Psalm 124

The problem of contempt and ridicule in the previous Psalm seems to pale in comparison with whatever is going on in Ps. 124. Men have risen up against the pilgrims (v2).  They are for a time trapped as birds in the snare of a fowler (v7), terminology that usually brings to mind Satan, the evil one himself.  The difficulty is especially critical because it threatens to overwhelm the soul (v4f).

Remember: the problems can overwhelm us, but they are also the only way we can grow deeper in knowing God.  We only know the all-wise God when we have no idea what to do.  We only know the all-powerful God when we are weak.  We only know God our Savior when we are burdened by sin and guilt.  Without trials we know about God but we are not growing to know Him.

Snares or traps usually work on a simple basis: the trap is set with bait that appeals to what the "fowler" is after.  It may be a color, an odor, or a taste.  It does require that the sought-after animal leave its safety and enter a danger area.

Satan's traps are like that.  For example, the beautiful woman snare (1 Sam. 18:21; Prov 5:3-4) uses the beautiful woman as bait and appeals to the man's youthful lusts to draw him into the trap.  The fear of man trap (Prov 29:25) uses an intimidating relationship as bait and counts on a person's desire for safety to draw them to destruction.  Instead of staying on the path where the Creator is our Help the pilgrim takes the path of least resistance.  Or there's the spiritual pride trap (1 Tim. 3:6) where an immature person is given significant spiritual responsibility.  The new leader, drawn by the pride of life, takes the bait, assuming he is mature, and thus becomes arrogant and fails morally.

There are many of these mentioned in Scripture.  What you see in these few is ...

1.             The pilgrim plays a part in that he takes the bait.

2.             The consequences for the pilgrim are, in fact, devastating, having the power to overwhelm the soul and devour him.

But in this the pilgrim now learns something that could not otherwise be learned.  He learns that the Maker of Heaven and Earth has not left him (v1-2).  His Help (v8) has broken the snare (v7).  We do not even see a cry for mercy in this Psalm.  What we hear from the pilgrim is praise (v6) that God has not given him what he deserves but has graciously delivered him.  If God be for us who can be against us?  (Rom 8:31)

The snare is a problem we get into ourselves.  It may likely be something left over from our life in Meshech, "the city of destruction".  And now on the pilgrimage, it has again snatched us up and will destroy us!  Is it hopeless? No!

Note that 2 phrases are repeated in this Psalm:

1.             v1-2: "If the Lord had not been on our side."

This is the fundamental issue.  God, Who promised to be the Help and to watch over the pilgrim all the way to his destination, is in fact yet on the side of the pilgrim.  Certainly when believers allow themselves to be entrapped they might expect a loving Father to discipline them, and He does.  But some might think that even the most loving father would walk off, leaving them to their own devises.  Such is not the case.

Perhaps there is something very deep here.  This idea of the Lord being on our side is spoken by the Apostle Paul in a special passage in Romans 8:31.  In the verses that follow questions are repeatedly raised:

i.                     Who shall bring a charge against God's elect (v33)?

ii.                    Who is he who condemns (v34)?

iii.                   Who shall separate us from the love of Christ (v35)?

The answer to every question has something to do with God's provision for the Christian.  God has justified us!  Christ has died for us, been raised for us, and intercedes for us! 

The pilgrim that fails to understand this will be diverted from the path, assuming that his personal guilt is unforgivable.  He will assume that the One Who would help him will only now judge him. But he must learn that his Help will be true to His word.  And how will the pilgrim learn this?  Through the second repeated phrase.

2.             v7: "We are escaped."

It is only when we have been ensnared by the fowler, made to suffer the pain of sin, and then given the way of escape (1 Cor. 10:13) that we learn something about God that is indeed amazing. The amazing grace that saves a wretch like me is also the grace that brings us through many dangers, toils, and snares.  Amazing grace, how sweet the sound!