Overcoming: Life Lessons From the PsalmsSample

Snares, Traps, and Nets and Lions, Tigers, and Bears

“…while I pass by in safety.”

Psalm 141:10

“...while I pass by in safety” are the last words of this Psalm. For nine verses, the Psalmist is genuinely concerned about what his tongue might say and how his heart could be influenced by the situation he is dealing with. He feels the risk of personal failure. He is praying with a sense of urgency. He is asking the Lord to help him pass by in safety from the presence of the lions, tigers, and bears lurking all around him.

Obviously, the Psalmist did not mention lions, tigers, and bears. He did mention snares, traps, and nets. There is a similarity between the two groups. Both groups have a purpose. They are quiet and stealthy. They intend to capture and devour. The Psalmist is asking the Lord for help to pass by them in safety.

SNARE: In ancient Israel, a snare was used with a rope or cord in two ways. Either the animal stepped in the snare and was caught by the feet, or the rope fell from above and caught the animal by the neck. It was highly effective.

TRAPS: Bait would be used to entice the prey into a device or to fall into a camouflaged pit. It was highly effective.

NETS: Made of rope and cast upon prey from secret or hiding places. It was highly effective.

The Psalmist is very aware and concerned about the deceptive ways his enemies are attempting to influence him. So deceptive are the ways of the enemy that he does not trust his own tongue for how he might react or how his heart might be influenced. Sometimes, the issues we face ramp up so intensely and quickly that our tongues say things we regret later. Sometimes, the issues we face are so unfair that our hearts might drop down to the level of our adversary, and we retaliate in an unbecoming manner. The Psalmist knows he needs help. He says in verses one and two, “O Lord, I call to you; come quickly to me. Hear my voice when I call to you. May my prayer be set before you like incense…” He continues for several verses, saying, “Set a guard…keep watch…let not my heart…let me not…”

Our enemy, Satan, and his kingdom of evil are stealthy, strategic, and cunning. Jesus referred to Satan as a thief whose only purpose on this planet is to steal, kill, and destroy any representation or reflection of the Creator (John 10:10). If we are going to pass by in safety, we must do as the Psalmist did. He shares the key to his success in verse eight. “But my eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign Lord; in you I take refuge—do not give me over to death.”

The more we focus our lives upon the Lord and live within the boundaries of His ways, the more we will escape the snares, traps, and nets of the enemy. The Psalmist did not trust his ability to deny and resist every temptation and every opportunity to react. Nor should we. The closer we draw to the Lord in our daily lives, the more we will be equipped to say “no, stop, or run” when we need to.

Do you know what triggers you into reactions that you later regret? Do you know what triggers you into unhealthy thoughts, behaviors, or reactions? Triggers are like sparks. They can ignite your mind or emotions into a reaction. They are usually linked to an unhealthy experience or issue from your past. They attempt to pull you into a negative and unhealthy response. They can occur “out of the blue.” They can be like snares, traps, and nets wanting to devour your state of mind, your emotional stability, and the strength of your faith. The safest way to help you pass by them in safety is to do what the Psalmist did.

If we start our day fixing our eyes upon the Lord and then choose to live each day in accordance with His ways, we will position ourselves to pass by in safety what would have snared, trapped, or netted us.

With Satan and his evil kingdom, there are no fairy tale stories of lions, tigers, and bears. There are only real stories of heartache, misery, loss, and penalty. There are real stories of manipulation, cunning, and strategy which lead to devastation and suffering.

Thankfully, our Lord sees with perfect vision and can guide us around the dangers of the day. We must fix our eyes upon Him to see as He sees. Doing so will guide us to pass by in safety from those who try to snare, trap, and net us or from moments that would harm our relationship with Him, others, and even ourselves.