The Snare Will Be Broken
If the LORD had not been on our side - let Israel say - if the LORD had not been on our side when people attacked us, they would have swallowed us alive when their anger flared against us; the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us. The raging waters would have swept us away.
Praise be to the LORD, who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
We have escaped ; like a bird from the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the Name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 124
Praise be to the LORD, who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
We have escaped ; like a bird from the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the Name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 124
“Siri” on my iphone defines snare as:
“A trap for catching birds or animals, typically one having a noose of wire or cord; a thing likely to lure or tempt someone into harm or error.” When animals or birds are successfully snared, they are typically consumed for food. The picture is not exactly pretty. The animal is killed after much pain and suffering in the trap (sorry for the graphic description). When snares are set for people, they are also meant to harm or cause them to stumble through unintended errors. People who set snares for others usually have malicious intent. Their ultimate goal is to cause disgrace and destruction. The interesting thing about snares is that the intended victims are usually very innocent animals or people who are typically minding their own business with no ill will toward the perpetrators.
David was singing a song of praise to God as he reflected over how God delivered him from powerful enemies who had set snares for his life. There was a time when he described his defiant army commander, Joab and his brother as being too powerful for him. They abused their power and ignored David’s directives. For years, David was on the run from Saul who was chasing him with 3,000 soldiers. There was a time when David’s son Absalom took over the government and went after David’s life with 10,000 soldiers. But God broke all the snares around David. David escaped and fulfilled his destiny.
So snares can come from within families (Absaloms), from professional colleagues on the job (Joabs) and the “King Sauls' who see us as threats to their domain because of our bright future (Superiors and people in authority over us). David uses very strong imagery to describe the snares he faced: “raging storms that threatened to engulf him, teeth that were waiting to tear him apart; in anger.”
Like David, you might be facing all kinds of snares and you might be wondering if you will ever be delivered. The Bible says the eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous and His ears are open to their cry. God will not abandon you. He will deliver you out of the Enemy’s snare and your face will not be covered in shame! Hang on, deliverance is on the way!
“A trap for catching birds or animals, typically one having a noose of wire or cord; a thing likely to lure or tempt someone into harm or error.” When animals or birds are successfully snared, they are typically consumed for food. The picture is not exactly pretty. The animal is killed after much pain and suffering in the trap (sorry for the graphic description). When snares are set for people, they are also meant to harm or cause them to stumble through unintended errors. People who set snares for others usually have malicious intent. Their ultimate goal is to cause disgrace and destruction. The interesting thing about snares is that the intended victims are usually very innocent animals or people who are typically minding their own business with no ill will toward the perpetrators.
David was singing a song of praise to God as he reflected over how God delivered him from powerful enemies who had set snares for his life. There was a time when he described his defiant army commander, Joab and his brother as being too powerful for him. They abused their power and ignored David’s directives. For years, David was on the run from Saul who was chasing him with 3,000 soldiers. There was a time when David’s son Absalom took over the government and went after David’s life with 10,000 soldiers. But God broke all the snares around David. David escaped and fulfilled his destiny.
So snares can come from within families (Absaloms), from professional colleagues on the job (Joabs) and the “King Sauls' who see us as threats to their domain because of our bright future (Superiors and people in authority over us). David uses very strong imagery to describe the snares he faced: “raging storms that threatened to engulf him, teeth that were waiting to tear him apart; in anger.”
Like David, you might be facing all kinds of snares and you might be wondering if you will ever be delivered. The Bible says the eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous and His ears are open to their cry. God will not abandon you. He will deliver you out of the Enemy’s snare and your face will not be covered in shame! Hang on, deliverance is on the way!
Prayer: The LORD is my shepherd and I shall not want. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me, Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Amen.