During 2025, Peachtree Church is focusing on the Book of Psalms with a series called Dwell, through which we seek to deepen our conversation with God and open ourselves to hearing his response. The practice of praying three times each day will unite the voices of our hearts and souls as we seek the day when we will see the full realization of the Kingdom of God, promised in Revelation 21:3: “…Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.”
We will email devotionals twice weekly with Monday’s providing an overview of the Psalm as a whole, and Wednesday’s focused on that week’s Daily Dwell.
“He brought me out into a broad place; he delivered me because he delighted in me.”
Psalm 18:19
Devotional
For brevity’s sake, I thought I’d focus on a smaller portion of Psalm 18 this week.
Psalm 18 belongs to a smaller section of the Psalms of David, where a superscription provides the occasion for the Psalm. Psalm 18 is David’s response after being delivered from his enemies. This Psalm is repeated (nearly verbatim) in 2 Samuel 22.
David had his back against the ropes at that point in his story. But God—say it again with me—but God stepped in Deus-ex-machina-style and gave David a way out.
My favorite verse from this Psalm is verse 19: “He brought me out into a broad place; he delivered me because he delighted in me.”
This verse reminds me of my first Bible course at Sterling College many years ago. My professor, Dr. Steve MacArthur, spent 30 minutes sharing the Hebrew meaning of Joshua’s (and Jesus’s) name: Yeshua. “Yeshua” means “God saves”, which seems very fitting for both Joshua and Jesus in the biblical narrative. Their stories include the rescue of God’s people. Of course, Jesus’s story is greater than Joshua’s because Jesus saved the world from its sins.
Salvation has plenty of allegories and images, so it is suitable to be more specific when we can so people who are not as familiar with our faith language can comprehend what we might mean. The root word of Yeshua, yasha, can mean “to broaden.” I think that’s an excellent metaphor for salvation.
We’ve all experienced the feeling of being crowded. Our bodies don’t feel right when we don’t have enough space, and we feel relieved when we can stretch out and breathe normally. I can imagine this is what David felt when he finally was victorious over his enemies. He would not have to worry about looking over his shoulder or who might be in the dark shadows. He would finally be at rest.
Rest is what we are all searching for. Rest happens when we can spiritually stretch out, breathe from the belly, and spend some time daydreaming. I pray for each of us to seek the broad place and to acknowledge God’s means to get us there when we arrive.
For Reflection
- When was a time in your life when you knew God brought you great relief?
- What is crowding you these days? And what might “salvation” look like for you?
- Many times, our rescue involves a support system. Who is in your corner helping you find your way to the broader place?
Prayer
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
You brought me out from tight places,
from fear, shame, and despair—
and You set my feet in wide and spacious grace.
Father, You chose me with delight,
Jesus, You delivered me with love,
Spirit, You fill this new space with peace and strength.
In the freedom of Your delight, let me live today.
Amen.
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Devotionals