“In the fear of Yahweh
One has strong confidence.
One’s children will have a refuge.
The fear of Yahweh
Is a fountain of life.
Thus one may avoid the snares of death.”
The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Thus, those who fear God have a strong confidence that their children will be fine. This fear of God is a refuge, the fountain, or the source of all life. If you have fear of Yahweh, you will avoid the snares of death.
“But my eyes are turned toward you!
Yahweh!
O God!
In you I seek refuge.
Leave me not defenseless!
Keep me from the trap
That they have laid for me!
Keep me from the snares of evildoers!
Let the wicked together fall into their own nets
While I will escape.”
This psalm ends with an assertion of God, Yahweh, the Lord, as the refuge of David. His eyes were turned toward Yahweh. He did not want to be without any defenses. He wanted to keep away from their traps that were set for him. He wanted to escape all the snares of these evildoers. Rather he hoped that they would fall into their own trap nets, while he would escape.
“The powerful possess the land.
The favored people live in it.
You have sent widows away empty.
You have crushed the arms of the orphans.
Therefore snares are around you.
Sudden terror overwhelms you.
Your light is darkened.
Thus you cannot see.
A flood of water covers you.”
Eliphaz claimed that Job had land, yet he sent widows and orphans away empty handed. Thus the snares and terrors are all around him because he was not kind to others. He was now in a situation where it was dark. He could not see because a flood of water had covered him. He was in a state or personal distress.
