Prophetic Vision

For Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Proverbs 29:18

Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint,
but blessed is he who keeps the law.

The prophetic vision is the word of the Lord given to instruct people what God requires of them, as well as giving knowledge about himself and his promises. When there is no such word, people will naturally do what is "right in their own eyes." There are no warnings by which to restrain their behavior. There are no promises to motivate them to do what is right. There is no instruction to give them understanding as to what is right and wrong.

To give such a word was the role of the prophet - from Moses to Nathan to Elisha. But it was also the role of Aaron the priest, of David the king, and of Ezra the scribe. They exercised their role not in receiving new revelation, but by carrying out, enforcing, and teaching the prophetic word, which once given became the law.

As this proverb points out, a people need prophetic vision. They need revelation from God to know him and to obey him. But they also further need the will to obey. And so they need prophet to reveal the vision, priest to enact the vision, ruler to enforce the vision, and teacher to instruct on its full implications. And they need to become the keepers of that law. Such a people will be blessed.

We are such a people in Christ. For Jesus Christ is the Word revealed; he is the prophet who presented the vision; he is the priest who carried out his own visionary sacrifice; he is the king who now enforces his word; and he is the teacher who explained his visionary work. Now he calls on us to be a people who keep his commandments. Let us do so today.