This Psalm can be broken down into three sections and this is how I’m going to offer you my thoughts.

"I lift myself to you" means "I pray to you". The word "myself" is the Hebrew word that sometimes translates "soul". David asks for help so that he won’t be ashamed. Here, "ashamed" means being hurt and feeling pain. David doesn’t want his enemies to triumph over him. Verses 4 - 5 talk about "the way”.  John 14:6 says "I am the way, the truth and the life”.   Verses 6 - 7 remind us of God’s infinite love for us and His willingness to forgive all who truly repent.

In part 2 of today’s Psalm there are some important words I want to highlight. The first is meek (v.9). Meek doesn’t mean weak rather it means a person who’s willing to learn God’s ways.  In Mathew 5:5 we read "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth". "Blessed" means "God will be good to". So, God will be good to those who learn from Him.  The next word is ‘afraid’ v:12.  David asks "Who is the man that is afraid of the LORD?" Proverbs tells us the answer. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge". Proverbs 1:7.  When we’re afraid of God, then we begin to know Him.

The final section begins at verse 15.  A snare or trap is something that we catch animals or fish in. Here, David feels that his enemies have caught him in a snare like an animal, or a fish. Only God can set him free. So he says, "My eyes are always looking towards the Lord". Thus David is always hoping that God will set him free from the snare. It is another way of saying, "I’m always praying to the LORD".  Clearly here David feels he is in trouble, lonely and unhappy. David says, "Take away all my sins". Why? Is he lonely, hurt and unhappy because he is a sinner? He may be, but that is not the reason he says it here. He says it because he wants the way to God to be clear. When God forgives us, the wall of sin between us and God falls down. God hears and answers when we pray. "Being ashamed" means more than feeling sorry. So, David prays for God to protect him, or make him safe. David believes that God will take care of him.

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Spend some time now thinking of the snares that may exist in your life or identify any afflictions you may have. Then give thanks, repent your sins and ask Our Lord God to set you free from them.