Jesus is our deliverer from the horrible pits of sin, and the tricks and traps of the Devil!
PSALM 40:1-3
I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, and heard my cry. 2 He also brought me up out of a HORRIBLE PIT, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps.3 He has put a new song in my mouth— Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord.
ISAIAH 51:1
“Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness, You who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were hewn, And to the hole of the PIT from which you were dug.“
Special note: The Lord wants us to always remember what it was like in the hole of the PIT we were in, and to faithfully give Him praise for rescuing us from the PIT OF DESTRUCTION!
PERSONAL TESTIMONY
I remember a time of severe distress and depression in my life close to 50 years ago. I went through a PIT-type experience that was unforgettable! It was time where my joy was lost. It was a time when I felt hopeless, confused, and extremely depressed day after day. It was a painful and dark time in my life. It stretched into weeks, and then finally a number of months in that painful condition. I lacked not only joy, happiness and well-being, but also peace and direction in my life during that time. It seemed kinda like a living night-mare, day after day after day!
I remember the exact day, time, and place that MY JOY WAS RESTORED! HALLELUJAH! It was WONDERFUL! Describing how it felt – it was kinda like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon, and flying away. It was kinda like a bird being set free from a cage, and being able to soar into the sky! I felt so free and liberated from that sense of heaviness and depression I had been struggling with for so long! Along with that, I began singing many new songs of praise… Scripture based songs. By the way, I still continue to do that! That is something I intend to do for the rest of my life. I never intend to go back to that PIT of depression and torment. Jesus is our rescuer from destructive, miserable PITS!
THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE
A wonderful secret that I have experienced for many so years now is that praise and thanksgiving keeps you free from the PIT of depression!
The Lord dwells in the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3). Christ in us the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). We are to show forth the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light (I Peter 2:9). In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you (I Thessalonians 5:18). Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father (Ephesians 5:20).
PITS
Pits of despair; discouragement; depression; loneliness; heart-break and heart-ache; fear and anxiety; bondage and imprisonment; corruption; deception and deceitfulness; wickedness; dissemblers and rebellion; fear; pride; destruction; immorality; hopelessness; etc…
Psalm 119:85
The proud have dug PITS for me, Which is not according to Your law.
Special note: Pride leads to the PITS!
THOSE WHO DIG PITS FALL INTO THEM
Proverbs 26:27 – Whoever digs a PIT will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
Proverbs 28:10 – Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, He himself will fall into his own PIT; But the blameless will inherit good.
Special note: Whatever a man sows, that is what he will reap (Galatians 6:7).
Galatians 6:7 – Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
THE PIT OF DESTRUCTION
Psalm 55:23 – But You, O God, shall bring them down to the PIT of destruction; Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; But I will trust in You.
Special note: Ultimately, there is an eternal PIT OF DESTRUCTION. Jesus is the only one that can rescue us out of the destructive pit of sin and put us on a good solid foundation through HIs mercy and grace.
What is a “PIT”?
Defined / Synonyms
A PIT is a hole in the ground. Synonyms: Ditch; cavity; trench; canyon; ravine; crater; abyss; chasm; tomb; grave; hell; well; …
A VALLEY
It generally refers to something that is not a ‘mountain-top’ experience – it is more of a ‘valley’ kind of experience… (Psalm 23:4 – “…though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…”)
A BAD EXPERIENCE
It can refer to something that is not a good experience – something that is negative, bad misfortune, and a bummer…
PITS IN THE WILDERNESS
Jeremiah 2:6 – Neither did they say, ‘Where is the Lord, Who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, Who led us through the wilderness, Through a land of deserts and PITS, Through a land of drought and the shadow of death, Through a land that no one crossed and where no one dwelt?’
Special note: Although the Israelites had been brought out of Egypt, with a wonderful destination ahead to anticipate in the Promised land flowing with milk and honey, they got very discouraged in the midst of the PITS they experienced in the wilderness.
Special songs: It’s good to speak to ourselves, and encourage ourselves with songs. Here several:
Song: “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back…”
Song: “He did not bring us out this far to take us back again, He brought us out to take us into the promised land… though there be giants in the land, we will not be afraid! He brought us out to take us into the promised land!” (Exodus)
SLIME PITS
Genesis 14:10 – …the vale of Siddim was full of SLIMEPITS; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there, and they that remained fled to the mountain.
Special note: Pits are something that anyone can fall into — royalty, as well as common people. A slime pit is not a good foundation. Everyone needs to be on-guard. Those that survived were the ones that fled to the mountain. Of course, spiritually speaking the mountain of the house of the Lord is a wonderful place of safety and blessing (Isaiah 2:2-3).
