How do you avoid a trap?

If you were walking through a field and noticed an animal trap, you would take steps to avoid it. Well, the light of God’s Word tells us that within the transgression of an evil man, there is a snare or a trap.

When you think about sin, think about the snare; when you think of transgressions, think of the traps. But is it always this way? Jeremiah 2:19 reminds you that your own wickedness will correct you. This corresponds to the principle of “sowing and reaping” (Galatians 6:7-8). According to Proverbs 5:22, iniquities trap the wicked man.

Picture it this way

Meditation on Proverbs 29:6

Proverbs 29:6 tells us that within the transgression of an evil man, there is a snare, but the righteous sings and rejoices. You would expect the second line of this proverb to say something like, “but the righteous is free” or “the righteous walks in liberty.” But it says much more than that. It says that the righteous sings and rejoices. Yes, there is freedom, but it is joyous — the kind of freedom that makes you want to sing! Psalm 40:3 speaks of this new song. Paul described this new song in Ephesians 5:19, as singing and making melody in the heart. Yes, the righteous one walks in liberty (Psalm 119:45) but he does so with a joyful heart.

So you can start avoiding traps today. How? Start out by praising God with singing and rejoicing. That attitude of God-honoring trust will help you avoid many “transgression traps.”

Pastor Gordon Dickson