How does Zedekiah's secrecy compare to Proverbs 29:25 about fearing man? Setting the Scene: Zedekiah in Crisis • Babylon’s armies surround Jerusalem (Jeremiah 37–38). • God’s word through Jeremiah is clear: surrender and live; resist and the city burns (Jeremiah 38:17-18). • Zedekiah knows Jeremiah speaks for the LORD, yet his court is hostile to the prophet (Jeremiah 38:4-6). Zedekiah’s Secret Conversations • Jeremiah 37:17: “Then King Zedekiah sent for the prophet Jeremiah… ‘Do not hide anything from me.’” • Jeremiah 38:14-16, 24-26 show the king swearing secrecy and coaching Jeremiah on what to say if questioned. • Motivation stated plainly: “I am afraid of the Judeans who have gone over to the Chaldeans” (Jeremiah 38:19). • Zedekiah’s pattern: seek God’s word privately, refuse to act on it publicly, protect his image before men. Proverbs 29:25—Fear or Faith? • “The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is set securely on high.” • “Snare” pictures an animal trap—once caught, escape is almost impossible. • “Set securely on high” evokes a fortress or stronghold, safe beyond reach of enemies (cf. Psalm 18:2). Side-by-Side: Secrecy vs. Trust Zedekiah’s fear of man: – Hid consultations with Jeremiah to avoid backlash from officials. – Rejected God-given instructions because he feared reprisals from defected Jews and Babylonian commanders. – Result: captured, blinded, sons killed, Jerusalem destroyed (Jeremiah 39:4-7). The snare tightened exactly as Proverbs warns. Trust exalted in Proverbs 29:25: – Requires open obedience, not covert curiosity (cf. Joshua 1:7-9). – Places outcome in God’s hands, even when human reaction looks dangerous (Daniel 3:16-18; Acts 5:29). – Leads to protection “on high,” whether earthly deliverance (2 Kings 19:32-34) or eternal security (John 10:28). Lessons for Today • Secret discipleship almost always ends in compromised obedience (John 12:42-43). • Fear of people can masquerade as caution, wisdom, or diplomacy, yet Scripture labels it a trap. • Visible, decisive trust in the LORD frees the believer from that trap and brings God’s protection and honor (1 Samuel 2:30; Matthew 10:32-33). |
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