Proverbs 14:26 says, In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.  We, as followers of Christ, should have a strong confidence when we go out into the world.  No matter what happens in this life, we will be victorious through Christ.  We have an everlasting refuge with God.  Verse twenty-seven states, The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.  As I have stated before, I don't believe that fear of the Lord means that we are to always be afraid that God is ready to strike us down at any moment.  Instead, we are to have a an great respect for the awesome power of God.  We must acknowledge that God always acts out of love, even when He is chastising us.  When we accept God's gift of salvation, then we will respect His authority over us.  When we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord, He becomes a fountain of life for us, and through the leadership of the Holy Spirit we escape the snares of the world that can only lead to death.  For the Christian, this would be the death of our effectiveness as a witness for God, and not an everlasting spiritual death.  Verse twenty-eight says, In the multitude of people is the king’s honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.  Basically, this tells us that when a king, or those in power, rule wisely, or by God's guidance, the country will grow and the king will be blessed, or admired.  When there is no concern for all the people, then people will rebel against the ruler.  Verse twenty-nine proclaims, He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.  We, as followers of Christ, should be slow to get angry.  When we do get angry, it should be a righteous anger concerning the things of God.  For example, we should not become angry because some cuts us off in traffic, but if they are denouncing the law of God, we should be righteously angry.  Even then, this anger should be directed at the sin and not the sinner.  We will never reach people if we hate them.  Verse thirty states, A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.  Though a sound heart does help keep the body healthy, I believe this mean a heart that is dedicated to following God leading to spiritual health of an individual.  If we are filled with envy about anyone or anything in this world, we are not living in a right relationship to God, and this allows sin, or rottenness, to enter our life.  Verse thirty-one says, He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.  The Bible has a lot to say about treating the poor with care.  This verse says that if we oppress the poor that we reproach our Maker, or God.  Even if it is sometimes hard to know where to draw the line in helping others, we as followers of Christ should always draw it on the side of generosity.  If people take advantage of our generosity as we act under God's leadership and for His glory, then that is between God and them.  We tend to protest more about giving food vouchers to the poor than we do about giving big tax breaks to the rich, for example.  If we want to honor God, we will have mercy on the poor everywhere in the world.  Verse thirty-two states, The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.  The wicked, those who do not accept Christ as their Savior and Lord, will be driven away from God at His judgment, but those who put their faith in Christ will have hope even in their death.  Death has been defeated by Christ.  Though we may die to this life, we know that we have everlasting life with God through Christ.  This is our hope in death.  Verse thirty-three states, Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.
If we know God through our relationship with Christ, then we are ruled by wisdom.  If people do not accept Christ, then there is no way to know what thoughts may rule their actions.  Verse thirty-four declares, Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.  As I have said before, if we want God to bless America, then America must first bless, or obey,  God by following Him leadership.  This applies to any nation.  Righteousness exalts a nation.  This is not self-righteous that says that we are better than other people simply because of where we were born, but true righteousness that says that we are simply sinners saved by grace.  Verse thirty-five says, The king’s favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.  As a general rule this may be true of earthly kingdoms, but it is always true of God.  If we act wisely, or accept His gift of salvation and follow His guidance, then we will find favor with Him.  The opposite is true of those who don't.  They will know the wrath of God.