Divine Direction

Ed Pilapil Jr.
Senior Pastor

Proverbs 29:18

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

Notes

1. Prophetic Vision

   In Old Testament times, God spoke through prophets. The prophets would often point people back to the commandments of God. At other times, they would warn of God’s judgment. Conversely, they would also speak of hope, especially about the Messiah.
   
   

   If people do not listen to God’s guidance, they will find themselves without restraint, which also means they perish, especially in a spiritual sense. In what way? People will follow the crooked path if they do not have spiritual direction, especially in relation to the Messiah.
   
   

   Therefore, we must continually seek God’s guidance in everything. How? First, by fixing our faith on the One prophesied by the prophets of Old and the One witnessed by the apostles. Second, by reading and meditating on the Holy Scriptures. Third, by seeking biblical counsel from believers in the community of faith.
   
   
   

2. Blessing of the Word

   The proverb states that a person who keeps the law is blessed. One viewpoint is that a community or society that respects the law would generally be peaceful. On the other hand, scripture maintains that those who do not walk the crooked path but delight and meditate on the law are blessed.

   
   The law represents God’s covenant through Moses. Although the law has benefits for society, the blessings are also personal. The word blessing in the text also means happy. Therefore, it may be translated as happy is the person who keeps the law.

   
   Therefore, we must meditate and keep God’s word. It brings us blessings of spiritual happiness. We should also study the writings of the apostles in the New Testament and understand the Old Testament through the lens of the gospel. Why? Because the Old Testament prepared the coming of the Messiah.
   
   
   

3. Divine Direction
   

   The Lord Jesus made it clear that His disciples should proclaim repentance for the forgiveness of sins to all the nations (Luke 24:46-47). The foundation of the gospel is the suffering, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

   
   46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem (Luke 24:46-47).
   
   
   The Lord also commanded His disciples to make disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe all He commanded (Matt 28:19-20). Therefore, we should deny ourselves, surrender all, and love Him above all if we want to follow Him.

   19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt 28:19-20)
   
   
   Paul wrote that God’s design for the church was to grow in the full stature of Christ, not easily deceived by every wind of doctrine, and joined together in His love. However, that may only be achieved through equipping the believers (Eph 4:11-16). Thus, that is what we do.

   11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love (Eph 4:11-16).
   
   

Application

In everything we think, feel, and do, we must submit to the lordship of Jesus Christ. We must come to the point that it is no longer we who live but Christ who lives in us, and the life we live, we live by faith in Him who suffered for our sins.

We shall continue to pray for His will to be done in our lives, families, church community, and nation. We will pray as individuals and as a community of believers, as one body in Christ. And in praying, we shall be fervent.

Every Sunday and every small group gathering is an opportunity to equip one another in Christ. Therefore, let us not neglect to pray for each other in small groups and discuss God’s word together. It helps us focus on the Word.

Reflection & Discussion

1. What happens when there is no divine guidance?

2. How is the person who keeps the law described?

3. Explain the parallelism between the two lines.