Psalm 141:10

Psalm 141:10

Passing by in safety

And so we come to the last verse of this challenging Psalm. We’ve gone from the Cave of Adullum to the Altar of Incense in the Temple, to the throne of God in heaven itself. We have followed David’s attempts to keep a watch over his words and to guard his heart from the lures of his enemies. He would prefer to be struck by his righteous friends rather than become like the wicked upon whom he has poured condemnation and judgement! We’ve ploughed a field with David and realised that death and life are all tied up in that simple analogy and that we are mortal and our bodies will return to the dust. So, we who believe must fix our eyes on our Creator and take refuge in Him so that the traps and nets of the enemy do not ensnare us. 

The Psalm ends with one more heartfelt cry, if those who hate us and plot our downfall have been so meticulous in their scheming ways, then David’s plea is that their devious plots completely backfire and trap those who devised them. David seems to have pits in mind, (from whence we get our “pitfalls”) for he talks about falling. As we all know, these kinds of snares were simply holes in the ground, covered with nets and then ordinary leaves and vegetation that hid what was beneath. David calls these pits “the mouth of the grave” in verse 7, he wants his adversaries to be swallowed up by death, ultimately by Sheol, the place of the dead! Now here comes the good news! The Psalm ends with the words, “while I pass by in safety.” In other words, while the wicked go to the destiny they have painstakingly devised for their foes, David and all who are righteous should be guided to avoid their traps and carry on in safety. God’s miry pits are for the wicked, He does not intend for the righteous to suffer such a fate, the wicked are digging their own graves but you and I may pass safely by. Our future is determined, we will be kept from certain death to enjoy life, free from the strangleholds of the enemy. What a perfect and reassuring end to the Psalm. Thank you, David and thank You, Lord. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! 

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