A Word from Psalm 91

Do you know what “a fowler’s snare” is? To be honest, I don’t. I do realize that it has something to do with trapping birds. But I’ve never really taken the time to learn how the trap works…until today. Because today’s word from Psalm 91, contains this promise:

     Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High

          will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

     Surely he will save you

          from the fowler’s snare. (91:1, 3; emphasis added)

Now, a little online research says that “a fowler’s snare”—which is, in fact, a bird trap—usually relied on trickery. The hunter would capture one bird and would use it to attract other birds, who could then be captured with a net.

And naturally, you might say to yourself, “Okay…but so what?” And that’s exactly what I’ve often thought; until this morning, when I noticed this. The very next verse says,

     He (the Lord) will cover you with his feathers,

          and under his wings you will find refuge. (91:4; emphasis added)

In other words, what the psalm seems to be saying is that the way God will save us from the fowler’s snare is to take upon Himself our nature. He’ll become a vulnerable bird, so that He can cover and protect us – and prevent us from being trapped by “hunter” who only wants to do us harm. And can you think of anyone else in the Bible who did something like that?

Well, what about this: “He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!” (Phil. 2:7-8)

Could it be that the Lord who becomes like us—to cover and protect us—is none other than Jesus, who entered into the vulnerability of our lives, so that he could protect us from the snare of sin?

So, may you rest “in the shadow of the Almighty” today. And may the depths to which he would go to save you convince you that “under his wings you will find refuge.” Amen.