January 14
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PSALM 124- DELIVERANCE FROM THE FOWLER’S SNARE
If it had not been the LORD who was on our side—let Israel now say—2 if it had not been the LORD who was on our side when people rose up against us,3 then they would have us
up alive, when their anger was kindled against us; 4 then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us; 5 then over us would have gone the raging waters.6 Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as prey to their teeth! 7 We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped! 8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
– Psalm 124:1-8
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According to ESV study bible commentary, this psalm is a thanksgiving hymn for the community for a time when God’s people have been under threat but have been delivered. David was oozing with gratitude for the Lord’s presence in all that they have encountered with the enemy. He always acknowledged God and attributed all the victory, protection and deliverance to his Lord who never leaves his side. In this psalm, he also mentions a flood that they were spared from and how they were delivered from those who were running after them. He described the deliverance like a bird that escaped the snare of the fowlers. That it is the Lord who is Creator of all, who made that deliverance possible. Spurgeon’s sermons on the Snare of the fowler mentions that “The prince of the power of this world, the spirit which still worketh in the children of disobedience is like a fowler, always attempting to destroy us. First, the fowler’s snare is intimately connected with secrecy. Surely in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird. Therefore, the fowler carefully covers up his trap.”
Isn’t this psalm a good reminder for us today as we continue live in this corrupt world? This world is Satan’s playground. If we can only see Satan’s schemes with our own eyes, we will surely never let go of God’s armor. Satan is invisible and yet his schemes are very real. When we suddenly experience anxiety, paralysis, doubts, accusations, divisions, conflicts, we might be falling into the snare of the devil. He is always on the lookout for an open door in our minds and hearts to devour us. Let us remember that our help is in the name of the Lord, who created all things. We need to run to him for protection and deliverance so that these invisible traps that the enemy constantly put in our lives will be exposed. Let us not be hindered in our walk with the Spirit so we can grow in the Lord.
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REFLECTION
• How can we continue to keep walking in the Spirit amidst the traps of Satan?