| Geneva Study Bible The fear of man bringeth a {f} snare: but he who putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. (f) He who fears man more than God falls into a snare and is destroyed. Wesley's Notes 29:25 A snare - Is an occasion of many sins. King James Translators' Notes safe: Heb. set on high Scofield Reference Notes Margin trust See Scofield Note: "Ps 2:12", Also; Prov 28:25. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 25. The fear . snare-involves men in difficulty (compare Pr 29:6). shall be safe-(Compare Margin; Pr 18:10). Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 29:19. Here is an unprofitable, slothful, wicked servant; one that serves not from conscience, or love, but from fear. 20. When a man is self-conceited, rash, and given to wrangling, there is more hope of the ignorant and profligate. 21. Good usage to a servant does not mean indulgence, which would ruin even a child. The body is a servant to the soul; those that humour it, and are over-tender of it, will find it forget its place. 22. An angry, passionate disposition makes men provoking to one another, and provoking to God. 23. Only those who humble themselves shall be exalted and established. 24. The receiver is as bad as the thief. 25. Many are ashamed to own Christ now; and he will not own them in the day of judgment. But he that trusts in the Lord will be saved from this snare. Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary Verse 25 Here, 1. We are cautioned not to dread the power of man, neither the power of a prince nor the power of the multitude; both are formidable enough, but the slavish fear of either brings a snare, that is, exposes men to many insults (some take a pride in terrifying the timorous), or rather exposes men to many temptations. Abraham, for fear of man, denied his wife, and Peter his Master, and many a one his God and religion. We must not shrink from duty, nor commit sin, to avoid the wrath of man, nor, though we see it coming upon us, be disquieted with fear, Dan. 3:16; Ps. 118:6. He must himself die (Isa. 51:12) and can but kill our body, Lu. 12:5. 2. We are encouraged to depend upon the power of God, which would keep us from all that fear of man which has either torment or temptation in it. Whoso puts his trust in the Lord, for protection and supply in the way of duty, shall be set on high, above the power of man and above the fear of that power. A holy confidence in God makes a man both great and easy, and enables him to look with a gracious contempt upon the most formidable designs of hell and earth against him. If God be my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid. |