This is among the most quoted verses in the Bible, although it is usually just the first half of the verse, and usually, it's out of context. I've been guilty myself of using this verse to say that we should have a burden to serve the Lord, while that is true that is not exactly what this verse is saying. The vision this verse speaks of is not a burning desire to serve the Lord, although that is a by-product of it, or a plan that we have set in place to serve him but it speaks of the manifest word of God. Let's look at a few Bible verses and interpret the Bible with the Bible before we get to our thoughts. This is the situation we find in Israel when Samuel was a Child, "And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision." [1 Samuel 3:1] Ezekiel prophecies of such a day in the Nation of Israel, "Mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumour shall be upon rumour; then shall they seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients." [Ezekiel 7:26]. The vision spoken of in all these verses does not mean that there were no scriptures at all, in each of these instances God's people had the scriptures but they had long left the power of the scriptures and God would not bless them with a man who would take those scriptures and powerfully exhort the people from them. I am reminded of King Josiah, Israel was perishing because they had forgotten the law of God, but Josiah found a copy of God's law, read it, repented, and powerfully showed it to his people, and the nation revived and began serving the Lord again. So vision does not mean that we simply have a copy of God's word but that we are living in the light and power of it.
That brings our verse into the light of context and the Bible is full of examples of people perishing for lack of God's word preached powerfully. Eli's day was one such case, Israel throughout its history, and even when Christ came he said to them "My people perish for lack of knowledge" and "you do err not knowing the scriptures." Then by the end of the 1st century, the churches of Asia Minor were in danger of losing this "vision," " Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." If we lose this "vision" of the scriptures made clear to our hearts and consciences through the preaching of God's word then our flocks will perish.
Preaching it in our power is not the vision spoken of either, "vision" preaching is a manifestation of God's word, "But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour." We must like Paul operate in the power and demonstration of the Spirit if there is to be vision in the church. Without such a ministry the people grow cold, the sheep go astray and the wolves overtake the church, this is the condition we find most of the church in today, no vision, thus the people are perishing under the hand of false doctrines, worldliness, and a general malaise comes over the people until they are to lazy to care that their children know nothing of God and his power, and that soon they will not only perish spiritually here on earth but for eternity in hell.
Then there is the positive aspect of this verse, it is the blessing in contrast to the curse, "He that keepeth the law, happy is he." The word keepeth means "To hedge about as with thorns." that is the picture that should come to our mind when we think about what we should do with the word of God. Not just guarding the physical copy that we own but, guarding its effects in our life, guarding the time we spend in it, guarding our closeness to it, its manifest power in our life, and the vision that it gives. Set a hedge of thorns around your relationship with the word and you'll be happy you did. Keepeth has another meaning which is obedience, Jesus likened those who heard the word and did not keep it to fools who built their house upon sinking sands. Then he likened those who heard and kept His word to a wise man who built his house upon the solid rock. So the Word of God is polarizing, either it makes you wise or it makes you a fool, either it heals you or it kills you, there is no middle ground with His word. Keep it and happy you will be, neglect it and you will perish.
Let me ask you, is there any vision in your life? When was the last time you opened the word of God and it breathed on you and you were challenged by it, convicted of sin, comforted, or corrected? Have you found it to be a living breathing book, there to give vision? If not you are perishing, repent and do the first works before the candlestick is removed! Is your church preaching the Bible? Does the pastor preach in the power and demonstration of the Spirit of God? I don't mean does he holler real loud and jump about, but is there a heavenly weight to his words? Does the Spirit of God manifest the preached word to the hearts of men in that church? If not you are perishing. Revive your time in the scriptures, pray, seek the Lord and when you have found his law to be sweet again, and your vision restored be sure to keep it with all your heart. When you have tasted once again of his sweet presence, hedge it in and protect it lest you find yourself perishing once again. "Where there is no vision the people perish; but he that keepth the law, happy is he.
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