ROMANS 11:9

“And David says, ‘MAY THEIR TABLE BECOME A SNARE AND A TRAP, AND A STUMBLING BLOCK AND A RETRIBUTION TO THEM.’”

In the first Rambo movie, John Rambo is falsely accused by a Sheriff of a crime. If you have seen the movie, you know what happens. One of the things Rambo was good at was setting booby traps for those who were trying to hunt him down. Those traps were, well, kind of tough. They were meant to stop them, and they did. No one wanted to face Rambo in the forest.

Paul is quoting from Psalm 69 in today’s verse. Ellicott’s Commentary says, “In the original of Psalms 69 these verses refer to the fate invoked by the psalmist upon his persecutors; here they are applied by St. Paul to the fiat of the Almighty which had been pronounced against the unbelieving people of Israel.” Paul’s words still apply to us today. If we fail to yield to the Lord, we are really setting our own booby traps against ourselves.

APPLICATION

The verses Paul references seem to come from Psalm 69:23-24. “23 May their table before them become a snare; And when they are at peace, may it become a trap. 24 May their eyes grow dim so that they cannot see, And make their hips shake continually.” He does not quote literally from the Hebrew or the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Old Testament) but gives us the thought behind these verses very clearly. The enemies of God, those who refuse to follow Him, are going to fall into a trap at some point. They will not see it coming, and there will be no escape.

Tough words! We don’t hear this too much today, but the words are still true. All roads do not lead to heaven. There is only one way – Jesus. Those who do not bow to Him will fall. We may never see the fall ourselves, but it will come. God doesn’t play around with things eternal. He has given a clear message in His Son which is easily followed. But we must abandon our own ways and follow His.

Have you fallen into a trap of your own making? What has enslaved you? Call on the God who is able to set you free from the things “which so easily entangle” you. Stop fighting to set yourself free. You can’t! Only Jesus can. You may be a follower of Christ who has not let go of those old traps in your life. Lay them down. Turn to Him. He will set you free and place you on the victorious path which He has already blazed.

Praise You, Father, for setting me free and opening my eyes to the traps the enemy lays for me.

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