Week 20 Day 6
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Finding God in the Mysteries of every day
Proverbs 29:25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare,
but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.
At first reading this text it would be very easy to develop a wrong impression of just exactly what the writer is trying to say. We consider the dark possibilities that fear engenders in the human heart. To be ensnared by the snare of fear is paralyzing, opens the door to unholy bargaining and compromise, and ultimately leads to spiritual ruin.
I was, however brought to a screeching halt in my thinking when I asked the question, “What does it mean to be safe?” Time for some research. As always, there is a sociological and even a political/ideological slant to many translations. Hearkening back to the original language via Strong’s Concordance, I discovered that the original verb in Hebrew transliterated as sagab means to lift or place on high. You and I both know with a long history of martyrdom in the Christian Church that physical safety is not what is meant here. Face it. As long as we live in enemy territory we are at physical risk. The meaning here becomes clear when we accept this truth.
Consider Job who had lost everything, but his life, was still able to declare “Though he slay me yet I will trust him”. (13:15a) If we do not lose faith in God when fear comes clawing at our door he will not let our souls be consumed.
Larry M Lawrence- Mysteries 