Evening
Time: 7:42 PM PST
"Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for Thou art my
strength." --Psalm 31:4
Our spiritual foes are of the serpent's brood, a 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 the
captive one may 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, can
eternal love 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
skilfully placed nets of the hunter shall never be able to hold His chosen ones.
Woe unto those who are so clever at net laying; they who tempt others shall be
destroyed themselves.
"For Thou art 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 upon celestial
strength. Divine power will rend asunder all the toils of our enemies, confound
their politics, and frustrate their knavish tricks; he is a happy man who has
such matchless might engaged upon his side. Our own strength would be of little
service when embarrassed in the nets of base cunning, but the Lord's strength is
ever available; we have but to invoke it, and we shall find it near at hand. If
by faith we are depending alone upon the strength of the mighty God of Israel,
we may use our holy reliance as a plea in 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."