The God Who Rescues

This is a piece I wrote for True and Noble Lent Devotional Series

My friend has a piece of art displayed in her home with the words “he rescued me because he delights in me” written on it. It is portion of Psalm 18:19. It hangs in her kitchen and every time I’ve seen it the phrase lingers in my heart for a few days after. I now live in a different state than my friend and it’s been almost a year since I’ve been in her home. Yet, just recently I thought of that piece of art and the truth in those words. So I decided to lean in and discover the original story behind that passage of scripture. 

“He led me to a place of safety, he rescued me because he delights in me” Psalm 18:19. Turns out these words were penned by David and written to God. The backdrop of the story is that David has been running for his life, fighting to stay alive. He has literally been hiding in caves to find refuge from the enemies that have been relentlessly pursuing Him. David has been a hunted man for a long time, for 8 years. He has been depending on God to deliver him, and on the day David writes these words, deliverance has come. 

David’d enemies are defeated. Saul is defeated. The battle is finally over. And now, David can enter into that open space, the place of safety that has been made just for him. David speaks with assurance and confidence about the nature of God. There is an invitation for us to know God like David did. We too, can look to God in adversity, in the midst of the small closed off space that feels dark and hopeless, and know that it is not the end. Our God will not only deliver us, but also invites us to live into the open spaces. God does not leave his work half done. He is the God who rescues.