“Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, for you are my strength.” Psalm 31:4 (NKJV)
Our spiritual foes are of the serpent’s brood, and seek to ensnare us by subtlety. The prayer before us supposes the possibility of the believer being caught like a bird. So deftly does the fowler do his work, that simple ones are soon surrounded by the net. The text asks that even out of Satan’s meshes may the captive one be delivered.
This is a proper petition, and one which can be granted: from between the jaws of the lion, and out of the belly of hell, eternal love can rescue the saint. It may need a sharp pull to save a soul from the net of temptations, and a mighty pull to extricate a man from the snares of malicious cunning, but the Lord is equal to every emergency, and the most skillfully placed nets of the hunter will never be able to hold his chosen ones. Woe unto those who are so clever at net laying; they who tempt others will be destroyed themselves.
“For you are my strength.” What an inexpressible sweetness is to be found in these few words! How joyfully may we encounter toils, and how cheerfully may we endure sufferings, when we can lay hold of celestial strength. Divine power will tear asunder all the toils of our enemies, confound their politics, and frustrate their knavish tricks.
He is a happy man who has such unmatched might engaged for his side. Our own strength would be of little service when hindered by the nets of base cunning, but the Lord’s strength is ever available. We have but to invoke it, and we will find it near at hand. If by faith we are depending alone on the strength of the mighty God of Israel, we may use our holy reliance as a plea of supplication.
Lord, evermore thy face we seek
Tempted we are, and poor, and weak
Keep us with lowly hearts, and meek
Let us not fall, let us not fall
Adapted from Morning and Evening.
