Grasp the Gospel — Bible Comprehension Quizzes

Proverbs 29 Devotional

Freed from the Fear of People

“The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is set securely on high.”Proverbs 29:25 (BSB)

Near its end, Proverbs 29 names a trap many people walk into without noticing. Being afraid of people sets a snare, while trusting the LORD lifts a person to safety (29:25). That fear shows up throughout this chapter: in flattery that spreads a net (29:5), in rulers who listen to lies (29:12), and in crowds chasing a ruler's favor, though real justice comes from the LORD (29:26).

The answer Proverbs gives is not self-confidence but a different fear. The book began by saying that knowledge starts with the fear of the LORD (1:7). Whoever fears God most no longer needs to fear people most. Jesus said the same, telling his followers not to be afraid of those who can kill only the body, but to fear the One with power to destroy both body and soul (Matthew 10:28). That fear is not dread of a hostile judge. It is reverence for the God who also keeps his people secure, and his approval outweighs every other verdict.

To think about: Whose approval have you been working hardest to win, and how would trusting the LORD loosen its grip on you?

About Proverbs 29: Correction, Just Rule, and Trust in God

The last sayings of Solomon warn that stubbornness after repeated correction ends in sudden ruin. They cover just and unjust kings, anger, the discipline of children, a people unrestrained without God's revealed word, pride, the snare of fearing people, and the hostility between righteous and wicked.

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