We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowler; the net is torn, and we have slipped away. Sermons
I. THE SOUL AS A BIRD. We are often bidden consider the birds who, "without barn or storehouse, are fed," so that from them we may learn the lesson of trust. Even the ravens may leach us that. But the psalmist here bids us think of birds in perpetual peril of ensnarement, and actually taken, but, by rare good fortune, finding escape. That is the image of the soul which he here pictures. How true it is perpetual peril is our lot! II. THE SNARES FOR THE SOUL. 1. How many there are! And they are everywhere, and especially where we least expect them. Temptations to sin, to misbelief, to unbelief, to compromise with the world, to doubt, to pride, and to many other such things. 2. And the end and aim of them all is the same - to separate the soul from God, and so to destroy it. 3. And these snares are of various kinds. Sometimes the soul is captured by means of another that seems to be at liberty. A man who has a religious reputation, is much thought of by many - he is used to tempt, to decoy, others astray. Sometimes, indeed always, there is some attraction the force of which we cannot help feeling. And these baits are varied according to the character of each soul. What will attract one will not another. Satan knows when to have us - where and how we are most open to his assaults. What need we have to obey our Lord's words, "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation"! III. THE FOWLER THAT SEEKS TO ENTRAP THE SOUL. It is he whom the Bible calls Satan. We dare not ignore his existence or his power. Our Lord had just come from fierce encounter with him, and bids us pray, "Deliver us from the evil one." Remember Christ has destroyed the works of the devil. IV. THE CAPTURE OF SOULS. The soul of the psalmist knew this bitter experience, as have thousands more. Some subtle lure, some crafty bait, has wrought the harm. How many such ensnared souls we meet with every day! V. BUT THE SNARE MAY BE BROKEN. This too has often occurred. Some powerful word, some startling providence, some gracious working of the Spirit of God, has led to it. VI. THE JOY OF ESCAPE. Are we free? From the condemnation of the Law, the power of sin, the fear of sorrow and death, are we free? Then praise God, and seek to get others free. "I would say again to you netted ones - you that are really caught in the trap and held fast, 'Oh, that the Lord would come at once and set you free!' I think he will - yea, I am sure that he will if you cry to him to do so. I have heard of a sailor who had been in prison, that, after his release, he had money in his pocket, and going over London Bridge he saw a man selling birds - thrushes, larks, and so on. 'What do you want for that lot?' said Jack. I forget how much it was, but Jack found the money; and as soon as the birds were his he opened the door and let them all fly away. The man called out, 'Whatever did you buy those birds for, and then let them all fly away? "Oh,' said the sailor, ' if you had been in prison, as I have, you would be sure to set everything free you could get a hold of.' You and I ought to display the same kind of feeling towards all bondaged souls. I am sure that the Lord Jesus Christ is more tender-hearted than we are; and therefore he will certainly come and set free all prisoners who beg him to open their cage-doors. He is the great Emancipator; show him your bonds, and beg for liberty, and he will grant it you" (C. H. Spurgeon). - S.C.
