Fear of Persecutors – Proverbs 29:25-26

According to CatholicWorldReport.com, in June of 2020 “Pope Francis…encouraged Christians to fear sin, not the hostility, violence, or persecution they may face when sharing the Gospel with the world. Speaking before the Angelus prayer, he said, ‘there is no need to be frightened of those who seek to extinguish the evangelizing force with arrogance and violence.'”

The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.  Many seek the face of a ruler, but it is from the LORD that a man gets justice. (Proverbs 29:25–26, ESV)

Jesus taught these proverbs this way: 

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28).

There is something to fear in human beings with power or influence.  Those with ultimate power could take your life and cause any sort of misery short of death.  But fearing them means we aren’t trusting Him.  Trusting in Yahweh makes us safe, not from any and all wrongdoing, but from the ultimate wrongdoing, going to hell.  Many Old and New Testament believers were martyred for their faith (Hebrews 11:35-38).  They did not give up their faith because they feared Him, Yahweh, who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

This does not mean that God is trying to scare us into submission.  This proverb and Jesus’ teaching is showing us the way to a fearless life.  We need fear no one, not even the king.  But it was the way of life in those days to seek justice from the ruler (think of the two prostitutes who seek Solomon’s decision about the baby, 1 Kings 3:16-28).  Does this proverb tell us not to go to those in power for decisions of justice?  I don’t believe so.  I believe it is telling us to go to them for decisions but to trust in Yahweh for the result.  He is the real source of any justice.