Beware of the Snare - Pastor Stacey Shiflett
- Pastor Shiflett
- Feb 8
- 5 min read
Beware of the Snare
Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
Intro: Let’s examine the context:
Proverbs 29
· 25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
· 26 Many seek the ruler’s favour; but every man’s judgment cometh from the LORD.
· 27 An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.
Notice verse 26 – many are seeking approval from the wrong people; instead of from God
Fearing man more than you fear God is a major problem with a lot of people.
Notice what Jesus told His disciples:
· Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
verse 27 – you cannot please and satisfy the unjust and the upright at the same time.
If you try to please the unjust, you will be despised by the upright.
If you try to walk with the upright, you will be an abomination to the wicked.
Every person will have to choose which crowd to run with at some point in time.
I. The Snare that is Prominent – “The fear of man bringeth a snare…”
A. The Reasons for the Fear of Man
1. Insecurity – being concerned about what others think of you
· 1 Samuel 15:24 And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.
Why would a king fear his own people?
He had all the authority, all the power, all the weapons – why would he fear the people?
Insecurity causes people to fear man when there is no logical reason for them to.
Why do people that have God fighting for them, God’s Word on their side and the Holy Ghost indwelling them always seem so insecure?
God has promised the child of God – Matthew 28.
· 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
· 19 Go ye therefore…
· 20 …: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
2. Indecision – being unsure of what to do makes you feel vulnerable
Mark 11:27-33
· 31 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
· 32 But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.
· 33 And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell.
3. Indiscretion – blackmail; knowing they have dirt on you; leverage
Herod feared John because he was living in adultery.
Mark 6
· 18 For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife.
· 19 Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:
· 20 For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him;
Joseph’s brothers feared Joseph because of their horrible sin to him.
· Genesis 45:3 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.
B. The Result of the Fear of Man
Notice the phrase – the fear of man BRINGETH a snare.
The fear of man is what lures and entraps you.
SNARE: bait, lure, snare
You are free as long as you do not fear man.
C. The Restrictions of the Fear of Man
SNARE: entrapped; to trap
When you’re in a snare, you have no liberty; no freedom; no options.
You’re stuck.
You’re a prisoner of the will of those that put the snare there.
APPLICATION: You cannot say anything.
You cannot change anything.
You cannot speak out.
You cannot protest.
You cannot push back against anything.
People that are ensnared do not pose a threat.
They are not a formidable adversary.
The fear of man will shut you up, shut you down and shut you out.
II. The Safety that is Promised – “…but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.”
A. The Scope of the Promise – “…but whoso…”
This promise applies to everyone!
It is not based on your station in life.
It is not based on your age.
Saul and the entire army of Israel was afraid of Goliath.
But David wasn’t. Why? He trusted in God.
· 1 Samuel 17:45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
B. The Stipulations of the Promise – “…whoso putteth his trust in the Lord…”
Hebrews 13
· 5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
· 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
C. The Security of the Promise – the Lord is the one that provides safety
· Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Notice what Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:
· 17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
· 18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
There is a promise of safety and security to every one that puts their faith and trust in the Lord.
The fear of man bringeth a snare!
Beware of the snare!!
