Chapter. 8. Arguments against the fear of man,
for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." God piles up expressions to provide support against fear. Faith makes these encouragements from the Word of God tangible to the soul; faith brings the divine power and efficacy of these promises to the soul.
Furthermore, faith aids in conquering fear by drawing upon all the experiences of God's dealings with His people in the past. Habakkuk, throughout chapter 3, makes use of the ways of God and recounts what God had done for His people before. Psalm 87:4 states, "I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold
Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there."
Lastly, faith assists in overcoming the fear of man by causing a Christian to evaluate people as God Himself judges them, to see them as God sees them, and to have the same thoughts about them as God does. This is a powerful aid against fear.
Now, we must examine how God has revealed Himself concerning humanity and how little reason there is to fear men, especially wicked individuals and enemies of God's people. The Psalmist boldly proclaims, "In God have I put my trust: I will not fear what man can do unto me" (Psalm 56:11). Similarly, in verse 4 of the same psalm, he declares, "In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me."
Chapter 8
Arguments against the Fear of Man Arguments against the fear of man, based on the consideration of man in six notable aspects: 1. His nature, 2. The vanity of man, 3.
The dwelling place of man, 4. The worldly splendor of man, 5. The foundation of man, 6. The brevity of man's life. Secondly, the consideration of man as a wicked individual: 1. His baseness, 2. His opposition to the godly in his exercise of power, 3. The imminent ruin and destruction faced by the enemies of God's people.
Firstly, we need to reflect on what the Scripture tells us about man in general.
Secondly, we need to examine what it reveals about man as a wicked individual.
There are six aspects that we should consider regarding man:
Firstly, his inherent nature.
Secondly, the futility and emptiness of man.
Thirdly, the temporary dwelling place of man.
Fourthly, the worldly grandeur and ostentation of man.
Fifthly, the unstable foundation upon which man stands.
Sixthly, the fleeting nature of man's life.
In all of these aspects, there are significant expressions that demonstrate the insignificance of any individual, prompting us not to be afraid of him.
First, let's consider what man is:
1. He is of the Earth. As the Psalmist says, "What is man that I should be afraid of him?" The word signifies Earth.
2. It signifies a poor, sickly, sorrowful person. Should anyone be afraid of the Earth or a sick man?
3. The Scripture calls him a Worm, Job 25:6. Would anyone be afraid of a Worm?
4. Man is called Clay, Job 10:9.
5. In the Scripture, man is referred to as grass and the flower of the field, Isaiah 40:6.
Secondly, let's examine what the Scripture says about the vanity of man:
1. A man is likened to vanity, Psalm 44:4.
2. He walks in a vain shadow, Psalm 39:6.
3. Man is vain himself, Job 11:11-12.
4. Man is vanity itself.
5. Altogether vanity.
6. Every man is vanity.
7. In his best state, he is vanity. See Psalm 39.
8. He is lighter than vanity, Psalm 62:9.
If we could see man as God sees him, we would not be afraid.
Thirdly, let's consider the dwelling of man:
In all his grandeur and opulent palaces, they are no more than the dwelling of a moth, a temporary shelter, and a fragile house of clay.
Fourthly, let's examine the pomp of a man:
Even if a man is adorned in the greatest splendour that could cause fear in the hearts of carnal men, in Acts 25:23, when Bernice and Agrippa came to sit in judgment, they came with great pomp, as judges often do to intimidate their prisoners. Now, the word "pomp" signifies an ostentatious display. Faith enables people to judge things as the Holy Spirit does, and thus keeps them from fearing them.
Fifthly, let's consider the foundation of man:
It is in the dust, and anything that has no foundation except the dust has no great strength.
Sixthly, let's examine the life of man:
Sometimes it is compared to a bubble and a vapour, a weaver's shuttle, and the wind. In Job 7:6-7, he is compared to an eagle flying in the air and to a ship in the middle of the sea. He is compared to the days of a hired worker and to a shadow. He is such a feeble creature that the moth can crush him. Moreover, his days are as short as a handbreadth, and his breath is in his nostrils. All this shows that there is little reason to fear man. When we consider all these aspects together, it becomes clear that man is not a creature to be greatly feared. This highlights the dishonour that God receives when man is feared more than Him.
Now, let us consider man as a wicked man, and in that state, he is even less to be feared. We will examine him in three respects.
Consider the following:
1. Their baseness.
2. Their opposition to the godly in the greatness of their power.
3. The nearness of destruction for the wicked and enemies of God's people.
First, let's consider the baseness of wicked men. We should not fear things that are base.
1. No matter how glorious they may appear outwardly, wicked men are mere dross and dust.
2. Their foundation, which should uphold them and be their source of power, is rotten.
3. They are like straw trampled down for the dungheap.
4. They are compared to the froth and foam of the sea.
5. Their baseness is expressed by being compared to briars and thorns.
Why should we fear wicked men who are likened to such base things? This is how God judges them, and those who have faith should judge them likewise. Despite their power and strength, they are of lowly nature.
Secondly, let us consider what God says about the power of wicked men.
1. It is nothing more than noise. Egypt may have been a great kingdom, but the king and all his power amount to nothing more than noise.
2. Their power is like insignificant dust.
3. In all their might, they are comparable to a group of beasts or little children holding reeds instead of spears.
4. Their power is cursed. When they are filled with pride and rage, and they look down upon the servants of God with scorn and
contempt, they are cursed in their pride and strength. Anything cursed by God is destined for destruction.
5. All their power is nothing. If their power amounts to nothing, there is no reason to fear it.
6. They are less than nothing. It is even more profound that the power of all nations is considered less than nothing. If we hold the same judgement as the Holy Spirit does regarding man, there is no reason to fear him.
Thirdly, and finally: Consider what the Scripture says about wicked men in terms of their proximity to destruction. They are on the verge of perishing.
1. They are likened to tow, which ignites quickly when touched by a spark of fire.
2. They are like the crackling of thorns under a pot.
3. They resemble smoke that ascends and vanishes swiftly. The greater their power, the sooner they meet their demise.
4. They are compared to wax melting before fire, chaff blown away by the wind, and stubble.
5. All their light is as fleeting as a candle. Solomon says, "The candle of the wicked shall be put out."
6. They are also compared to the tops of ears of corn that can be easily nipped off.
7. The Psalmist declares that God cuts off the spirit of princes, like cutting off a cluster of grapes with a knife.
8. They are likened to withered corn, not only as grass but as grass on a rooftop. Wicked men are heading towards destruction like something rolling before the wind. They are said to be placed in slippery places, and the angel of the Lord persecutes them. If