Category Archives: Psalms

Soldier firing machine gun in rainy jungle combat scene
Bible, Enemies, Freedom, Psalms, Romans, Scripture, Trap

BOOBY TRAPS

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.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Woman attentively listening to speaker with microphone
Bible, Gospel, Messages, Messenger, Psalms, Romans, Scripture, Voice

JUST LISTEN

ROMANS 10:18

“But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? On the contrary: ‘THEIR VOICE HAS GONE OUT INTO ALL THE EARTH, AND THEIR WORDS TO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD.’”

As I am getting older, the one thing that irritates me the most is the loss of hearing. I have lost some of my hearing in my left ear and have tinnitus in both ears. Just plain irritating. However, it does give me a good excuse sometimes when I don’t want to hear something my wife is telling me, lol. Just kidding. But there are times when she is trying to tell me something, and I just don’t hear her. My lack of hearing does not negate the words she is saying. She has still given me a message. I just didn’t respond to it.

Paul continues his line of thinking in today’s verse in regard to the message of God being proclaimed to everyone. He quotes from Psalm 19:4 which says, “Their line has gone out into all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them He has placed a tent for the sun,” Albert Barnes says this about the Psalmist. “The psalmist employs them to show that the works of God, the heavens and the earth, proclaim his existence everywhere.” There is just no argument about the fact that God will judge everyone who does not respond to His message of salvation, no matter how He delivered it.

APPLICATION

In Acts 26:26 Paul confronts King Agrippa with the facts that he has heard the message. “‘For the king knows about these matters, and I also speak to him with confidence, since I am persuaded that none of these things escape his notice; for this has not been done in a corner.’” Pretty bold move, huh? Paul confronts the person who holds his fate in his hands. Could we be as bold in presenting the message to others?

In Paul’s letter to the Colossians, he states the fact of the message being voiced to all. In 1:23 Paul writes, “if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.” The gospel message has been “proclaimed in all creation under heaven.” Wow!

The word used by Paul for “voice” is phthoggos which is only used here and in 1 Corinthians 14:7. It has the idea of a musical note by voice or instrument. This note is unique and is recognizable. God’s “note” of the Gospel message is unique and recognizable by all. There is no excuse for not responding. Let us be God’s musical instruments strumming the chords of the Gospel to all who will listen.

Thank You, Lord, for sending Your message to mankind to enable them to respond to Your gift of salvation through Jesus.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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