Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by in safety. – Psalm 141:10

Today’s Scripture Reading (March 17, 2013): Psalm 140 & 141

When I was a child one of my favorite T.V. Shows was the Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour. In fact, it was one of the rare shows that would allow supper to be moved from the kitchen into the living room. For one hour a week the family would gather to watch Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd, Tweety Bird and the Puddy Tat, and the rest of the gang make fools of themselves for our entertainment. Personally, my favorite was the Bugs Bunny portion of the show, but there was something captivating about the Road Runner’s escapades as he tried to escape the crafty Wile E. Coyote. The plot was always the same. Wile E. Coyote wants to capture the Road Runner. Wile E. Coyote sets a trap for the Road Runner. The Road Runner evades Wile E. Coyote’s trap. Wile E. Coyote forgets about the trap and while settling into the chase of the Road Runner falls into his own trap. The only thing that changed in the different episodes was the trap. Everything else remained the same. And we watched and laughed anyway.

David prays a prayer of protection over his life. This prayer of David could really have been called the Road Runner Prayer – because all that David is asking for is for the plot of every Road Runner episode to be played out in his life – with David playing the part of the Road Runner and David’s various adversaries in the role of Wile E. Coyote.

And in some ways, the Road Runner prayer was successful in David’s life. Oh, he suffered the indignities of attacks and the stresses of war – he was betrayed by those who were closest to him, but in the end the traps were set, but it was his opponents that ended up being the victims in their own traps. As for David, he would die peacefully in his bed in his old age - just as the Road Runner will die when his running is finally at an end.   

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 143

Note: The VantagePoint Community Church (Edmonton) message "Adopted" from the series "Blood, Sweat and Tears" is available on the VantagePoint website. Craig Traynor is speaking and you can find it here.