The people perish.

Proverbs 11:14 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

¹⁴ Where there is no guidance the people fall,
But in abundance of counselors there is victory.

This proverb reminds me of a similar proverb 29:18, which says:

¹⁸ Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained,
But happy is he who keeps the law.  

The Amplified Bible says: Where there is no vision [no revelation of God and His word], the people are unrestrained; But happy and blessed is he who keeps the law [of God].  The first proverb says: in abundance of counselors there is victory.  In our culture, our society and our country we certainly have an abundance of counselors. You would think then that people individually and collectively would be living victorious lives. In reality though it is not the quantity of counselors which brings about victorious living, it is the quality of counsel. It says: Where there is no guidance the people fall.  Again there are many voices who want to speak into the lives of people, many philosophies to guide our decisions and choices. Jesus says:    the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you. (John 14:26 Amp) The only counsel, the only guidance that can bring about victorious living is Godly counsel, it is the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit helps us remember everything Jesus taught us.  

Where there is no vision [no revelation of God and His word], the people are unrestrained. This certainly could be said of our nation, our culture and society today. We have thousands of laws, yet people live lawlessly. Human laws cannot change human behavior. Our government continues to seek to pass new laws, laws pertaining to guns, to prejudice and all sorts of other things. Yet violence and prejudicial tension and division persist. The answer lies in the truth of the proverb itself: But happy and blessed is he who keeps the law [of God].   God’s law is not meant for restraint, it is not meant to deny people of enjoying good things. God’s law is meant to bring happiness and blessing. The psalmist says:     Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. ⁴ Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart. ⁵ Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. ⁶ He will bring forth your righteousness as the light And your judgment as the noonday.   Where there is no vision [no revelation of God and His word], the people are unrestrained.   Look no farther than the current situation in our public schools, we have removed the revelation of God and His word from our schools and we have had to replace them with metal detectors and armed guards. The farther God and His word are removed from the fabric of our society and culture, the less restraint there is, or as the King James version says: the people perish.

Individuals are and our collective nation is perishing because we have removed God and His law from our society.  2 Peter 3:3-18 says:     Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, ⁴ and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” ⁵ For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, ⁶ through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. ⁷ But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

⁸ But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. ⁹ The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. ¹¹ Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, ¹² looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God…

¹⁷ You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, ¹⁸ but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

People are perishing, God is:  not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. His patience toward the world is His grace in the delay of His coming as judge. We as a people need to return God and His word to our society before He returns to us. But happy and blessed is he who keeps the law [of God].  There is victory. It surly is not too late. God says:  if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.(2 Chronicles 7:14)

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ; precious Holy Spirit, be my guide, my counselor, You are my delight. In You there is joy and happiness. Return to our nation as we return to You. Amen.