A Slippery Slope
A slick, slippery, downward spin that can quickly lead toward a fall — falling into a place of harm, bondage, entrapment, and danger.
Avoiding “PITS”
There are many tricks and traps of the Devil. He is a deceiver! He tries to ambush people with slippery kinds of things that try to get them off of the paths of safety, and cause them to fall into destructive PITS that entrap them and bring destruction and heart-ache.
VISION OF WILLIAM BOOTH (Founder of the salvation army)
William Booth had a vision of countless multitudes falling over the side of a cliff into a dark abyss (pit), screaming and clutching at the air as they went over, some of them with children and babies in their arms.
Matthew 7:13-14 – Enter in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it.
BE AWARE OF SATAN’S DEVICES
2 Corinthians 2:11 – Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
DON’T IGNORANTLY IGNORE PITS
There are many dangerous and destructive PITS the devil has deceptively laid – kind of like land mines – to catch people unawares and to trick and trap them into circumstances that lead them to bondage and death!
PIT OF IMMORALITY
Proverbs 22:14 – The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep PIT; He who is abhorred by the Lord will fall there.
Proverbs 23:27 – For a harlot is a deep PIT, And a seductress is a narrow well.
PROVERBS 7
(Special note: We were blessed in our service when a young lady (19 years old) recited Proverbs chapter 7 from memory. She is currently in the process of memorizing the whole book of Proverbs, and already to chapter 17 – she’s over half-way there!)
Proverbs 7 clearly illustrates the destructive PIT OF IMMORALITY. Immorality is just one of many destructive pits!
In summary – the way of LIFE and safety is to stay away from temptations to be immoral. For those who yield to immorality, it costs them their life. It is the way to death and hell, and many strong men and women have been snared in the PIT-TRAP of immorality.
PIT OF FEAR
I Samuel 13:6 – …when they saw that they were in danger (for the people were distressed) – they hid in caves, thickets, in rocks, in holes, and in PITS.
Special note: FEAR leads to the PITS!
In these last days, many are FEARFUL! Men’s hearts are failing for fear in expectation for what is coming on the earth (Luke 21:26)
2 Peter 1:7 – God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Special note: Jesus is able to deliver us from the PIT OF FEAR, and give us power to be overcomer’s, with a sound mind.
THERE ARE MANY VARIOUS KINDS OF PITS
Immorality; Deception /Lies; Depression & Discouragement; Boredom & Discontent; Love of money; Lusts of other things – not the Word (lusts of the flesh, lusts of the eyes…); Murmuring and complaining; Idolatry; Alcohol, Drugs and other Vices; Gambling; Witchcraft; Pride of life; Indebtedness – borrowing; Violence, Anger, and Hate; Disobedience; Unbelief; Un-forgiveness and Bitterness; etc…
SERPENTS AND SCORPIONS
A PIT can be a place of great danger! It is not a good, desirable place! It can be a hide-out for dangerous enemies! (Snakes, cockroaches, spiders, rats and rodents, etc…) It is a good place to STAY AWAY FROM!
Most of us do not like poisonous snakes! We like to stay as far away from them as possible. Why would anyone choose to go where snakes hang-out? Here in the Philippines, people like to kill and eat snakes. They consider snakes delicious food! If given the opportunity, it is much better to kill and eat snakes rather than have snakes kill and eat you!
TRAPS
“BOOBY-TRAPS”
Sometimes “booby-traps” are laid, These are apparently harmless objects containing a concealed explosive device designed to kill or injure anyone who touches it. It actually becomes a harmful device designed to be triggered by its unsuspecting victim. A “booby trap” is a device or setup that is intended to kill, harm, or surprise a human or animal. It is triggered by the presence or actions of the victim and sometimes has some form of bait designed to lure the victim towards it.
NETS AND ‘HOOK-N-LINE’ FISHING
Fish are sometimes caught in nets that they are unaware of. They are just swimming along, and suddenly find themselves caught in a net that did not see was there. It was laid by a trapper, waiting for them to swim into it so they could be killed. When fishermen are fishing with a hook-n-line, they put attractive bait over a dangerous barbed hook. The fish being lured by the bait, and not suspecting that it has a dreadful hook contained within it bite at the bait, and are caught and persistently dragged in to their death, generally with no way of escape.
TRAPPING PITS
One of the ways that animals are trapped is by making a PIT.
