Evening, August 19

Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings

"Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou
   art my strength."

  Psalm 31:4

   Our spiritual foes are of the serpent's brood, and seek to ensnare us
   by subtlety. The prayer before us supposes the possibility of the
   believer being caught like a bird. So deftly does the fowler do his
   work, that simple ones are soon surrounded by the net. The text asks
   that even out of Satan's meshes the captive one may be delivered; this
   is a proper petition, and one which can be granted: from between the
   jaws of the lion, and out of the belly of hell, can eternal love rescue
   the saint. It may need a sharp pull to save a soul from the net of
   temptations, and a mighty pull to extricate a man from the snares of
   malicious cunning, but the Lord is equal to every emergency, and the
   most skilfully placed nets of the hunter shall never be able to hold
   his chosen ones. Woe unto those who are so clever at net laying; they
   who tempt others shall be destroyed themselves.

   "For thou art my strength." What an inexpressible sweetness is to be
   found in these few words! How joyfully may we encounter toils, and how
   cheerfully may we endure sufferings, when we can lay hold upon
   celestial strength. Divine power will rend asunder all the toils of our
   enemies, confound their politics, and frustrate their knavish tricks;
   he is a happy man who has such matchless might engaged upon his side.
   Our own strength would be of little service when embarrassed in the
   nets of base cunning, but the Lord's strength is ever available; we
   have but to invoke it, and we shall find it near at hand. If by faith
   we are depending alone upon the strength of the mighty God of Israel,
   we may use our holy reliance as a plea in supplication.


   "Lord, evermore thy face we seek:

   Tempted we are, and poor, and weak;

   Keep us with lowly hearts, and meek.

   Let us not fall. Let us not fall."