Comments You Won't Hear at the 11-25-07 WT Study (w07 10/1, pp.26-30) (page 6)

1974 version

*** w74 12/1 pp. 731-734 Freedom from Fear of Spiritual Dangers ***

THE MENACING "TRAP" OF THE "BIRDCATCHER"

"For," says the psalmist in detailing just how the things mentioned in the first two verses are true and realistic, "he himself will deliver you from the trap of the birdcatcher, from the pestilence causing adversities."—Ps. 91:3.

The language here is figurative, pictorial, for we are not literal birds in danger of the trap of a literal "birdcatcher." But the likening of us to birds "under the very shadow of the Almighty One" is carried forward here. The psalmist David likens himself and his companions to birds that have actually been caught in the trap, but from which they have been delivered. In Psalm 124:1-8 he says: "Let Israel now say, ‘Had it not been that Jehovah proved to be for us when men rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us up even alive, . . . Blessed be Jehovah, who has not given us as a prey to their teeth. Our soul is like a bird that is escaped from the trap of baiters. The trap is broken, and we ourselves have escaped. Our help is in the name of Jehovah, the Maker of heaven and earth.’" In this case the "baiters" were not literal "birdcatchers," and the "bird" that escaped from their broken trap was not a literal bird, but refers to "our soul," the soul or life of the nation of Israel.

In fulfillment of that prophetic psalm, Jehovah God did break the trap in which the anointed remnant of spiritual Israel was caught. It was the trap sprung by Babylon the Great and her political, judicial, military accomplices. In the spring of the postwar year of 1919 Jehovah broke that trap for his repentant remnant and did not let the "baiters," the symbolic birdcatchers, sink their teeth into the flesh of the trapped "bird." Thereafter the escaped remnant of spiritual Israel were taken into the "secret place of the Most High," and "under the very shadow of the Almighty One." Yet a "trap" is still set for them by a "birdcatcher," and Jehovah must deliver them from being caught in it.

Who, then, is that "birdcatcher," and what is his "trap"? It has long been discerned and agreed to that the symbolic "birdcatcher" is Satan the Devil. Away back in the issue of March 1, 1904, of the WatchTower, the article entitled "Under His Wings!" commented on Psalm 91:3 and said regarding "the snare of the fowler," that this was "the deceptions of Satan, in which all those not protected shall stumble." (Page 74, column 2) A much later issue of TheWatchTower agreed with that and said: "It seems certain that ‘the fowler’ here named by the prophet is the Devil, and that his snare consists of his methods employed, and by his organization, working in divers and numerous deceptive ways to entrap those who claim to be servants of the Most High God." (Page 231, paragraph 37, of the WatchTower issue of August 1, 1927, presenting the first of a series of three articles on Psalm 91, AuthorizedVersion) Of all the symbolic "fowlers" or "birdcatchers" referred to in the Bible, Satan the Devil is the outstanding one.

Describing the method of the symbolic birdcatcher, Jeremiah 5:26 says: "For among my people there have been found wicked men. They keep peering, as when birdcatchers crouch down. They have set a ruinous trap. It is men that they catch." How false prophets acted like birdcatchers in the apostate nation of Ephraim (the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel), Hosea 9:8 said: "As regards a prophet, there is the trap of a birdcatcher on all his ways." The great "fowler" or "birdcatcher," Satan the Devil, is out to catch men, those who are lodging "under the very shadow of the Almighty One."

What is his symbolic "trap," from which Jehovah God delivers and keeps safe those who continue abiding "in the secret place of the Most High"? The symbolic "trap" that Satan the Devil has set for those who trust in Jehovah God as their "refuge" and "stronghold" is the earthly organization that is opposed to God’s organization, namely, Satan’s visible organization. In it God’s great Adversary tries to catch Jehovah’s worshipers and to hold them as victims, to their spiritual ruin and ultimate destruction.

Notably from the year 1922 onward it was pointed out from the inspired Scriptures that Jehovah God has an organization, including his organized "remnant" on earth, and that there is an enemy organization, Satan’s organization, with an invisible demonic part and a visible earthly part. It was pointed out that, if one does not belong to Jehovah’s visible organization, then one belongs to the Adversary’s organization. Jesus Christ, to whom Psalm 91 applies in the first instance, belonged to the organization of Jehovah God. His faithful disciples also belonged to that same divine organization. That was why, when leading his eleven faithful apostles in prayer, he said to God: "They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world." (John 17:14, 16) This, he said, was why the world hated them.—John 15:18-20.