Trapping PITS are deep PITS dug into the ground, or built from stone, in order to trap animals. These pits are camouflaged with branches and leaves. They have steep sides making it impossible for an animal to escape once it has fallen into it. When the animal had fallen into the PIT, it is often KILLED…
WORLD-WIDE NETS
Psalm 9:15 – The nations have sunk down in the PIT which they made; in the net which they hid, their own foot is caught.
Psalm 35:7 – For without cause they have hidden their net for me in a PIT, which they have dug without cause for my life.
Psalm 57:6 – They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down; They have dug a PIT before me; Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen. Selah
Special note: These are days when hidden nets are being laid, world-wide to trap unsuspecting victims. Worldly ways lead to NETS and TRAPS, and we need to beware!
ENTRAPMENT / SNAREs
Some traps provide no way of escape.
However, I Corinthians 10:13 provides hope for those who are enduring trials, temptations, and snares…
I Corinthians 10:13 – There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make A WAY TO ESCAPE, that you may be able to bear it.
Special note: GOOD NEWS! The Lord makes a way to escape temptations that lead to the PIT!
PIT OF TEMPTATION
Luke 8:13 – But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.
JOB
Job slipped into an emotional PIT of darkness, despondency, despair, confusion, and depression. In the midst of his severe suffering. In the midst of the persecution and verbal attacks by his friends he became confused, complaintive, and depressed.
When he repented, he had a fresh, living revelation of the Lord’s mercy and grace! His body and life was restored. When he also interceded for his friends, he was blessed with twice as much — double blessings compared to what he had previously.
DEVIL IS AS A ROARING LION
I Peter 5:8 – Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the Devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
LION SLAIN IN A PIT
I love the story of Benaiah, the LION-KILLER!
2 Samuel 23:20 – Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, who had done many deeds. He had killed two lion-like heroes of Moab. He also had gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a PIT on a snowy day.
Special note: Benaiah found himself not only in A PIT, but in a PIT with a LION, that was cold and slippery with snow! In the midst of that horrible PIT Benaiah valiantly slew the lion, the lion didn’t kill him! He was a victorious overcomer! He lived to tell about it! The Lord brought him through his experience in the PIT with a powerful, overcoming testimony!
WHAT ARE PITS LIKE?
A PLACE OF DARKNESS
In most PITS you are surrounded by darkness – there is no light. The only light that can be found is by looking up. It kinda reminds of being in a cave. The expression “Light at the end of the tunnel” is a helpful one to remember when trying to get out. You look for the light, and you go toward the light. We are to “look to Jesus” (Hebrews 12:1-2) who is able to provide a way of escape from PITS.
A PLACE OF LONELINESS
When you are in a PIT, you often feel all alone. You need help to get out of it, and don’t know where or how to get it. It is often a place of seclusion, loneliness, and confusion.
A PLACE OF SORROW & REMORSE
It can be a place of rejection, humiliation, sadness, and sorrow. You are attacked by memories of why you are there, and how you got there. You have bitter regrets, and struggle with guilt and condemnation. You feel sorry for yourself, and sometimes feel like no one else really cares…
A PLACE OF PERSECUTION
You might feel like you are scorned and ridiculed by loved ones and friends. Your enemies are attacking you and saying a lot of untrue things about you, and no one seems to understand what you are going through…
A PLACE OF HUNGER AND THIRST
Sometimes you are starved for nutrition, and dying of thirst.
Psalm 63:1 My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.
Psalm 42:1-2 As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
Special note: GOOD NEWS! Jesus promises food and water to those who hunger and thirst!
Matthew 5:6 – Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled!
JOSEPH
Joseph was violently thrown into a waterless PIT. He came through that unfair experience victoriously, with a forgiving attitude, and the Lord was able to use him mightily! The Lord was able to help it work together for good in his life, as he continued to demonstrate faith and integrity!
Genesis 37 — 18) … they (his brothers) conspired against him to kill him… 20 Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some PIT; and we shall say, ‘Some wild beast has devoured him.’ We shall see what will become of his dreams!” 22 And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood, but cast him into this PIT which is in the wilderness, and do not lay a hand on him”—that he might deliver him out of their hands, and bring him back to his father. 23 So it came to pass, when Joseph had come to his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of many colors that was on him. 24 Then they took him and cast him into a PIT. And the PITwas empty; there was no water in it…. 28 Then Midianite traders passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the PIT, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.29 Then Reuben returned to the PIT, and indeed Joseph was not in the PIT; and he tore his clothes. 30 And he returned to his brothers and said, “The lad is no more; and I, where shall I go?”
KORAH, DATHAN, AND ABIRAM (and familes)
They were rebellious dissemblers who rose up against Moses leadership. The Lord was not pleased with them. The earth opened up and they all went down alive into the PIT, and the earth closed over them and they perished.
