What is the meaning of Psalm 140:5? The proud • The verse opens by identifying the attackers as “the proud,” people who exalt themselves against God’s ways (Psalm 10:4; Proverbs 16:18). • Pride fuels hostility toward the righteous because humble obedience exposes their self-sufficiency (John 3:20–21). • For David—and for believers today—the real conflict is not just personal; it is spiritual. Pride resists God, therefore it resists those who follow Him (1 Peter 5:5). hide a snare for me • A “snare” is a concealed trap. David’s enemies work in secret, much like Satan who disguises schemes to capture unwary souls (2 Timothy 2:26). • Other psalms echo the danger of hidden traps: “You will pull me out of the net they have hidden for me” (Psalm 31:4) and “Keep me from the trap they have laid for me” (Psalm 141:9). • The lesson: opposition often comes through subtle, calculated pressures rather than open assault. the cords of their net • “Cords” picture tightly wound ropes ready to cinch shut. David senses an organized, deliberate effort—more than random hostility (Psalm 57:6). • Ecclesiastes 9:12 speaks of a fish “caught in a cruel net,” underscoring how quickly and unexpectedly the wicked can tighten their hold. • Believers recognize that evil often cooperates in organized ways, yet God sees every strand. are spread along the path • The traps lie “along the path,” right where David must walk. Danger isn’t off the road; it is woven into daily life (Psalm 142:3). • Proverbs 1:15–16 warns, “My son, do not walk the path with them… for their feet run to evil.” • We are urged to stay alert, “for your adversary the devil prowls around” (1 Peter 5:8), even in ordinary routines. and lures are set out for me • A lure entices by looking desirable. James 1:14 notes how each person “is lured and enticed by his own desire.” • David’s enemies bait the trap, expecting curiosity or weakness to draw him in—just as the tempter dangled prestige and power before Jesus (Matthew 4:8–9). • Recognizing bait helps us refuse it. Paul reminds believers not to be “outwitted by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his designs” (2 Corinthians 2:11). Selah • “Selah” invites reflection. Pause and absorb the reality that the godly face hidden snares, organized nets, and alluring bait—yet none escape God’s notice (Psalm 121:3-4). • The call is to stop, breathe, and hand our anxieties to the Lord before moving on. summary Psalm 140:5 paints a vivid picture: proud adversaries quietly set traps, stretch nets, and bait them along the believer’s daily path. The verse warns us to expect subtle, coordinated opposition but also encourages confidence—God is fully aware, and His deliverance is certain for those who trust Him. |
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