We Live by Revelation     9-17-06

Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law. Proverbs 29:18

According to the Asbury Bible Commentary "Revelation" correctly translates the Hebrew, not a dream for the future, but a prophet's revelation from God. When a people reject God’s revelation, they throw off the restraints that guard life from evil. And according to The Interpreter’s One Volume Commentary on the Bible, this proverb is about the importance of religious teaching. A nation needs rulers who are not only wise but also willing to listen to prophets and wise men.

Blessed is he who keeps the law, does not refer to civil law or the "law of Moses" but to the "instruction" or "teaching" given by wise men, prophets and priests.

Dr. Pardington wrote in Streams In The Desert, Volume 1: Waiting upon God is necessary in order to see Him to have a vision of Him. The time element in vision is essential. Our hearts are like a sensitive photographer's plate, and in order to have God revealed there, we must set at His feet for a long time. The troubled surface of a lake will not reflect an object.

Our lives must be quite and restful if we would see God. There is power in the sight of some things to affect one’s life. A quite sunset will bring peace to a troubled heart. Thus the vision of God always transforms human life.

Jacob saw God at Jabbok’s ford, and became Israel. The vision of God transformed Gideon from a coward into a valiant soldier. The vision of Christ changed Thomas from a doubting follower into a loyal, devout disciple.

But men have had visions of God since Bible times. William Carey saw God, and left his shoemaker’s bench and went to India. David Livingston saw God, and left all to follow Him through the jungles of dark Africa. Scores and hundreds have had visions of God, and are today in uttermost parts of the earth working for speedy evangelization of the heathen.

Mr. F.W. Faber wrote: There is hardly ever a complete silence in the soul. God is whispering to us well-nigh incessantly. Whenever the sounds of the world die out in the soul, or sink low, then we hear the whisperings of God.

PRAYER: Speak Lord, in the stillness, while we wait on Thee. Hush our hearts to listen to expectancy. Speak, O blessed Master, in this quite hour. Let us see Thy face Lord, feel thou touch of power. Speak, thou servants hearth! Amen.

Luther McCollum