Our soul is escaped as a bird. Homilist. I. IT IS A LIBERATION FROM A MISERABLE BONDAGE.1. It is a bondage of the man himself. 2. It is a bondage associated with a sense of guilt. 3. It is a bondage from which God alone can deliver. II. IT IS A LIBERATION INTO A HAPPY FREEDOM. The freedom of the soul consists in the freest exercise of its intellectual faculties and spiritual powers. The freedom of the soul consists in being unconstrained by any force bur love for the infinite. "It is a glorious liberty." Glorious on account of the hero who achieved it — glorious on account of the immortal blessedness it secures. (Homilist.) 1. It is a little bird, too — a sparrow, or one of the sparrow kind. "Our soul is escaped as a little bird" — not as a great bird that could break the net and free itself by its own force. A little bird fitly represents our soul when we are lowly in heart. In our unregenerate condition we think ourselves eaglets at the very least, but we are not great creatures after all. We talk of great men: we are all little in God's sight. If He cares for sparrows, be sure He cares for souls, and when you think least of yourself, yet believe that the Lord regards you. 2. Again, our soul is like a little bird because it is so ignorant. Birds know little about snares, yet they know so much that "surely in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird." Even this slender wisdom is more than men display, for they fly into the net when it is spread in their sight; aye, into the selfsame net out of which, in God's providence, they have just been permitted to escape. So foolish are we and ignorant, we are as birds ready for the lure, till the Lord teaches us wisdom; and even then we need hourly keeping, or we are entrapped by the destroyer. 3. Our soul is often like a little bird because it is so eager and venturesome. How birds will trust themselves in winter around traps of the simplest kind if but a few crumbs are used as bait! Alas, men are equally foolhardy: they see others perish, yet they follow their ways. 4. The little bird, also, when once taken in the net, is a good comparison with the soul captured by sin, for it is defenceless. 5. Souls are also like birds because they are the objects of snares. II. THE SNARE. 1. It is concealed. Always suspect that in a temptation to sin there is more than you can see. Never say that it is a little thing; for great evil lurks in a little fault. Death and destruction hide under apparently small offences. 2. Snares and traps are usually attractive. The poor bird sees seeds which he is fond of, and he goes for them, little judging that he is to give his life in exchange for brief enjoyment. So it is with Satan. He tempts us with pleasures, with the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life: we taste the sweet, and are pierced with the smart. 3. Satan's snares, like the fowler's, are sadly effectual. Multitudes upon multitudes are the victims of their own passions, victims of that hellish art which makes evil appear to be good. God save us from being taken in these most deadly snares! III. THE CAPTURE. How came the bird to be taken? 1. It may have been through hunger. If you are extremely needy, you may be tempted to do wrong to provide for your wife and family; I pray that you may never yield to the temptation, but trust in God, and He will deliver you without your putting forth your hand unto iniquity. 2. Other birds are taken merely by their appetite. They are not excessively hungry, but they enjoy certain choice seeds, and the fowler knows it; and he scatters such around the trap. Easy of body, indulgence of taste, the joy of being admired, the sweets of power and position, all these and many more have been the fowler's baits. 3. Some persons are entrapped by fear. Birds have rushed into the net for fear of danger; many persons have become great offenders against God through lack of moral courage. They are afraid of the laughter of fools. They cannot bear the sarcasm of the so-called wise; and so they suppress truth, and join in sin to escape scorn. 4. Some little birds are lost by love of company. The fowler has a decoy-bird which sings sweetly or coquettes pleasantly, and the other birds must needs follow it. In the Church of God we lose many members by ungodly marriages. IV. THE ESCAPE. 1. It is due to God alone. 2. It is achieved by power. "The snare is broken" — the meshes torn with a strong hand, the steel trap dashed to pieces. 3. The escape is complete. Our deliverance must be entire, or it is not true. V. THE LESSON. It ought to teach us — 1. To sing. 2. To trust. 3. To watch. "Let them not turn again to folly," is one of God's own cautions to His people. He has brought you up out of the horrible pit; do not play near the edge of it. He has set your feet on a rock; what have you to do with the miry clay? Get away from the slippery ground, and on the rock let your goings be established. ( C. H. Spurgeon.) 1. The sources of temptation are various. (1) (2) 2. The nature and limits of the power of temptation. 3. From no quarter, perhaps, are we more exposed to danger than from former habits of once-indulged and unrepented sin, because there is a constant predisposition, without great watchfulness, to yield again to pursuits upon which the sinner has once entered. 4. Our safety is found in early resistance. II. A JOYFUL TRIUMPH EXPRESSED. We may justify this joy in experiencing the Divine protection under those dangers which threaten the stability of our faith and hope — 1. From our knowledge of the mournful results of temptation in the ease of others. 2. Because evil resisted and overcome is an occasion of inward satisfaction and happiness. Temptation foiled is happiness begun. 3. Because every such victory is a pledge and precursor of final conquest. III. A PRACTICAL IMPROVEMENT DEMANDED. 1. Rejoice that the power and grace of Christ are equal to the worst extremities of human character and condition. 2. Remember the power of prayer. 3. Importance of habits of watchfulness and self-denial. 4. Temptation is only for a season. (S. Thodey.) 8609 prayer, as praise and thanksgiving Letter Xliv Concerning the Maccabees but to whom Written is Unknown. The Creation Messiah Rising from the Dead Christ's Kingly Office Psalms |
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