Usually a person or creature walks into a trap without knowing it. Generally, the trapper sets out some bait to lure the unsuspecting creature within range of the trap and to trigger the trap by nibbling at the bait. The "birdcatcher" Satan the Devil is a great Baiter. What bait does he use to lure people into his visible worldly organization, to become victimized in it as in a trap? The bait is the selfish attractions of this world, its promising opportunities for selfishly gaining wealth, fame, position and power. Warning against such deceptive bait, Jehovah God inspired the Christian apostle John to write to those lodging "under the very shadow of the Almighty One":

"Do not be loving either the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him; because everything in the world—the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the showy display of one’s means of life—does not originate with the Father, but originates with the world. Furthermore, the world is passing away and so is its desire, but he that does the will of God remains forever."—1 John 2:15-17.

Now, nineteen hundred years after those words were penned by John, the traplike organization of Satan the Devil is very close to passing away forever. Those of us who have come out of Satan’s visible organization into the "secret place of the Most High," why should we desire to be lured back into that doomed organization? We do not care to be like the onetime Christian Demas, concerning whom the apostle Paul in a final letter before his death said: "Demas has forsaken me because he loved the present system of things, and he has gone to Thessalonica." (2 Tim. 4:10) Religious Babylon the Great, including Christendom, has been caught and is held fast in the trap of Satan’s visible organization and will suffer early destruction with it. In obedience to God’s command in Revelation 18:4 we have come out of Babylon the Great and out of Satan’s trap in which she is caught. By not going back to her, we can keep on enjoying the benefits of our deliverance from the "trap of the birdcatcher." Under the "very shadow of the Almighty One" we have spiritual security.

"THE

PESTILENCECAUSINGADVERSITIES"

In the same verse, along with the "trap of the birdcatcher," the psalmist mentions another potential threat to spiritual security, namely, a deadly epidemic disease that is very contagious, infectious. He says: "For he himself will deliver you from the trap of the birdcatcher, from the pestilence causing adversities."—Ps. 91:3.

Like the birdcatcher’s "trap," this adversity-causing "pestilence" is symbolic. Since the psalmist under inspiration associates the two together, the symbolic pestilence of today is something that goes along with the birdcatcher’s trap, that is to say, with Satan’s visible, earthly organization. This figurative "pestilence" is, in fact, bred, cultured, within that selfish, worldly organization. This infectious "pestilence" that rages like a tempest throughout the earth is nationalism.

Secular historians have noted the fact that, since World War I of 1914-1918 C.E., the spirit of nationalism has seized upon the peoples of the world. Quite naturally, this, because that war was fought by the Allies "for self-determination of peoples." Said British historian Arnold Toynbee as recently as November 21, 1972:

"Since the end of World War II nationalism has doubled the number of local sovereign independent states and has halved their average size. . . . Mankind’s strategic and hygienic problems are global and they are pressing; they cannot be solved by the governments of local states. They call for the establishment of a global authority endowed with overriding power. Mankind’s survival demands political unity, yet mankind’s present mood is increasingly divisive. Have we gone mad?"

Satan the Devil, whom Jesus Christ called "the ruler of this world," is responsible for this wave of nationalism by means of which he has hoped to destroy those who have said to Jehovah: "You are my refuge and my stronghold, my God, in whom I will trust." (Ps. 91:2) This political "pestilence" of nationalism has caused many and great "adversities." Despite the establishment of the League of Nations in 1920, intensely nationalistic dictators have come forth, like Mussolini of Italy, Stalin of Russia, Hitler of Germany, the empire-minded political party of Japan, and so forth. So it furnished the driving force for World War II. It has fanned up fanatical patriotism, religiously fervent gestures to national symbols and emblems, military preparedness accompanied by burdensome taxation, international rivalries, insistence on national sovereignty rather than submission to Jehovah’s universal sovereignty and Messianic kingdom.

