SNARE OF THE FOWLER
Jeremiah 50:8: …Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the goats before the flocks.
Rev. 18: 4: And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, come out of her my people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works; in the cup which she has filled fill to her double.
Jeremiah 51:6: Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the Lord’s vengeance; he will render unto her recompense.”
5. Put on your full armor (put yourselves in array against Babylon).
6. Shoot at her, spare no arrows.
7. Shout against her. (50:15).
8. Cut off the sower and reaper (50:16).
9. Go up against the land (50:21).
10. I have laid a snare for Babylon.
Jer. 50;24: I have laid a snare for you;
You have indeed been trapped, O Babylon,
And you were not aware;
You have been found and also caught,
Because you have contended against the LORD.
Jeremiah’s prophecy was not just for Cyrus’s destruction of Babylon, but points to the signs of the end of the age and the coming of the “Son of man.” In Jeremiah 50, there are fifty-one (51) decrees of spiritual war released whereby the LORD of Hosts opened His armory and brought out the weapons of His indignation. Today, I will focus on the snare of the LORD which will judge the snare of Satan.
Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.
In the letters to Timothy, Paul clearly calls out the “Fowler” to be “Satan.” Both letters exhort believers to beware of the snares of Satan.
2 Ti. 2:26: that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
1 Timothy 3:7: Moreover, he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
1 Timothy 6:9: But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
“Satan, the Fowler, who betrays unguarded souls a thousand ways.”
Satan is always a Fowler. Whatever his tactics may be, his object is still the same to catch men in his net. In Jeremiah 50, the LORD himself has set a snare for the destroyer operating in the King of Babylon, the nation, and the spirit of Babylon. The Lord Jesus warns us that when the judgments of the end of the age are upon the world, we must come out of Babylon or we will be caught in the snare of God’s judgment against Babylon.
Yes, Satan has his tricks. If he does not attack us as the roaring lion, he attacks as the adder, creeping silent along the path, endeavoring to bite our heel with his poisoned fangs, weaken the power of grace and ruin the life of godliness within us. A snare is sneaky entrapment. It is usually connected with pleasure, profit and advantage.
Paul further warned Timothy of some of the sneaky things that can draw God’s people into the snare of Satan.
1 Timothy 6:3-5a: If anyone does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with dispute and arguments over words, from which come envy strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wrangling of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth.
Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.
2 Timothy 2: 15-19: Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. Their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. Nevertheless, the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
Christian, we have this glorious promise, Surely, the LORD will deliver us from the snare of the Fowler and from the perilous pestilence.
“SURELY” leaves no doubt. That is a fact.
“Amidst a thousand snares I stand, upheld and guarded by your hand
Grace will complete what grace begins,
To save from sorrows or from sins
The work that wisdom undertakes
Eternal mercy ne’er forsakes”
(Isaac Watts)
DELIVERANCE: Surely, the LORD will deliver! First, he delivers us from the snare and protects us from getting into sin. Second, if one does get in, he delivers his people out of it. If we get into the snare, He often delivers us through trouble.
At other times, God keeps his people from the snare of the Fowler by giving us great spiritual strength, a spirit of great courage, so when his people are tempted to do evil, we say like Joseph, “How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?”
Backsliders do not despair. God will restore you. “Return, O backsliding children, says the LORD, for I am married to you,” I will have mercy upon you. But you say you cannot return, then here is still a promise, “Surely, he shall deliver you from the snare of the Fowler.”
The true church will receive the backslider with open arms. I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding (Jer. 3:15).
God’s promises are bonds that have never been dishonored. If he has said he will, he will. Jesus is the Shepherd of the sheep and the surety.
Lord Jesus I decree in agreement with the Holy Spirit that you are moving and delivering your called and chosen ones from your judgments of the snare, sword, famine, plague, pestilence, earthquake, wind, fire and fear. In agreement with the Holy Spirit, I decree a great awakening in the earth which will usher in the Harvest. Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ. Your church will not be weighed down with the cares of this life which has come as a snare on all those who dwell on the earth.
I decree to the Progressive and liberal spirit of antichrist and the spirit of Babylon which you serve, because you have contended with the LORD, and treated His anointed with disdain, The LORD has opened His armory. There is a sound of spiritual battle in the land. The LORD has raised his banner of war. Socialism is confused. Your lips are the snare of your soul. Liberalism is broken in pieces. Your voices are confounded. A snare has been laid for you. You have been trapped in your own snare. You have been found out and caught because you contended against the LORD. The Lord has brought out the weapons of his indignation. This is the work of the LORD God of hosts. The Lord of Hosts will come against you from the farthest border. You will be cast as heaps of ruins and destroyed utterly. Call together the archers. Let none of them escape. The progressives will be repaid according to your works. For you have been proud against the LORD, against the Holy One of Israel. Behold, the LORD is against you, O most haughty ones, says the LORD GOD of hosts. The Redeemer is strong. He will thoroughly plead your case that he may give rest to the land. A sword is against you says the LORD, and against your leaders. A sword is against the soothsayers, and they will be fools. A sword is against your politicians, generals, and money changers. As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and their neighbors, says the LORD, so will your evil works be destroyed. The LORD is coming as a snare to all those who dwell on the earth. Satan and his minions will be caught in their own snare. Lord Jesus may we be counted worthy to escape all these things that are coming to pass, and we will stand before you.
“Are you born again? Have you passed from death unto life? Are you "a new creature in Christ Jesus?" Is all your trust put in the Lord Jesus Christ? Has his life become your model, and does his Spirit dwell in your mortal body? If so, peace be unto you; this promise is yours. You may have been the worst of men; but if you have faith in Christ those sins are all forgiven, and you may take this promise to be yours forever. But if you are self-righteous, self-sufficient, ungodly, careless, worldly, there is no such promise for you; you are in the snare, you shall be there, and you shall perish, unless you repent; for it is written, "Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish." May God save you from perishing, by giving you an interest in the blood of Christ; and to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be glory for ever and ever” (C. H. Spurgeon).
The judgment of the LORD on Mystery Babylon will be just as sure as the judgment on ancient Babylon. Jeremiah and the prophets foretold it. Jesus, Revelation, and the epistles confirm it.
Mark 13: 33-37: Take heed, watch and pray, for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming---in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning---lest, coming suddenly, he finds you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries Church
Scripture from NKJV. I entered into the labors of Dr. C. H. Spurgeon as noted in quotes; and lyrics by Isaac Watts. Comments and conclusions are my own and not meant to reflect the views of those who I entered into their labors.