I certainly do need the “Divine
Rescue Squad” (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) on quite a regular
basis to "pluck" me out of the snares and traps of daily life. I frequently send out a distress signal for Help From
Above.
King David was especially good at crying S.O.S. Physically strong military man and national leader that he was, God always seemed to be “plucking” him out of snares, traps, pits, nets and the like. I'm in good company.
King David was especially good at crying S.O.S. Physically strong military man and national leader that he was, God always seemed to be “plucking” him out of snares, traps, pits, nets and the like. I'm in good company.
I use the action “plucking” in a
similar way as I used it when writing about the aging eagle plucking out
its worn feathers in anticipation of growing new ones so it could soar
the heavens again with renewed vigor. Plucking is defined as
“pulling off or out from somewhere or something with sudden force
or a jerk.” God sometimes snatches us with a
heavenly yank just in the nick of time from danger or being overcome from some dilemma.
Back to King David the Psalm writer who
always seemed to be getting caught in snares or nets or traps or pits
that his adversaries laid for him—or that he fell into by his own
carelessness or fault or deliberate action.
What is a “snare”? A device like a noose used for capturing some living creature. It is set by someone with the intention of gaining control of an unsuspecting victim by trickery or a wile. A “trap” is similar. A contrivance for catching game, it springs suddenly when a victim comes near unawares. The surprise element is important to gain the advantage, as is the bait which is the essential lure or the come-on. A “net” is either a literal woven mesh for catching something by entanglement or a network of some sort, sometime invisible, almost like a spider's web, that completely engulfs the victim and renders it helpless. A “pit” is a concealed hole, often very deep, camouflaged to blend with the environment.
Its intent is to capture large animals or
people who may fall into it unawares. It implies enticement or
inveiglement. One can't get out of a pit by one's own strength or
skill. It is a hidden danger; one wouldn't deliberately fall into a
pit if it was obvious to him.
What is a “snare”? A device like a noose used for capturing some living creature. It is set by someone with the intention of gaining control of an unsuspecting victim by trickery or a wile. A “trap” is similar. A contrivance for catching game, it springs suddenly when a victim comes near unawares. The surprise element is important to gain the advantage, as is the bait which is the essential lure or the come-on. A “net” is either a literal woven mesh for catching something by entanglement or a network of some sort, sometime invisible, almost like a spider's web, that completely engulfs the victim and renders it helpless. A “pit” is a concealed hole, often very deep, camouflaged to blend with the environment.
Its intent is to capture large animals or
people who may fall into it unawares. It implies enticement or
inveiglement. One can't get out of a pit by one's own strength or
skill. It is a hidden danger; one wouldn't deliberately fall into a
pit if it was obvious to him.
We are so much like David in that our
modern life in this high tech age and urban environment isn't much
different than what he faced thousands of years ago in his more
agrarian era. Human nature is the same and so are our temptations and
our adversities and our adversaries, although coming upon us wearing a different
guise. As God's adult children, we are just as helpless to pluck
ourselves out of our perplexities as was David. God
doesn't chide us for crying and pleading to be delivered. We are
powerless and it is good and right that we recognize that and cast
ourselves entirely on God's mercy and love. He is the willing
Deliverer, the “Plucker” upon whom we are welcome to call at all
times and in every kind of trouble.
Without a doubt, Scripture reinforces
God's title as “The Plucker. To select just a few of the multitude
of rescuing verses: “For it is He who delivers you from the snare
of the trapper, and from the deadly pestilence [that stalks in
darkness]” (Psalm 91:3) “My eyes are continually toward the Lord,
for He will pluck my feet out of the net” (Psalm
25:15). “Thou wilt pull me out of the net which they have secretly
laid for me; for Thou art my strength” (Psalm 31:4). “God is our
refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).
“Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us to be torn by their
teeth. Our soul has escaped as a bird out of the snare of the
trapper; the snare is broken and we have escaped. Our help is in the
name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 124:6-8).
So then I should not be ashamed to cry
out to God for help as often as I am in some mess of my own making or
that has come upon me unawares and even undeserved. He answers my every
cry! “He redeems me from the hand of the adversary. Then they
cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He delivered them out of
their distresses.” “He sent His word and healed them, and
delivered them from their pits” (Psalm 107:6,7, 19,20). Can you or
I ever be fallen into a pit too deep for God's supernatural plucking?
Do I think I may be in one now from which it is impossible to be
plucked? That is impossible. There isn't a snare or net or
trap strong enough to hold me if He plucks me loose!
* Selah. If you don't know what this expression from the Psalms means, order my new book "SELAH REFLECTIONS: Press the PAUSE Button."
Your pits and snares and traps and entire networks of problems and troubles and temptations and distresses and stresses are different from mine. I know what mine are, don't you? And I'm counting on the Lord "plucking" me out of mine in His time and in His way! *Selah! Think on these things.
No comments:
Post a Comment