25 The fear of people becomes a snare,
but whoever trusts in the LORD will be set on high.
1. The Contrast:
1st-The fear of people vs trusts in the LORD;
2nd-becomes produce a snare vs be set on high (NET) the military experience of finding a defensible position, a place of safety and security, such as a high wall or a mountain. Trusting in the LORD sets people free and gives them a sense of safety and security
a. From the 2nd comparison, this verse has a favor of strategy or military strategy. In other words, whether you choose to fear the people or trusting the LORD it has a strategic difference in our life or it will give us a whole different mindset to live.
b. The snare is (NET) a trap—there is no freedom of movement or sense of security. Once I make my choice to fear people the result is not up to me, and will certainly come and gives me no freedom.
c. Since they are put in contrast, the fear of people excludes the trust in the LORD. The trust/fear is put on people instead of God. The object whom we trusting/fearing is the one we think is more powerful and in control.
If it is put in the military strategy background, the fear of people may include in crisis moment of a country, the king chose paying the enemy not to come, or to lend soldiers from ally to fight for my country. No consideration will be to bring the crisis in front of the LORD and seek His help.
(EBC) Such fear becomes a snare when it gets to the point of letting others control your life—their opinions and attitudes put subtle pressure on you, even hindering you from speaking the truth or doing what is right (Whybray, Book of Proverbs, pp. 169–70). Release from such bondage comes when people put their faith in the Lord alone...example of the apostles in Acts 5:29
(NAC) For example, someone might be afraid to oppose the unethical actions of a superior out of fear of losing a job. This verse tells the reader to do what is right and trust the outcome to Yahweh.
2 Reflection:
In what situation or moment of my life that I chose to fear the authority or control of man over to fear or trust in God? I turn to people to give me joy, sense of accomplishment and assuring comment.
Why do people who chose people over God will leave them in a trap? Fearing man itself is wrong in a sense that they are not just hopeless in helping us but they are deceiving. Do I ever got into this kind of self-deceiving and cannot come out situation? If I rely on people to give me joy, and security I will be like that.
Comments