Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)

The word vision in this verse is the Hebrew word chazown, which means revelation, to see. This refers to a prophetic communication from God- a revelation or vision. It is from a Hebrew word that means a dream, revelation or an oracle- a mental picture or mental imagery. It is speaking of a prophetic word of God, or God’s revealed Word that paints a mental picture.

God will give us prophetic vision- it may come from a prophetic word that gives us pieces of a puzzle, or clues to the future of our lives. For example, you may receive a prophecy that tells you that you are going to preach, but it doesn’t give you every detail. The how, when, where, and so forth is filled in later. As we walk out that prophetic word, we begin to see God bring it to pass- and the pieces of the puzzle start to come together. What we received from God was a vision that put us on the right course for our lives. It gives us purpose, direction, a reason to live and leads us to the right steps to take.

Perish in the Hebrew is the word para, which means to loosen, to make naked. It implies to absolve or dismiss. The new International Version translates it as “cast off restraint.” When we have no vision for our lives, this weakens us so we won’t resist sin and fight for our vision. As a result, we stop taking steps to see it fulfilled. However, when we have a word from the Lord, God speaking His written Word to us by the voice of His Word or by a prophetic utterance, we gain new strength to keep God’s Word, or His law as this verse calls it. Because we have a vision, revelation, a word from God, we will pursue the Word of God, running with the vision. As we keep the Word before our eyes, in our heart and mouth, we’ll take steps of faith, and we will believe and receive the vision. Keeping the Word from God before us, will keep the vision alive and give us patience to walk it out. Hope keeps the vision alive, and we will remain in joy as we wait for it to come to pass.

For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Habakkuk 2:3 (KJV)