A guilty conscience is a terrible thing, but is a prerequisite for confident living and spiritual boldness. We can see in this that the wicked flee because they are guilty of sin and they know it. Their fear comes from being found out and punished for the things they have done.
They are constantly looking over their shoulder, because they know punishment is coming. They just do not know when, or from where. Their guilty conscience has boldness to face everyone.
Their worst fear is fear of death and hell.
The righteous are such a drastic opposite. They have no fear of things of this earth because they are assured that greater is He that is within them than he that is in the world. God is on their side, and who can be against them.
They have no fear of death, because they are promised eternal life. Death of the body on the earth to them is like stepping through a door into all of eternity
Proverbs 28:1King James Version (KJV)
28 The wicked [a] flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
The timidity of the wicked. Quick succession in the government
of a country is a punishment to the land. Of the poor who
oppress the poor. The upright poor man is preferable to the
wicked rich man. The unprofitable conduct of the usurer. The
prosperity of the righteous a cause of rejoicing. He is
blessed who fears always. A wicked ruler a curse. The murderer
generally execrated. The faithful man. The corrupt judge. The
foolishness of trusting in one's own heart. The charitable man.
When the wicked are elevated, it is a public evil.
NOTES ON CHAP. XXVIII
Verse 1. The wicked flee] Every wicked man, however bold he may appear, is full of dreary apprehensions relative to both worlds. But the righteous has true courage, being conscious of his own innocence, and the approbation of his God. The unpitious fleeith. - Old MS. Bible. This word is often used forimpious, wicked, ungodly; hence it appears that our word pity anciently meant piety or godliness.
Verses 1-2
See here, 1. What continual frights those are subject to that go on in wicked ways. Guilt in the conscience makes men a terror to themselves, so that they are ready to flee when none pursues; like one that absconds for debt, who thinks every one he meets a bailiff. Though they pretend to be easy, there are secret fears which haunt them wherever they go, so that they fear where no present or imminent danger is, Ps. 53:5. Those that have made God their enemy, and know it, cannot but see the whole creation at war with them, and therefore can have no true enjoyment of themselves, no confidence, no courage, but a fearful looking for of judgment. Sin makes men cowards.
Degeneres animos timor arguit-- Fear argues a degenerate soul. VIRGIL.
Quos diri conscia facti mens habet attonitos-- The consciousness of atrocious crimes astonishes and confounds.JUVENAL.If they flee when none pursues, what will they do when they shall see God himself pursuing them with his armies? Job 20:24; Job 15:24. See Deut. 28:25; Lev. 26:36. 2. What a holy security and serenity of mind those enjoy who keep conscience void of offence and so keep themselves in the love of God: The righteous are bold as a lion, as a young lion; in the greatest dangers they have a God of almighty power to trust to. Therefore will not we fear though the earth be removed. Whatever difficulties they meet with in the way of their duty, they are not daunted by them. None of those things move me.
Hic murus aheneus esto, nil conscire sibi-- Be this thy brazen bulwark of defence, Still to preserve thy conscious innocence. HOR. 2 For the transgression of a land many arethe princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.
Note, 1. National sins bring national disorders and the disturbance of the public repose: For the transgression of a land, and a general defection from God and religion to idolatry, profaneness, or immorality, many are the princes thereof, many at the same time pretending to the sovereignty and contending for it, by which the people are crumbled into parties and factions, biting and devouring one another, or many successively, in a little time, one cutting off another, as 1 Kgs. 16:8; or soon cut off by the hand of God or of a foreign enemy, as 2 Kgs. 24:5 As the people suffer for the sins of the prince,
Delirant reges, plectuntur Achivi-- Kings play the madmen, and their people suffer for it, so the government sometimes suffers for the sins of the people. 2. Wisdom will prevent or redress these grievances: By a man, that is, by a people, of understanding, that come again to themselves and their right mind, things are kept in a good order, or, if disturbed, brought back to the old channel again. Or, By a prince of understanding and knowledge, a privy-counsellor, or minister of state, that will restrain or suppress the transgression of the land, and take the right methods of healing the state thereof, the good estate of it will be prolonged. We cannot imagine what a great deal of service one wise man may do to a nation in a critical juncture.
Proverbs 28
V 1–28: SUMMARY Boldness, anarchy, law, justice, integrity, shame, usury, unanswered prayer, downfall, understanding, righteous, wicked, confession, reverence, wicked ruler, bloodshed, blamelessness, diligence, poverty, blessings, partiality, covetousness, rebuke, flattery, robbing parents, pride, trust, poor, wicked influence.
V 12: RIGHTEOUS REJOICING—GREAT GLORY When those who know God rejoice in Him and in His good, great glory is brought to God and great blessing to those around. V 12: EVIL ELEVATED—PEOPLE PETRIFIEDThe reverse is true when wicked persons rise to positions of influence and authority. God’s standards are so undermined that people live in fear of what society becomes.
The character of the righteous and of the wicked, with the blessed fruits of integrity, and evil effects of sin, Pro 28:11-12. The evil of concealing and blessedness of confessing sin, Pro 28:13. The evil of oppression and violence, the benefit of industry and faithfulness, with sundry other observations, Pro 28:15-28.
Proverbs 28:1
The wicked flee when no man pursueth,because the conscience of their own guilt puts them into a continual expectation and dread of God’s judgments.
The righteous are bold; are courageous and resolute, having the witness of a good conscience, and the assurance of Divine favour and protection, and the supports and consolations of the Holy Ghost.
King James Study Bible Notes:
- Introduction to the Book of Proverbs
- Prov. 28:1: A clear conscience is prerequisite for confident living and spiritual boldness.
Dictionary of Bible Themes:
- 7150 righteous, the: The designation, especially in the OT, of those who live and act in accordance with God’s commands.
- 8136 knowing God, effects of: Knowing God has a transforming effect on a person spiritually and morally and makes that person bold in actions for God. Not knowing God in the present will result in dissatisfaction and degeneration into wickedness and in the future will bring eternal alienation from him.
- 8202 boldness: Courage and confidence in approaching God and also other people.
Encyclopedia of The Bible:
A wicked man has a bad conscience. And he does not trust God. So a wicked man has no hope for the future. And he is afraid of many things.
But the good man has a good conscience. He trusts God. The good man is not afraid that he might lose his money. He knows that God will provide. The good man is not even afraid of death. God will take the good man to heaven when the good man dies. So the good man has courage. See Daniel 3 and Matthew 6:25-34
Rev 5:5 KJV - 5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof
