Many seek the ruler's favor, but a man receives justice from the LORD. Sermons
I. TWO TEMPTATIONS. 1. To be unduly affected by the fear of man's displeasure. "The fear of man," etc. Now, the fear of man: (1) May be dutiful. It is the duty of children to have a reverential regard for their parents, and to shun most carefully their disapproval. There is a "fear" appropriate to servants (Ephesians 6:5). We should fear to dissatisfy those who have a right to our faithful service. (2) May be desirable. We should, as wise co-workers with God, fear to do that which, instead of conciliating, will disaffect those whom we want to win to righteousness and wisdom. But the tear of which Solomon writes (3) is dishonourable and dangerous. It is a fear which is born of cowardice, a slavish disinclination to encounter the anger or the opposition of those who are in the wrong. It is an undue concern about the action of those who may claim a right, but who cannot sustain it, to keep us back from duty or to compel us to some unworthiness. By this unmanly and unholy fear we may be (1) prevented from entering the kingdom or the Church of Christ; (2) deterred from speaking his truth with fulness and faithfulness; (3) hindered from bearing the testimony we should otherwise offer against some evil course; (4) led into actual and even active fellowship with wrong, Then, indeed, our fear is "a snare," and it betrays us into sin. 2. To be unduly impelled by a desire for man's favour. "Many seek the ruler's favour." There is, of course, nothing wrong in seeking the interest of the powerful. It is simple wisdom, on the part of those who are struggling and rising, to do that. But it may easily be and often is overdone. Our Lord used very decisive language on this subject (John 5:44). When (1) the desire is excessive; (2) language is used or action is taken which is untruthful or dishonest, or which makes a man fall in his own regard; (3) there is so much solicitude that a man loses self-reliance as well as self-respect, and forgets the help which is to be had from above; - then "seeking the ruler's favour" is a mistake, and even more and worse than that. II. TWO SOURCES OF STRENGTH. 1. A sense of Divine approval. "Every man's judgment eometh from the Lord." Why be troubled about man's condemnation so long as we have his acquittal? Let Judas complain, if Jesus excuses and commends (John 12:1-8). Let the critics pass their sentence; it is a small thing to a man who is living under an abiding sense that "he that judgeth him is the Lord" (1 Corinthians 4:3, 4; Romans 2:29). "Men heed thee, love thee, praise thee not; The Master praises; - what are men?" And it is not only the present judgment and acceptance of God to which we have recourse, but his future judgment also, and the commendation he will pass upon our fidelity (see Romans 14:10-13; 1 Corinthians 4:5). 2. A hope of Divine succour. "Whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe." Again and again, in the Old and New Testaments, by psalmists and prophets and apostles, as well as by our Lord himself, we are invited and exhorted to "put our trust in the Lord;" and we are assured that, so doing, we shall not be ashamed. If God does not deliver us from our enemies, and from the trouble riley occasion us, he will certainly deliver us in our adversity; he will give us strength to endure, grace to submit, courage to bear and brave the worst, sanctity of spirit as the result; he will turn the well of our affliction into a fountain of spritual blessing. - C. I. WHAT IS THE FEAR OF MAN? A reverence of human authority and customs, and a dread of the censure and reproaches of our fellow-creatures. 1. There is a reverence due to human authority in all points that do not exceed the just bounds of it, and the paying this regard is absolutely necessary to hold the frame of civil societies together. The ends of society cannot be secured but by mutual condescension and respect, and the compliance and submission of the minor part, in things lawful. 2. A man ought to be afraid of censure and reproach being fixed upon him, and anxious to deliver and clear himself from it. Men must be of a temper quite stupid if they have no fear at all of public reproach and infamy, and must lose a very powerful restraint from mean, ungenerous, and disgraceful practices. 3. We are guilty of the utmost rashness and folly if we expose ourselves to the resentments of our fellow-men unnecessarily. And a dread of those punishments which the civil magistrate inflicts is not only lawful, but necessary. Thus far, then, the fear of man may be defended and justified. II. IN WHAT SENSE. IT BRINGETH A SNARE. It throws temptations in men's way which are likely to prevail so far as to destroy all improvements in true wisdom and virtue. 