Numbers 16:30-33 – …But if the Lord creates a new thing, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the pit, then you will understand that these men have rejected the Lord.” 31 Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them, 32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods. 33 So they and all those with them went down alive into the pit; the earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly.
Special note: Rebellion leads to the PITS!
DANIEL
In Daniel 6 we read about Daniel being thrown into the LION’S DEN (some translations call it a PIT).
Daniel 6 — 8 Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” 9 Therefore King Darius signed the written decree. 10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. 11 Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 12 And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den (PIT) of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” 13 So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.” 14 And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 15 Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.” 16 So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den (PIT) of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” 17 Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed. 18 Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him. 19 Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den (PIT) of lions. 20 And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.” 23 Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den (PIT). So Daniel was taken up out of the den (PIT), and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.
Special note: The Lord is also able to deliver us and protect us when we are thrown into PITS with the lions, too, just like He was with Daniel. It is interesting to note that the ones who conspired against him were the ones who were ultimately thrown into the PIT, and were the ones who were destroyed by the lions.
JONAH
Jonah described his experience in the belly of the big fish as “the PIT”.
Jonah 2:6 – I went down to the moorings of the mountains; The earth with its bars closed behind me forever; Yet You have brought up my life from the PIT, O Lord, my God.
OTHER SCRIPTURES REFERRING TO THE PIT
Psalm 28:1 – To you I will cry, O Lord my Rock: Do not be silent to me, lest, if You are silent to me, I become like those who go down to the PIT.
Psalm 143:7 – Answer me speedily, O Lord; My spirit fails! Do not hide Your face from me, Lest I be like those who go down into the PIT.
Psalm 69:15 – Let not the floodwater overflow me, Nor let the deep swallow me up; And let not the PIT shut its mouth on me.
Psalm 63:1 – O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.
Psalm 61:1-3 – Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer. 2 From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is OVERWHELMED; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.3 For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy.
Psalm 130:1-4 – Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord; 2 Lord, hear my voice!
Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. 3 If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared.
Isaiah 41:17 – “The poor and needy seek water, but there is none, Their tongues fail for thirst. I, the Lord, will hear them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
Psalm 94:13 – That You may give him rest from the days of adversity, Until the PIT is dug for the wicked.
Psalm 30:3 – You brought my soul up from the grave; you have kept me alive, that I should not go down to THE PIT.
THE PIT OF DESTRUCTION
Psalm 55:23 – But You, O God, shall bring them down to the PIT OF DESTRUCTION; Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days…
PRISONERS OF THE PIT set free
Zechariah 9:11 – “As for you also, Because of the blood of your covenant, I will set your prisoners FREE from the waterless PIT.
John 8:32,26 – “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”
Special note: The blood of the New Testament Covenant that Jesus shed on the cross is able to set people free from the waterless pit. However, as seen in the Isaiah verses below, many will be imprisoned in the PIT, world-wide, and unable to escape.
LAST DAYS PITS
Isaiah 24:17,18,22 – Fear and the PIT and the snare are upon you, O inhabitant of the earth. And it shall be That he who flees from the noise of the fear shall fall into the PIT, And he who comes up from the midst of the PIT shall be caught in the snare; For the windows from on high are open, And the foundations of the earth are shaken… They will be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the PIT, And will be shut up in the prison; After many days they will be punished.
Special note: There are PITS AND SNARES prophesied of the last days, all over the earth! Many will be imprisoned in the PIT, and be punished!
THE BOTTOMLESS PIT
Revelation 9:1,2 – Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless PIT. And he opened the bottomless PIT, and smoke arose out of the PIT like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the PIT.
Revelation 20:1,3 – Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless PIT and a great chain in his hand. and he cast him (Satan/Devil) into the bottomless PIT, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.
Special note: Being in a PIT can be HORRIBLE! It’s hard to imagine what it would be like to be in a bottomless PIT with the sensation of falling and falling — forever! As you read on in the 20th chapter of Revelation, it appears that not only the Devil, beast, and false prophet are ultimately thrown into the bottomless pit and lake of fire, but also all those people whose names are not written in the Book of Life!
“OUT OF THE PIT” PRAISE!
We can and should be forever grateful to our Savior / Rescuer Jesus, who has rescued us out of the horrible pit of sin, which leads to death, and has given us the priceless gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23)!
He puts new songs of praise in our mouth.. (Psalm 40:1-3) Let’s faithfully proclaim His praises (I Peter 2:9). May His praises be continually be in our mouth (Hebrews 13:15). Like the Psalmist said —
Psalm 34:1 – I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
