“Jesus Cares For You” Part V
Psalm 91:3
“For He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.”
In this verse David uses the example of a snare which God will deliver us from. A snare is a trap which could be a rope, a covered deep hole, or a net that is used to catch an unwary animal. What are some snares that can possibly trap people?
In Luke 21:34, Jesus talks about the snare of worldly involvement. "But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.”
In Romans 11:9, St. Paul talks about the snare of rejecting God’s Word. "Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them.”
St. Paul goes on in 1 Timothy 6:9, and talks about the snare of desiring riches. “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.”
In 2 Timothy 2:24-26, St. Paul reminds us, especially pastors as church leaders, to avoid the snare of sinful judgmental pride and learn to be a kind, gentle servant of the Lord. “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.”
Ultimately, Satan is the source of the snare trying to trick and deceive us. The Psalmist goes on and talks about deadly diseases or pestilence. Over the centuries, our world has been affected by leprosy and the Black Plague. In the 1930's, our nation’s crops were devoured by locusts and killed from the dust bowl. In the last 20-30 years, we have dealt with Aids, Swine Flu (H1N1). Now we are dealing with a man-made problem with the Gulf oil spill and it’s terrible impact on the environment. In lieu of snares and pestilence, the Lord’s promise rings loud and clear as the beginning of verse three states, “For He will deliver you.” David recalls how the Lord delivered the children of Israel from the ten plagues in Exodus, chapter 7-9. He also recalled how the Lord had helped him to defeat the giant Goliath and delivered him from the hands of jealous Saul, Israel’s first king. David is a foreshadowing of the greater David, our Savior and Lord, who defeated Satan in the wilderness with God’s Word. Our Lord, also healed the ten lepers, calmed the storm, and raised Lazarus from the dead.
The ultimate victory came when our Lord defeated Satan, the world and our sinful flesh on Calvary’s cross when He declared, “It is finished.” Jesus’ resurrection on Easter Sunday confirmed that snares and diseases of this world have been conquered. Total revelation will come when we receive and enjoy the ultimate refuge of heaven.
Martin Luther said, “That Psalm 91 is the most distinguished jewel among all the Psalms of consolation.” As we live our lives, let us remember that it is the Lord who delivers us from the snares - traps of this world. He also delivers us and heals us from our diseases. God’s blessings as you meditate upon this Psalm as the word of hope and life.
Pastor Paul G. McGhghy
