Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish; but he who keeps the law [of God, which includes that of man]—blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he. – Proverbs 29:18, Amplified Bible

There may be no better example of the truths expressed in Proverbs 29:18 than the life of King Saul. In his youth, Saul was small in his own estimation and completely dependent on the revelation of God. Reliant on God’s Word as revealed through the prophet Samuel, Saul was obedient to the Lord and, as a result, he could see God’s power and favor in his life. (See 1 Samuel 10 to begin reading about Saul’s early life.)

But, in 1 Samuel 28, we see a Saul that is only a shadow of his former self. Bitter, paranoid, and dejected, Saul had been abandoned by God because of his constant disobedience. He no longer had God for an active partner in his life, and this separation from God had taken its toll. Now, facing war once again with the Philistines, Saul frantically sought some sign from God, but to no avail. Finally, in utter desperation, Saul conjured Samuel back from the grave to find his answer, only to learn that on the morrow both he and his sons would be dead.

What did the young, vibrant, and confident Saul have that the jaded, wicked, and defeated Saul did not? Vision. Not vision in the sense of eyesight, but vision with regard to the Word of God. When bathed in God’s Word (and in obedience to it), we enjoy fellowship with our Creator, and we receive all of the benefits of that fellowship: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance (Galatians 5:22-23). When we are disconnected from God’s Word, the works of the flesh are manifest (Galatians 5:19-21), and death follows (Romans 6:23).

So many Christians today clamor for their own way – like the bitter Saul did – rather than abide in God’s way – like the obedient Saul did. In exchange for being the “captain of their own ship,” they give up the blessedness of sure sailing with The Lord at the helm in exchange for the destruction that inevitably comes when man steers the ship. If not careful, such believers run the risk of hearing silence from God for a time – or for good – because of disobedience.

Saul left a life of happiness behind and exchanged it for bitterness and death. Abraham’s loneliest time came during the thirteen years following Ishmael’s birth when God repayed Abraham’s disobedience with silence. And when we disobey God’s revealed truth in our lives, God may just remove Himself from us for a time to show us in practice just how essential He and His Word are to leading a happy life.