What is the meaning of Proverbs 28:1? The wicked flee when no one pursues “ ‘The wicked flee when no one pursues’ ” (Proverbs 28:1a). • Sin breeds fear. Adam and Eve hid though no one chased them (Genesis 3:8–10). • Guilt keeps the conscience on constant alert; even ordinary sounds feel like threats (Leviticus 26:36). • Without God’s peace, enemies are imagined everywhere (Psalm 53:5). • Flight exposes inner turmoil: people run because they know they stand condemned (John 3:19–20). Takeaway: Unrepented sin steals peace; wickedness is self-sabotaging. but the righteous are as bold as a lion “ ‘…but the righteous are as bold as a lion.’ ” (Proverbs 28:1b). • Righteousness brings confidence because it rests on God’s approval, not human applause (Proverbs 14:26). • Like David before Goliath, faith-filled courage flows from knowing the Lord fights for us (1 Samuel 17:45–47). • God’s presence drives out fear: “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” (Psalm 27:1). • Boldness is promised to those made righteous in Christ (Hebrews 4:16; Acts 4:13). Takeaway: When standing clean before God, we stand fearless before men. summary Proverbs 28:1 contrasts the inner lives of two camps. The unrepentant live haunted and anxious, fleeing shadows of their own making. The righteous, anchored in God’s forgiveness and favor, move through life with lion-hearted courage. Choosing righteousness is choosing freedom from fear. |
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