“The proud hide a trap with ropes for me; they spread a net along the path and set snares for me.” (v. 5)

In Psalm 140, David prays a prayer for rescue—from violent adversaries, by God’s gracious strength. He knows that he, a king and a believer, is surrounded by those who would love to see him stumble. So he prays against their schemes, their plots, and their traps.

Do you ever feel like there is an antagonistic force set against you? Do you feel like you, in your believing life, are in the culture’s crosshairs? Do you feel the ready opposition of the wicked—as if their trap might snare you at any moment?

Here’s the bad news:

You’re probably right.

The good news, of course, is that God sees and hears and knows, and He is for you. We can pray this prayer, too, even in our cancel culture.

But, as we pray, we should also be thoughtful.

The trap they keep setting for you is pretty simple: They want you to answer only less-relevant questions. They want you to endlessly debate cultural litmus tests. They want you to wade into the comments section and fight on their terms and their turf.

Want to avoid the snare?

Go around it, deliberately. When they lure you in, invite them out instead. Don’t give them some part of you that they can clamp down; show them the whole picture, as the church, proclaiming light and hope while worshiping and loving and giving and serving.

If they refuse that, then God’s right judgment will come. But, if they leave the traps behind, they might just find themselves captivated.

— Tyler