Pro 29:26 | KingComments | STEP | There are two contrasts in . One contrast is between one who is led by “fear of man” and “those who rely on the LORD”. The other contrast draws the consequences of the first contrast. Fear of man leads a person into “a trap” while relying on God leads to “a safe fortress”. Fear of man means tuning your life to what other people say. People’s opinions dominate and control your life. Your behavior is determined by the environment you want to befriend. It hinders you from being yourself or speaking the truth or doing what God wants. Fear of man functions as a trap, depriving a person of all freedom to make choices independently with the Lord. The thought of what others would think determines decisions. It makes a person a prisoner of people’s opinions by controlling or limiting his actions by people he fears. It is far better to rely on the LORD, because then you are safe, unreachable high. You are above what people think of your choice. Those who rely on God make choices that please Him. No man can change or influence that. God preserves everyone who relies on Him from the danger of people’s opinions. The choice is between a life ruled by what others think and Who God is and what He has promised. The first is a life in bondage, a trap. The second is a life in freedom and security. Fear leads us into a trap, reliance brings us into safety and exaltation. Fear of man led Abraham to deny his relationship with Sarah ( ) and led Peter to deny his Lord ( ). Paul was free from fear of man because he did not want to please men but God and because he did not want to be a slave of men but of Christ ( ). It is one of the greatest evils for preachers to obfuscate the truth out of fear of men. It is acting out of the thought: what will people say about it, and not: what does the Lord say about it. One form of fear of man ( ) is seeking “the favor of a ruler” ( ), to get his due. It can end up with that ruler emerging as a “trap”. People cannot give the right, but God can. He gives someone the right that he is entitled to. Therefore, relying on Him is far better than fearing man or seeking his favor, no matter how distinguished he may be or what resources he may have at his disposal.

‏ Proverbs 29:26

Fear of Man or Relying on the LORD

There are two contrasts in Pro 29:25. One contrast is between one who is led by “fear of man” and “those who rely on the LORD”. The other contrast draws the consequences of the first contrast. Fear of man leads a person into “a trap” while relying on God leads to “a safe fortress”.

Fear of man means tuning your life to what other people say. People’s opinions dominate and control your life. Your behavior is determined by the environment you want to befriend. It hinders you from being yourself or speaking the truth or doing what God wants. Fear of man functions as a trap, depriving a person of all freedom to make choices independently with the Lord. The thought of what others would think determines decisions. It makes a person a prisoner of people’s opinions by controlling or limiting his actions by people he fears.

It is far better to rely on the LORD, because then you are safe, unreachable high. You are above what people think of your choice. Those who rely on God make choices that please Him. No man can change or influence that. God preserves everyone who relies on Him from the danger of people’s opinions.

The choice is between a life ruled by what others think and Who God is and what He has promised. The first is a life in bondage, a trap. The second is a life in freedom and security. Fear leads us into a trap, reliance brings us into safety and exaltation.

Fear of man led Abraham to deny his relationship with Sarah (Gen 12:11-13 ; Gen 20:2) and led Peter to deny his Lord (Mt 26:69-74). Paul was free from fear of man because he did not want to please men but God and because he did not want to be a slave of men but of Christ (Gal 1:10). It is one of the greatest evils for preachers to obfuscate the truth out of fear of men. It is acting out of the thought: what will people say about it, and not: what does the Lord say about it.

One form of fear of man (Pro 29:25) is seeking “the favor of a ruler” (Pro 29:26), to get his due. It can end up with that ruler emerging as a “trap”. People cannot give the right, but God can. He gives someone the right that he is entitled to. Therefore, relying on Him is far better than fearing man or seeking his favor, no matter how distinguished he may be or what resources he may have at his disposal.