The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 2 — Section 247

of the Spirit to the fact that God is his God. 2. He asserts ie-openly confesses and profosses Lhis truth. 3. lle delights in it. H is no mere abstract proposition, but a perennial spring to him of peace, purity, and power. 4. And others recognize it. When no one but ourselves believes that that which we call ours is so, our possession of it jg doubtful and insecure; but when all acknowled!(e our possession, then it is ours. And so with him who rightly says of the Lord," He is my God." IV. How MAY ANY MAN COME TO BAY THIS? The steps are: 1. Conviction of your need, leading to fervent desire. 2. Consecratirm. This inclndes the renunciation of ail that would displease God, and the prompt obedience to all his will so far as you know it. 3. Confession of this to God first, and then to man, that God is your God. 4. Con- fidence. You are to keep believing that God accepts the surrender you havP- made. And then comes: 5. Consciousness that it is so. The Spirit testifies to you. May we all make this blessed ascent 1-S. C. Ver. 3.-Thefowler's snare. It is a frequent usage of the psalmist's to compare the soul of man to a. bird (cf. Pss. xi., lxxxiv., etc.). In the next verse God himself is likened to the mother-bird that shelters her young under her wings. And, like a bird, the soul of ma.n is exposed to many dangers. Not alone such as are open and known, but such as are bidden, secret, and subtle; not alone from the hovering hawk, but also from the crafty snare of the fowler. And with such souls as are contemplated in this psalm, it is this latter peril which is the true image of that against which they need to guard, and from which God alone can deliver them. The snare of the fowler-it is a very suggestive similitude. Consider, therefore- I. THE DANGER THAT THREATENS THE BELih.'VER. It is as a snare. 1. A concealed peril. For the fowler to show himself, or to spread his snare in the sight of any bird, would be to defeat the very object he has in view. Hence he conceals himself and his snare both. And so a.lso doth that crafty hunter who seeks for souls that he may destroy them- " Sata.n, the fowler, who betrays Unguarded souls a. thousand ways"- he does not venture to display openly the evil which he intends by the suggestions he plies us with and the temptations which he puts in our way. Rather he transforms himself into an angel of light (2 Cor. xi. 14). Thus craftily does he hide away from us the real nature of the sin into which he would betray us. 2. Adapted to our nature. The fowler does not seek to soare all birds in the same way, but he studies their nature and likings and haunts, and so sets bis snare. And is it not just thus with our great adversary? He knows our weak points, where the chink in our armour is through which his darts may enter. He knows where we are vulnerable, how we may be best ensnared. That which would tempt one man would have no attraction, or but little, for another. And Satan knows that. Ah I where should we be were it not for the safe keeping of God? 3. Attractiuely baited. How the devil lured Saul to persecute the Church, by persuading him tha.t he was "doing God service" I How Christian people are often led to mingle in strange scenes, and to associate with those who are no friends to Christ in their amusements and ways, on the pretext that so they may bring these ungodly ones under good influence, and thus lead them on to something better I The result is generally the reverse of what was expected. Satan ha.s a vast variety of these baits, and the souls are not a few that he has snared by means of them. "It is only for once;" "Don't listen to narrow, prejudiced people;" "You can't help your nature end disposition;" "You con repent, and get forgiveness; "-these are some of the fowler's baits with which he tempts us into his snare. 4. Sometimes h. uses dtcoys. "Religious people do such things: why shouldn't you?" 6. Sometimes he emplQys sever<11 of them together. Old Master Quarles says- " The close purBUers' busy hands do plant Snares in thy substance; 11nares attend thy want: Snares in thy oredit: snares in thy disgrace; Snares in thy high estate; snares in thy base: Snares tuck thy bed, nnd sn1ires surround thy board: Snt\res watch thy thoughts; snares attack thy word; PBALHB.-U,  TUE BOOK OF I'S.ALMS. [I's, XCI, 1-16,