Psalm 31:1-8
1In you, O LORD, I seek refuge;
do not let me ever be put to shame;
in your righteousness deliver me.
2Incline your ear to me;
rescue me speedily.
Be a rock of refuge for me,
a strong fortress to save me.
3You are indeed my rock and my fortress;
for your name’s sake lead me and guide me,
4take me out of the net that is hidden for me,
for you are my refuge.
5Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.
6You hate those who pay regard to worthless idols,
but I trust in the LORD.
7I will exult and rejoice in your steadfast love,
because you have seen my affliction;
you have taken heed of my adversities,
8and have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;
you have set my feet in a broad place.
4take me out of the net that is hidden for me, for you are my refuge.
I’ve been walking through a crisis with a friend for the better part of a year now. He discovered that a trusted colleague had stolen some heirloom items from home while he was hosting a party for his office staff. My friend was devastated. It was clear that this person was the one who had stolen the items, but he would not admit to it when confronted. I watched my dear friend sink into an abyss of betrayal, rage, grief, and hatred. He became consumed with his desire to punish the person who wronged him at any cost. Eventually, he had the theft investigated leading to the arrest and imprisonment of his colleague. We’ve spent the last few months working through his confusion and depression over not feeling better after the thief was finally punished.
The psalmist asks God to 4take me out of the net that is hidden for me, for you are my refuge. We often interpret this to mean that God will come to our rescue by punishing those who wrong us in some way, or who do us harm. I’m not sure that’s what this means.
I think that the net that God takes us out of is the snare of the devil who wants us to believe the lie that retaliation is the cure for our pain. The truth is that hate breeds hate and vengeance breeds retribution. The only way out of the net of betrayal and injury is reconciliation. Offering forgiveness doesn’t free a person from the consequences of their actions. It frees us from believing that their punishment will bring about our own healing. If my friend could have found it in himself to forgive his colleague, the outcome of the trial would have had no effect on his own wellbeing. God would have taken him out of that net.
On the cross, Jesus reconciled the world to Himself. We can do nothing to earn that grace, or to lose it. This doesn’t release us from the consequences of our actions. Instead, it shows us the power of God’s love in which we are all set free.
Crucified and Risen Lord: Keep my eyes focused on You and my heart tuned to your forgiving love, even when it’s costly. AMEN