Week of June 4

“No passion so effectually robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear,” said Edmund Burke, the 18th century British statesman. His words are in themselves powerful, but they are also frightening when we consider the moral implications of fear. It does not take a psychologist to recognize the superabundance of fear in our culture today. Products are sold by employing a “fear of loss” if they are not purchased. Politicians solicit votes by casting their opponents and their policies in fearful language. We all know people who live their daily lives in dread of some unknown!
 
A near universal anxiety occurs when we consider the power of rulers and governments. Common vernacular talks about “weaponizing” policies and laws to hurt others. Thankfully, the Bible has a message for our hearts today. Solomon has summed up the fear of power well in our focal proverb. We do well to allow God to clearly speak His message to our hearts about trusting Him despite fear.

We may miss the depth of meaning in this simple proverb if we are not careful. The word for “fear” means “to shake,” from which meanings such as “tremble” are derived. It may refer to physical movement, but I believe that the point here is emotional agitation. Solomon warns against fearing man more than revering God (29:25).
 
This “quaking in one’s boots,” to use our common parlance, may include any situation where we are afraid of offending another person, even when they may be wrong (NAC). There may be any number of situations where this occurs—one’s peer group, a superior in business, a government official or agency, and even a religious leader! This type of bullying occurs regularly in our generation as well.

There are deep moral undertones associated with this type of fear. The result is a “snare,” meaning that the person will become involved in trouble or fall into a trap. The idea is that others will control the life of such a person in ways that cause him or her to compromise core convictions. Many of us have experienced the emotional shackles that such situations may bring. Have you ever lived in such dread of another person’s power that you failed to do what was right? There is a solution.

Our writer calls us to trust in the Lord for He provides safety. God will literally “set on high” the person who places his trust in Him. The Lord will protect this person and keep him out of danger. The release from such bondage comes when people put their faith in God alone (10:27; 12:2; Acts 5:29, “we must obey God rather than men”).
 
Solomon also writes that justice will ultimately come from God. He places two options before us—seeking the face (i.e., grace) of a ruler or finding true justice from God (29:26). This is not to say that we are never to pursue legal options at our disposal. The point is that we should avoid the miscalculation that true justice will come by depending upon some ruler rather than God. It is a false hope that leads to a dead end when we rely upon human (especially political) power (cf. EBC).

Duane Garrett writes that the “Bible after all is not a book about social reform but calls for committed faith in Yahweh” (NAC). I believe that we all, regardless of our political preferences, will need to consider Solomon’s words. Political divisiveness in our nation has created a chasm between believers over several social issues.
 
We should notice that the early church did not divide itself over the great social issues in pagan (secular) culture—for example, slavery, poverty, hunger, and various other human rights abuses. The early church focused instead on bringing the gospel’s power to bear on human hearts. People whose lives had been changed by the gospel began to bring about changes in slavery (cf. Philemon), poverty (cf. 1 Corinthians 9), and hunger (cf. Acts 6). Mahatma Gandhi himself once said, “Power is of two kinds: one is obtained by the fear of punishment and the other by acts of love.” It is the powerful love of Christ that conquers the world.

I taught some years ago a series of criminal justice ethics lessons in the Republic of Georgia, which had formerly been a part of the Soviet Union. My heart went out to the probation officers in attendance because of the draconian justice system that still remains in place, years after the Soviet Republic crumbled. One probation officer recounted a corrupt superior who threatened to fire all her employees if she challenged his wrongdoing. It was a fear of his power and reprisal on a wide scale that had chained her from doing the right thing.
 
I sensed an oppressive cloud hanging over her head. Edmund Burke’s words apply to that circumstance: “No passion so effectually robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear.” We did our best to work out an ethical approach to her dilemma. Solomon gives us an ethical response to abusive power when he calls us to break free of fear’s chains, to act rightly, and to trust God.
 
Here is a critical application on religious fear. I have been reading in recent months much pastoral rhetoric on social media that boils down to the spiritual bullying of Christians. Religious abuses of power occur in every generation and our current age is no exception. There has long been a climate of fear that has caused much heartache and heartbreak among my own Baptist tribe. C.S. Lewis once wrote of the attitude of the inquisitor who “mistakes his own cruelty and lust of power and fear for the voice of Heaven.”
 
We always must remember that Christ conquered the hearts of humankind with the Father’s love and the hope of heaven, not a fear of the law and the threat of hell. Church! Christians should stand firm for Christ’s way and throw off fear (1 John 4:18; “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear; because fear involves torment”).

1. You may have faced, or may be facing currently, a challenging power dilemma of your own at school, on the job, or even at home! Write down your fears, seek God’s wisdom, and chart the ways that you will place your trust in God.
 
2. For Families: A good afternoon snack subject for discussion is this same topic of fear that our writer explores in today’s proverb. Have your kids ever experienced fear? How and what made them afraid? Do they now fear anything?

Talk together about what it is healthy to fear: snakes (generally), spiders, scorpions (can I get an amen?), lightening when it strikes nearby, playing with fire, these kinds of things. Anything else the kids know to fear? Then remind them that the Bible teaches us that we can trust the Lord to make our way safe. We can trust that God will make all things right in His perfect timing.

Now memorize the phrase from today’s proverb: “Whoever trusts in the Lord is safe” (Proverbs 29:25b). May you and your families rest in the safe arms of God. we are praying for you!

May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock