Snare's

1 Samuel 18: 21(a-b)
And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him...

The dictionary defines the word "Snare" like this; "Something that is deceptively attractive"

Our enemy wants us to fail in Behaving Wisely. He will use just about anyone or anything to cause us to fail.

Everyone of us has an area where we are easily tempted to let down our guard. A soft spot that allows the enemy to take advantage of us. Believe me the enemy WILL use every weapon he can to destroy or disable you and me.

Notice 3 things:

1. The enemy uses powerful people:

Saul is the ruler! He has the authority to make things happen. Saul can speak and other people act. Just because someone is powerful never underestimate the damage they can do to our reputation.

Our enemy will use powerful people to snare us. Once we are in a snare we disable the cause of Christ, others then will not hear the gospel message. The battle will suffer and souls will be in danger. We must be very careful to continually Behave Wisely!

A lot of powerful people will do anything to retain the power they have. History is proven in this passage that most people will act in a self serving manner rather in a selfless way.

To Behave Wisely will mean that we must, if we are to be blessed by God, follow His great example of selfless serving others, even if it causes us to give up our all.

2. The enemy uses powerful possessions:

In verse 20 God shows us that "Michal Saul's daughter loved David", and in verse 26 "it pleased David well to be the king's son in law"

Saul dangled the option of marriage to his daughter Michal in front of David. David must have been smitten with Michal. He takes the bait without knowing that his soon to be father in law has a devious motive up his sleeve. Saul was banking on a sudden death for David!

The enemy will use a loved one to snare us. He is a master fighter and will not stop until we are out of the battle. What possession to you have that if found in the hand of our enemy would cause us to NOT! Behave Wisely?

3. The enemy uses powerful problems:

Saul thought he was planning a death warrant for David! He drops hints to David that if he would once again fight the Philistines he could marry Michal.

The Philistines were the absolute sworn enemy of David. David had became the poster boy for recruiters of the Philistine army! His photo was in every post office as the number 1 most wanted. The Philistines wanted David dead, not alive! He represented the greatest humiliation a nation could withstand.

Saul was providing the Philistine army with a wide open chance to nail their most coveted prize! David on their turf.

David accepted the challenge of Saul, he accomplishes the task at hand and returns a victor once again!

We can only Behave Wisely when we stay close to the Lord! We must follow His Word. We will see that God WILL deliver us out of the enemies hands! Praise the Lord!