Snares of the Soul
Today’s Verse:
Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. ~Psalm 124:7
During David’s time, men were experts in catching small game for food. Among this small game were small birds. Hunters would make these clever traps that an unsuspecting bird would venture into and be caught in. The capture typically would inhibit the bird from flying away once it was caught. The trap was commonly referred to as the snare of the fowler. Satan has many traps that he lays for unsuspecting Christians. Let us see how we can escape these traps.
We see the essence.
David begins this verse with the words “our soul.” The most important aspect of you is your soul. Jesus asked, “What shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” The soul is the essence of man. God breathed into man, and he became a living soul. The real you is your soul. Your soul is eternal and will go to Heaven if you are saved or to Hell if you are not. David compares our soul to a bird. This kind of bird is a small, little bird, perhaps a swallow or something similar. We are little compared to God. A bird is venturesome and eager. We are like that. We like to do our own thing and venture out, sometimes at risk to our spiritual safety. Birds are defenseless. They are vulnerable prey to much larger birds and other predators. We, too, are spiritually vulnerable to attacks from spiritual predators.
We see the entrapment.
We see the snare of the fowler. It is a trap that is meant to capture and hold. It is subtly hidden. It is baited as an enticement. How does a bird wind up getting caught? First, it can be drawn by hunger and appetite. It is looking for food and is drawn to the bait that leads to the trap. We get into soul trouble when we allow our fleshly and worldly desires to drive our decisions. Fleshly lusts constantly war against the soul. Worldly gain is driven by lusts of the flesh and the pride of life. Wrong doctrine is, many times, baited to look like food for the soul, but is a trap for immature believers. Second, bird catchers sometimes use a decoy to trap a bird. The bird is drawn to something resembling it, only to discover that it is not real. We must be careful of friendships that lead us into sin. Third, bird catchers will sometimes use the method of fear to lead the bird into a trap. Many times, fear is a snare to the soul. Solomon said, “The fear of man bringeth a snare.” Satan has many traps that are hidden and waiting for us to walk right into them.
We see the escape.
“The snare is broken, and we are escaped.” The bird, by himself, cannot bring about an escape. Someone who has pity on the plight of the bird has to come along and set it free. The escape of our soul from the snare of the fowler can only be accomplished by our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the One Who alone can break the snare so that we can escape. He breaks the snare of fear and, instead, we have faith in God. He breaks the snare of sin and its powerful hold. He breaks the strongholds that seek to hold us. His power alone is sufficient to give us an escape. Think of what happens when the bird has escaped. It is able to soar the heights of the sky again. It is able to sing with joy. It is more watchful and vigilant, so as to not be ensnared again. It will tend to spend more of its time above the ground, where it is safer. When our soul is escaped, we, too, live above in the heights and live our lives where it is safe.
Satan’s traps are many and hidden. Be vigilant, prudent, and under the watchful eye of our loving Lord.
Have a victorious God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Ezekiel 34-36