Edgar Conrad’s monograph on the “fear not” passages of the Old Testament concludes that they “represented stereotypical language used to encourage a warrior before battle.”
In Isaiah, there are two such “War Oracles” addressed to kings: Ahaz in chapter 7 and Hezekiah in chapter 37. But Conrad also claims that there are “War Oracles” addressed to the entire nation: “Yahweh addresses the community directly with War Oracles (10.24-27; 41.8-13; 41.14-16; 43.1-4; 43.5-6; 44.1-5). The use of the language stereotypical of royalty suggests that Yahweh is addressing the community as a king.”
Conrad’s study illumines Jesus’ constant refrain, “Fear Not,” showing that Jesus, like Yahweh, is assuring His disciples in the face of the quasi-military threats that they will face in their ministry (principalities and powers), and that He is treating them as a group of kings heading out to battle.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
Lift My Chin, Lord
Lift my chin, Lord,Say to me,“You are not whoYou feared to be,Not Hecate, quite,With howling sound,Torch held…
Letters
Two delightful essays in the March issue, by Nikolas Prassas (“Large Language Poetry,” March 2025) and Gary…
Spring Twilight After Penance
Let’s say you’ve just comeFrom confession. Late sunPours through the budding treesThat mark the brown creek washing Itself…
