◄ Proverbs 28:1 ►
The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
Study Bible
The wicked flee when no one pursues
This phrase highlights the internal turmoil and guilt that often accompany a life of wickedness. In biblical context, the wicked are those who live in opposition to God's laws and principles. The fear and paranoia experienced by the wicked can be seen as a consequence of their actions, as they lack the peace that comes from a right relationship with God. This idea is echoed in Leviticus 26:17, where God warns Israel that disobedience will lead to fear and flight even when no one is chasing them. Historically, this reflects the instability and insecurity of those who live in sin, as they are often haunted by their own conscience and the potential consequences of their actions.

but the righteous are as bold as a lion
In contrast, the righteous, those who live in accordance with God's will, possess a boldness and confidence akin to that of a lion. This boldness is not rooted in their own strength but in their trust in God and His protection. The lion, often seen as a symbol of strength and courage in the Bible, represents the fearlessness that comes from a clear conscience and a life aligned with divine principles. This concept is supported by other scriptures, such as Psalm 27:1, where David declares that the Lord is his light and salvation, and therefore he has no reason to fear. The righteous, like Jesus Christ, who is referred to as the Lion of the tribe of Judah in Revelation 5:5, exhibit a confidence that stems from their faith and the assurance of God's presence and support.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Wicked
This term refers to those who live in opposition to God's laws and principles. In the context of Proverbs, the wicked are often characterized by fear, deceit, and instability.

2. The Righteous
These are individuals who live in accordance with God's will, displaying integrity, faithfulness, and moral courage. The righteous are contrasted with the wicked throughout the book of Proverbs.

3. The Lion
Known for its strength and courage, the lion is used metaphorically to describe the boldness and confidence of the righteous.
Teaching Points
The Nature of Fear and Guilt
The wicked flee because their conscience is troubled. Guilt and fear are natural consequences of living contrary to God's ways. This teaches us the importance of living a life of integrity to avoid unnecessary fear.

The Source of Boldness
The righteous are bold because their confidence is rooted in their relationship with God. This boldness is not arrogance but a deep-seated assurance that comes from knowing and trusting in God's promises.

Living with Integrity
A life of righteousness leads to peace and confidence. When we align our actions with God's will, we can stand firm and unafraid, even when challenges arise.

The Power of a Clear Conscience
A clear conscience before God and man allows us to live boldly. Regular self-examination and repentance are crucial for maintaining this clarity.

Courage in Witnessing
The boldness of the righteous should inspire us to share our faith courageously. Just as a lion is unafraid, we too should be unashamed in proclaiming the gospel.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the concept of fear in Proverbs 28:1 relate to the experiences of the wicked in other parts of the Bible?

2. In what ways can we cultivate the boldness of a lion in our daily walk with God?

3. How does living a righteous life impact our relationships with others and our ability to witness to them?

4. What are some practical steps we can take to maintain a clear conscience before God?

5. How can the assurance of God's presence, as seen in other scriptures, help us overcome fear and live boldly?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 27:1
This verse speaks of the Lord as the source of light and salvation, emphasizing that the righteous have no reason to fear.

Romans 8:31
This passage highlights the confidence believers can have, knowing that God is for them, which aligns with the boldness described in Proverbs 28:1.

Hebrews 13:6
This verse encourages believers to confidently say that the Lord is their helper, reinforcing the idea of boldness in the face of adversity.
Sermons
Christian BoldnessJ. G. Dowling, M.A.Proverbs 28:1
ConscienceW. Arnot, D.D.Proverbs 28:1
Frights and SecuritiesProverbs 28:1
Lion-Like Boldness of the RighteousJohn N. Norton.Proverbs 28:1
Moral CowardiceJ. Parker, D.D.Proverbs 28:1
Sources of CourageJohn Scott.Proverbs 28:1
The Difference Between the Righteous and the Wicked in Respect of Courage and ConfidenceJames Roe, M.A.Proverbs 28:1
Canons of Moral TruthE. Johnson Proverbs 28:1-5
The Source of Disturbance and the Secret of SecurityW. Clarkson Proverbs 28:1, 13, 25
People
Solomon
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Bold, Confident, Evil, Fear, Fled, Flee, Flees, Goes, Lion, Pursuer, Pursues, Pursueth, Pursuing, Righteous, Running, Secure, Though, Upright, Wicked
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Proverbs 28:1

     7150   righteous, the
     8136   knowing God, effects
     8202   boldness

Library
Two Coverings and Two Consequences
A Sermon (No. 3500) by C. H. Spurgeon, April 4th, 1875, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington. Published February 24th, 1916. "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper."--Proverbs 28:13. "Thou Hast covered all their sins."--Psalm 85:2. In these two texts we have man's covering, which is worthless and culpable, and God's covering, which is profitable and worthy of all acceptation. No sooner had man disobeyed his Maker's will in the garden of Eden than he discovered to his surprise and dismay …
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs

The Right Kind of Fear
A Sermon (No. 2971) published on Thursday, January 18th, 1906, delivered by C.H. Spurgeon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington on Thursday evening, September 2nd, 1876. "Happy is the man that feareth alway."--Proverbs 28:14. But did not John say that "fear hath torment?" Then how can he be happy who hath fear, and especially he who hath it always. Did not John also say that "perfect love casteth out fear?" How is it then that he is happy in whom love is not made perfect, if so be that the fear …
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs

He Does Battle for the Faith; He Restores Peace among those who were at Variance; He Takes in Hand to Build a Stone Church.
57. (32). There was a certain clerk in Lismore whose life, as it is said, was good, but his faith not so. He was a man of some knowledge in his own eyes, and dared to say that in the Eucharist there is only a sacrament and not the fact[718] of the sacrament, that is, mere sanctification and not the truth of the Body. On this subject he was often addressed by Malachy in secret, but in vain; and finally he was called before a public assembly, the laity however being excluded, in order that if it were …
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh

"If we Confess Our Sins, He is Faithful and Just to Forgive us Our Sins",
1 John i. 9.--"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins", &c. The current of sin dries not up, but runs constantly while we are in this life. It is true, it is much diminished in a believer, and it runs not in such an universal flood over the whole man as it is in the unbeliever. Yet there is a living spring of sin within the godly, which is never ceasing to drop out pollution and defilement, either upon their whole persons, or, at least, to intermingle it with their …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

"When Solomon was Old. "
"It came to pass when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other Gods." 1 KINGS xi. 4. Who could have predicted that this would come to pass? And yet it is often so, for it is still true that NO AMOUNT OF KNOWLEDGE WILL SAVE FROM BACKSLIDING THOSE WHO REFUSE TO LISTEN TO GOD. We learn from verse 10 that God had taken pains to save Solomon from idolatry, (see 1 Kings vi. 12, and xi. 6). But what good is it for even God to try to save a man who will have his own way? And …
Thomas Champness—Broken Bread

Letter xxiv (Circa A. D. 1126) to Oger, Regular Canon
To Oger, Regular Canon [34] Bernard blames him for his resignation of his pastoral charge, although made from the love of a calm and pious life. None the less, he instructs him how, after becoming a private person, he ought to live in community. To Brother Oger, the Canon, Brother Bernard, monk but sinner, wishes that he may walk worthily of God even to the end, and embraces him with the fullest affection. 1. If I seem to have been too slow in replying to your letter, ascribe it to my not having …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

Epistle xxv. To Gregoria.
To Gregoria. Gregory to Gregoria, Lady of the Bed-chamber (cubiculariæ) to Augusta. I have received the longed for letters of your Sweetness, in which you have been at pains all through to accuse yourself of a multitude of sins: but I know that you fervently love the Almighty Lord, and I trust in His mercy that the sentence which was pronounced with regard to a certain holy woman proceeds from the mouth of the Truth with regard to you: Her sins, which are many, are forgiven her, for she loved …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

"And the Life. " How Christ is the Life.
This, as the former, being spoken indefinitely, may be universally taken, as relating both to such as are yet in the state of nature, and to such as are in the state of grace, and so may be considered in reference to both, and ground three points of truth, both in reference to the one, and in reference to the other; to wit, 1. That our case is such as we stand in need of his help, as being the Life. 2. That no other way but by him, can we get that supply of life, which we stand in need of, for he …
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

"And There is None that Calleth Upon Thy Name, that Stirreth up Himself to Take Hold on Thee,"
Isaiah lxiv. 7.--"And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold on thee," &c. They go on in the confession of their sins. Many a man hath soon done with that a general notion of sin is the highest advancement in repentance that many attain to. You may see here sin and judgment mixed in thorough other(315) in their complaint. They do not so fix their eyes upon their desolate estate of captivity, as to forget their provocations. Many a man would spend more affection, …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

How to be Admonished are those who Give Away what is their Own, and those who Seize what Belongs to Others.
(Admonition 21.) Differently to be admonished are those who already give compassionately of their own, and those who still would fain seize even what belongs to others. For those who already give compassionately of their own are to be admonished not to lift themselves up in swelling thought above those to whom they impart earthly things; not to esteem themselves better than others because they see others to be supported by them. For the Lord of an earthly household, in distributing the ranks and …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

The Authority and Utility of the Scriptures
2 Tim. iii. 16.--"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." We told you that there was nothing more necessary to know than what our end is, and what the way is that leads to that end. We see the most part of men walking at random,--running an uncertain race,--because they do not propose unto themselves a certain scope to aim at, and whither to direct their whole course. According to men's particular …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Adoption
'As many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.' John 1:12. Having spoken of the great points of faith and justification, we come next to adoption. The qualification of the persons is, As many as received him.' Receiving is put for believing, as is clear by the last words, to them that believe in his name.' The specification of the privilege is, to them gave he power to become the sons of God.' The Greek word for power, exousia, signifies …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Proverbs
Many specimens of the so-called Wisdom Literature are preserved for us in the book of Proverbs, for its contents are by no means confined to what we call proverbs. The first nine chapters constitute a continuous discourse, almost in the manner of a sermon; and of the last two chapters, ch. xxx. is largely made up of enigmas, and xxxi. is in part a description of the good housewife. All, however, are rightly subsumed under the idea of wisdom, which to the Hebrew had always moral relations. The Hebrew …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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