Escape From the Trap

Psalm 124 talks about Israel escaping from her hostile enemies. The people of Israel could have been destroyed, 'swallowed alive', ‘they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us; then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us; then over us would have gone the raging waters' 3 (Psalms 124:3-5)

David says their help came from the Lord. The Lord was on their side. 'We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped! Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth' (Psalms 124:7-8).

What is the answer for us when others get angry and hostile? Do we also go on the attack and lash out at them. This is not a good idea as it causes even more aggression to rise up against us. The bible tells us a soft answer turns away wrath. We must try to communicate in the opposite spirit, with a Christ-like humility.

This may not save us from further attack, but it positions us so that we can be rescued by the Lord. We must pray to Him and trust Him to help us. Our spiritual weapons are not those that the world knows anything about. Jesus taught us to love our enemies and do good to them. We are to forgive them and even bless them.

How do you find a place of peace during stressful times of conflict? I know I need to draw near to the Lord at times like that. The best way I know is to start praying, praising, and worshipping Him. All this must be accompanied by a grateful heart. 'Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you’ (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

When asked how she was, an auntie of mine used to say "we have a lot to be thankful for". My family couldn't understand it. They thought she could have found plenty to grumble about. Where did she get her peace? She was a radiant Christian who always turned to the Lord in prayer when things were tough. When I went to her funeral I felt such a peace as we sang an old hymn she had chosen which I never heard before or since that day. The words were sung to the tune of 'All through the night'.

‘Through the love of God our Saviour all will be well; free and changeless is His favour, all, all is well. Precious is the blood that heals us, perfect is the grace that seals us, strong the hand stretched out to shield us; all must be well.

Though we pass through tribulation, all will be well; ours is such a full salvation, all, all is well. Happy still in God confiding, fruitful if in Christ abiding; holy through the Spirit’s guiding, all must be well.

We expect a bright tomorrow, all will be well; faith can sing through days of sorrow ‘All, all is well’. On our Father’s love relying, Jesus every need supplying, or in living, or in dying, all must be well’.

HYMN: Mary Bowley Peters (1847)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to put our trust in You whenever we find ourselves under attack. We call upon You to come and save us, as David did. Help us not to try other ways of solving our problems, ways which are futile. In Jesus' name, Amen.