Proverbs 29c

 Last week’s devotional was based on one verse, 29:18.  “Where there is no prophecy, the people cast off restraint.” 

 We saw that this proverb is not about human vision, as in having a plan for a country. It is about preaching God’s word, which is the meaning of ‘to prophesy’. The people are not ‘the nation’ here, they are the people of God who may follow God or may be deceived and go astray. Without prophetic preaching of the stories and commandments of the Bible, particularly the overarching story of God’s great plan of salvation through the sending of he Son, the people may go astray.

 We were reminded again that the Bible is not about us, about our nation or any nation. Nations don’t go to heaven, people do. If Israel stands out, it is because of God’s choice of how to send our Redeemer, not about the character of Israel (see Deuteronomy 7:7; Ezekiel 16:1-22). The Bible is about God, God’s reliability, God’s faithfulness to his choices and promises, God’s love and mercy, and God’s expectations about how we live here on earth. 

 How might people ‘cast off restraint’? If the shepherds of the flock do not provide a good model of a godly life that is worth imitating, then the people may cast off restraint. Unfortunately, we have had a series of prominent TV preachers, so-called 'Evangelicals', fall in the last ten years due to sexual misconduct. The Catholic Church too has had a number of scandals. That is not the way it should be.

Paul asked people to imitate him insofar as he imitated Christ. What about God do we imitate? 

“For the Lord your God is … not partial and takes no bribe, … executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and … loves strangers, providing them food and clothing” (Deuteronomy 10:17-19). 

 Then, what should God’s people look like? 

“...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, generosity, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). 

Now, when you find a pastor or a leader like that, who exhibits these character traits, then he or she is worth following. Do you see love in action? Does his or her speech lead to peace, or more conflict? Does he or she show patience, or does impatience show in how he or she treats others? Is he or she generous toward others, or does he or she belittle others? Do you see any kindness there? Do they exhibit faithfulness to God and to others, both friends and people in need outside their circle of friends? Does this person show self-control, or is he or she continually flying off the handle?

 Below are the verses I was talking about last week when I said that Verse 18 did have a context later in the chapter. Where there is no prophecy, this is how the people throw off restraint.

29: 20, 22-23, 26.   Do you see someone who is hasty in speech?    There is more hope for a fool than for anyone like that. One given to anger stirs up strife.      and the hothead causes much transgression. A person’s pride will bring humiliation,     but one who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor. Many seek the favor of a ruler, but one who trusts in the LORD is secure.

I have nothing to add.