I Can See Clearly Now

When I was in high school, my boyfriend's mom gave me a gift. It was a wooden plaque that explained what my name meant and attached a Bible verse to it. I have no idea where this "knowledge" came from, but nevertheless, the gift was purchased. It still sits on my library shelf. "Brandi" it surprisingly says, means "one of authority," and it associates the name with Proverbs 29:2 - "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn." [KJV]

Now to be clear - I can find nothing that substantiates this as the meaning of my name. Instead, I see a lot of references to the obvious - the drink brandy. I also see "sword," "firebrand," as well as symbolism around fire and light. But my point here is not the meaning of my name - or yours - but the meaning of this biblical chapter - Proverbs 29. And to make the point - we can find a lot of meaning and various understandings of any passage - just like a name. Context MATTERS when we read the Bible.

The rest of Proverbs 29 past verse 2 continues with other bits of wisdom, but Proverbs 29:18 returns to a path of leadership: "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." [KJV]

Different versions of Proverbs 29:18 enlighten us to other variations.

• Where there is no prophecy, the people cast off restraint,

  but happy are those who keep the law. [NRSUE]

• Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;

  but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction. [NIV]

• If people can’t see what God is doing,

  they stumble all over themselves;

  But when they attend to what he reveals,

  they are most blessed. [MSG]

Leadership was always tricky in the Bible, with many more examples of poor leadership than good to find. So, when Proverbs gives us insight into what makes a leader, we may want to listen.

In verse 2, we have the indication that when the righteous lead the people, there is cause for celebration. How do we know leaders are righteous and not wicked? Verse 18 says they listen to God. They seek to understand before they seek to lead. They ask where they can be a part of God's kingdom, rather than how God can be a part of their human kingdom. They watch for prophecy, they wait for revelation, they listen for what God is doing.

Jesus explains more in Matthew 7:15-20:

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns or figs from thistles? 17 In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will know them by their fruits..."

Vision is incredibly important. Having vision means we've slowed down to listen to God first, to seek God's guidance first. The Bible shares so many stories about what happens when we DO, and what happens when we DON'T. And Jesus ensures us that it all comes out in the wash - that everything hidden will come to light. That a good tree bears good fruit.

In the month of March, we're focused at Sanctuary Groups on seeking vision. March is a great month for spring cleaning, and for fall planning. It is the top of the slide before we rush toward April and May and the end of the school year, when schedules change for everyone (even those of us without young kids in school), when traffic patterns adjust and temperatures rise. As spring hints and moves into blossom over the next few weeks, as we walk through the dark days of Lent into the glorious promise of Easter - would you slow down and ask for vision? Would you commit yourself to bearing good fruit? Would you consider putting God's calling to a greater kingdom - loving others, helping the needy, caring for the world - ahead of what the human kingdom values?

Listen. Slow down. Seek God first - and everything else will slowly become part of that alignment.

But seek first the kingdom of God and God's righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33