEPS THE LAW, BLESSED IS HE!”
“(19) A servant cannot be corrected by words, for although he understands, there is no answer.”
Now a key aid to understanding this verse is found in the LXX which has “servant” as “stubborn servant” and that makes a profound impact on the verse and its meaning.
The words “there is no answer” or in the KJV “he will not answer” the word “answer” is used to represent “an answer in kind” which is to say “obedience”.
So the passage is saying that if a servant is stubborn or we might say “pig-headed”, words will not be enough to convert behavior. Even if they understand it will not make it all the way to their compliance or obedience.
“(20) You have seen someone who is hasty in his words– there is more hope for a fool than for him.”
Companion verses to this would be:
- Proverbs 13:3 (NASB): “The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin”.
- Proverbs 21:23 (ESV): “Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.”
- James 1:26 (NIV): “Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.”
“(21) If someone pampers his servant from youth, he will be a weakling in the end.”
The KJV and LXX have this saying he will be a “grief” in the end. I personally like these better than the New English translation, but in the end, the meaning is similar enough. The point is that, if you fail to train your servant AS a servant, in the end he will be worthless which could be understood as weak or ineffective or one who causes grief.
Now I take verses 22 & 23 together for even though they address two different people, it is their core temperament that leads them into trouble.
“(22) An angry person stirs up dissension, and a wrathful person is abounding in transgression. (23) A person’s pride will bring him low, but one who has a lowly spirit will gain honor.”
“(24) Whoever shares with a thief is his own enemy; he hears the oath to testify, but does not talk.”
Helpful for understanding this Proverb is making sure the reader understands that the second line has these two people appearing in court – thus the word “testify”. Other translations might say “curse” or “imprecation” which technically are correct, but can be misleading as to the source.
The NET notes has this insight to offer,
“The oath to testify was not an oath to tell the truth before a court of law in the modern sense. Instead it was a “curse” or “imprecation” expressed by the victim of the theft, or by the legal authorities, called down on any witness of the crime who kept silent or refused to testify (as here).
According to Leviticus 5:1, if a witness does not speak up he is accountable for the crime.
This person hears the adjuration, but if he speaks up he is condemned, and if he does not speak up he is guilty under the law.
The proverb is an unusual one; it seems to be warning against getting mixed up in any way with the thief, for it will create a serious ethical dilemma.”
“(25) The fear of people becomes a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD will be set on high.”
I have a favorite New Testament statement from Jesus which offers the wisdom of this passage said from the positive.
Jesus said,
“(41) I do not receive honor from men. (42) But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. (43) I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. (44) How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?” – John 5:41-44
“(26) Many people seek the face of a ruler, but it is from the LORD that one receives justice.
(27) An unjust person is an abomination to the righteous, and the one who lives an upright life is an abomination to the wicked.”
This closes out this 2nd section of Proverbs. Next week we will begin the 3rd and 4th divisions of the greater book of Proverbs which are a single chapter each.
- Chapter 30 was written by Agur the son of Jakeh who is otherwise unknown in scripture. His contribution is in the form of a prophetic oracle. Ignorance and Pride are prominently featured as well as multiples set forth in comparison to each other.
- Chapter 31 was written by King Lemuel who also is unknown. The first part of the chapter is dedicated to encouraging rulers to not succumb to influences which will lead them astray from God’s Law. The latter portion of the chapter is famous even among unbelievers as being about the “virtuous woman” or the “woman who fears the Lord”.
Blessings!
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Blessings!
