For many years this proverb has been misinterpreted, probably because the KJV translates it “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” What we typically hear preached from this verse is that a church must have a long-term goal and plan if they wish to thrive rather than perish. That may be good advice, but that’s not the meaning of this proverb.
The word vision does not refer to one’s ability to formulate future goals and plans, but is a synonym for the prophetic word which comes from God’s prophets.
“Perish” has also been misunderstood. It’s not referring to churches that will cease to exist if they don’t have a vision, or to the spiritual perishing of unbelievers who will perish in hell if the church does not get a vision for the lost. The word means “to cast off all restraint.” The point of the Proverb, then, is that when there is no prophetic word from God to guide the people, they will cast off all moral restraint and follow their own evil devices.
Keep it in context….
Thinking to Believe 
February 28, 2017 at 10:21 am
Jason:
If you may, please bear my insanity:
PERISH:
“The word means “to cast off all restraint”. The point of the Proverb, then, is that when there are no words of wisdom —- —- to guide the people, they will cast off all moral restraint and follow their own evil devices”.
For example the disastrous fallout from Nuclear Power Plants without a plan “B” when disaster comes.
It is similar to the Proverb:
“When you put yourself in peril you shall perish.” Of particular note is the skier/snowboarder who “goes out of bounds” contrary to the posted warnings. Or the swimmer who ignores the sign “do not dive here”! And smashes his skull on shallow rocks.
You may want to attribute a posted, mountain-top sign warning to God but I submit you need not always go there because wisdom can be attributed to a person such as the “wisdom of Solomon”. All religions too, for example, also derive from a person…the very Word, “God”, derives from a person.
When you constantly go down the God rabbit hole you get trapped there, obsessed or possessed, instead of credible and wise. This haphazard dictate of unfortunate chance, I believe, has come from the continuous ramming down the throats of people that they are sinful, evil, born basically scum of the earth, devoid of goodness, irrational, unrighteous, lost, groping in the dark, dirty, fallen, un-regenerative, filthy, lying, unrepentant, perverse……….you can think of all the negative adjectives in the language to call man…..as churches do at the drop of every sermon, to make one feel useless and guilty and dependent on the Church and Clergy for guidance from God or the bible for morality. “What labels me, negates me.”
The Christian resolution to find the world ugly and bad has made the world ugly and bad.
The Essence of Above are
Quotable Quotes Below:
After coming into contact with a religious man I always feel I must wash my hands.
In the consciousness of the truth he has perceived, man now sees everywhere only the awfulness or the absurdity of existence and loathing seizes him.
The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than those who think differently.
You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist……………….
And those who were dancing were thought to be insane, by those who could not hear the music
Christianity makes suffering contagious.
Religions that teach pity, self-contempt, humility, self-restraint and guilt are incorrect. The good life is ever changing, challenging, devoid of regret, intense, creative and risky.
Meaning and morality of One’s life come from within oneself.
Healthy, strong individuals seek self expansion by experimenting. Life consists of an infinite number of possibilities and the healthy person explores as many of them as possible.
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March 1, 2017 at 5:02 am
Excellent exegesis of this oft misused verse! Refreshing and honest with the scriptures. It is always a joy to read Bro. Jason’s blog/commentary.
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