1. Suppose a man, under the influence of this slavish principle, engages in search after truth, what proficiency is it possible for him to make? In order to making improvements in Divine knowledge it is absolutely necessary that the mind be free, calm, and unruffled, under no restraint or terror. There must be no corrupt passion to darken the understanding, nor private interest to mislead and pervert it. 2. It is as great an absurdity to expect that one who is dispirited by worldly fears should be a confessor and martyr for true religion as that a coward should be brave and valiant. Slavish fear of man leads men even to revile and banter the truth. 3. This fear will have the same malignant influence upon our morals as upon our faith. When it rises to such a height as to overrule the dictates of natural conscience, and entirely to destroy the strength and constancy of our minds, we are an easy prey to every temptation, and lie open to the most desperate and abandoned wickedness. If it be our ultimate view to secure the countenance and favour of persons in authority and avoid their displeasure, this likewise will subject us to many snares and inconveniences. III. OFFER SOME REMEDIES AGAINST THIS FEAR OF MAN. 1. Maintain and improve in our minds a strong sense of the necessary difference between good and evil. 2. Add a becoming sense of the dignity of our nature. 3. Trust in God, as advised in the latter part of the text. 4. Cultivate a supreme reverence for God. These two — fear of man and fear of God — are absolutely inconsistent, and cannot subsist together. (James Foster.) 1. The fear of man often leads to downright, positive sin. 2. The fear of man keeps many a lad from decision for Christ. (G. Everard, M.A.) 1. For the fear of man is more general than we are aware of. 2. To all who yield to its influence it brings a fatal snare. II. ITS PROPER AND ONLY EFFECTUAL ANTIDOTE. Regard for God Himself. We should trust Him for support, happiness, recompense. Improvement: 1. A word of caution. 2. Of encouragement. (S. Simeon, M.A.) Whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe. I. THERE IS SAFETY NOWHERE EXCEPT IN THE CARE OF GOD, for in His hands alone are sources of safety.II. God can make safe ONLY THOSE WHO TRUST HIM FULLY. III. COMPLETE TRUST CAN EXIST ONLY BETWEEN PARTIES IN ACCORD and in the confidence of each other. IV. IN ORDER TO TRUST IN THE LORD TWO THINGS ARE ESSENTIAL. 1. We must confidently believe that God is able, willing, and ready to care for us. 2. That we are worthy of His care. V. TO BE SAFE WE MUST BE AT ONE WITH GOD. VI. OUTSIDE OF GOD'S PROTECTION ARE DANGER, DARKNESS, DEATH — ETERNAL. (Homiletic Review.). People SolomonPlaces JerusalemTopics Approval, Audience, Cause, Decision, Desired, Face, Favor, Favour, Gets, Judgment, Justice, Man's, Numbers, Ruler, Ruler's, Seek, SeekingOutline 1. observations of public government15. and of private 22. Of anger, pride, thievery, cowardice and corruption Dictionary of Bible Themes Proverbs 29:26-27Library An Obscured vision(Preached at the opening of the Winona Lake Bible Conference.) TEXT: "Where there is no vision, the people perish."--Proverbs 29:18. It is not altogether an easy matter to secure a text for such an occasion as this; not because the texts are so few in number but rather because they are so many, for one has only to turn over the pages of the Bible in the most casual way to find them facing him at every reading. Feeling the need of advice for such a time as this, I asked a number of my friends who … J. Wilbur Chapman—And Judas Iscariot Two Ancient Proverbs The Baptismal Covenant Can be Kept Unbroken. Aim and Responsibility of Parents. But Sometimes a Peril to Eternal Salvation Itself is Put Forth against Us... Little Sarah Howley. For, Concerning False Witness, which is Set Down in the Ten Commands of The... Palm Sunday It Remains Then that we Understand as Concerning those Women... What are Evidences of Backsliding in Heart. God's Glory the Chief End of Man's Being How the Impatient and the Patient are to be Admonished. Humility is the Root of Charity, and Meekness the Fruit of Both. ... How to Make Use of Christ as the Truth, when Error Prevaileth, and the Spirit of Error Carrieth Many Away. Characters and Names of Messiah Proverbs Links Proverbs 29:26 NIVProverbs 29:26 NLT Proverbs 29:26 ESV Proverbs 29:26 NASB Proverbs 29:26 KJV Proverbs 29:26 Bible Apps Proverbs 29:26 Parallel Proverbs 29:26 Biblia Paralela Proverbs 29:26 Chinese Bible Proverbs 29:26 French Bible Proverbs 29:26 German Bible Proverbs 29:26 Commentaries Bible Hub |
    |