Not to speak of the adversities that all of this has caused for the human race in general, it has resulted in special hardships for Jehovah’s Christian witnesses. But the Almighty One has not let them become infected with the "pestilence" of nationalism and fall victim to its deadly effect upon Christian spirituality. They have not been lured nor pressured into worshiping the political "wild beast" bearing the number 666, nor its political "image," the United Nations, the successor to the League of Nations. (Revelation, chapter 13; 15:2-4; 20:4) They have not compromised on giving exclusive devotion to God and upholding his universal sovereignty.

In 1939, despite the raging of World War II, they unitedly came out world wide in favor of absolute Christian neutrality toward worldly political and military conflicts. (See the article "Neutrality" in the Watchtower issue of November 1, 1939.) Although they have suffered, some even to the death, for their faithfulness, Jehovah God has kept them spiritually secure "in the secret place of the Most High" and "under the very shadow of the Almighty One."

2001 Version

*** w01 11/15 pp. 16-17 pars. 4-8 Jehovah Is Our Refuge ***

The psalmist adds: "Hehimself [Jehovah] willdeliveryoufromthetrapofthebirdcatcher,fromthepestilencecausingadversities." (Psalm 91:3) A birdcatcher in ancient Israel often captured birds by using snares or traps. Among the snares of "the birdcatcher," Satan, are his evil organization and "crafty acts." (Ephesians 6:11, footnote) Hidden traps are placed in our path to draw us into wickedness and cause our spiritual ruin. (Psalm 142:3) Because we have renounced unrighteousness, however, ‘our soul is like a bird that escapes from the trap.’ (Psalm 124:7, 8) How grateful we are that Jehovah delivers us from the wicked "birdcatcher"!—Matthew 6:13.

The psalmist cites "the pestilence causing adversities." Like a contagious epidemic disease, there is something that causes "adversities" for the human family and for upholders of Jehovah’s sovereignty. In this regard, historian Arnold Toynbee wrote: "Since the end of World War II nationalism has doubled the number of local sovereign independent states . . . Mankind’s present mood is increasingly divisive."

Through the centuries, certain rulers have fanned the flames of divisive international strife. They have also demanded that reverence be directed to them or to various images or symbols. But Jehovah has never let his faithful people succumb to such a "pestilence." (Daniel 3:1, 2, 20-27; 6:7-10, 16-22) As a loving international brotherhood, we give Jehovah exclusive devotion, maintain Scriptural neutrality, and impartially acknowledge that "in every nation the man that fears [God] and works righteousness is acceptable to him." (Acts 10:34, 35; Exodus 20:4-6; John 13:34, 35; 17:16; 1 Peter 5:8, 9) Although we suffer "adversities" in the form of persecution as Christians, we are joyful and spiritually secure "in the secret place of the Most High."

Having Jehovah as our refuge, we draw comfort from the words: "Withhispinionshewillblockapproachtoyou,andunderhiswingsyouwilltakerefuge.Histruenesswillbealargeshieldandbulwark." (Psalm 91:4) God protects us, even as a parent bird hovers protectively over its young. (Isaiah 31:5) ‘With his pinions he blocks approach to us.’ Broadly, a bird’s "pinions" are its wings. With them a bird covers its young, protecting them from predators. Like mere fledglings, we are secure under Jehovah’s figurative pinions because we have taken refuge in his true Christian organization.—Ruth 2:12; Psalm 5:1, 11.

We trust in "trueness," or faithfulness. It is like a large shield of ancient times, often doorlike in shape and big enough to cover a person’s entire body. (Psalm 5:12) Confidence in such protection frees us from fear. (Genesis 15:1; Psalm 84:11) Like our faith, God’s trueness is a large protective shield that stops Satan’s burning missiles and wards off enemy blows. (Ephesians 6:16) It is also a bulwark, a strong defensive mound behind which we stand firm.

Miscellaneous

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w054/15p.17par.10LetGod’sWordLightYourRoadway***

"The birdcatcher," Satan, sets many traps. (Psalm 91:3) For instance, a former associate may try to induce us to wander off the pathway of spiritual light into the darkness of apostasy. Among Christians at Thyatira, there was "that woman Jezebel," possibly a group of women teaching others to practice idolatry and commit fornication. Jesus did not tolerate such evils, and neither should we. (Revelation 2:18-22; Jude 3, 4) Let us therefore pray for Jehovah’s help so that we do not wander from his orders but remain in divine light.—Psalm 119:111, 112.

Comments You Won't Hear at the 11-25-07 WT Study (w07 10/1, pp.26-30)

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