He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.
2 Samuel 22:20 NIV
This passage is part of a beautiful song David wrote in gratitude to God after being delivered from all his enemies, particularly from the hand of Saul. David recounts the incredible deliverance God provided. “He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.” (2 Samuel 22:17-20 NIV)
David vividly describes the moment of rescue, saying, “He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes who were too strong for me.” When David’s enemies confronted him in his time of distress, the Lord became his support. God brought David out into a spacious place and rescued him because He delighted in him. This testimony from David highlights the profound truth that God’s deliverance is rooted in His delight in those who trust in Him.
Reflecting on this, verse 20 stands out, revealing that God rescued David not because of his credentials or expertise as a warrior, but simply because God delighted in him. Despite Saul’s relentless pursuit and all attempts to destroy David, Saul failed because he did not realize the danger of fighting against one in whom God delights.
David’s victory was not due to his own strength or military prowess. He did not possess a mighty army capable of confronting Saul with any hope of winning. Instead, David found refuge, solace, and a hiding place in the Lord. Rather than relying on his own resources, David placed his trust entirely in God, who ultimately rescued him. Consequently, even when he had the opportunity of killing Saul, he refrained from doing so. He would rather have God to fight for him and give him victory.
It’s important to note that David experienced such deliverance because God delighted in him. When God delights in a person, He performs great and mighty deeds for and through them. Therefore, it is far more valuable to seek and focus on becoming and remaining God’s delight.
For God to delight in David meant that David’s life pleased God. God found something in David that brought Him joy. As Psalm 37:23 declares, “When God delights in how you live your life, He establishes every step you take.”(TPT). This is not a chance occurrence, but God’s expectation for everyone. God searches for individuals in whom He can delight, and when He finds such a person, He establishes their steps, guiding and guarding them.
Even if they stumble, they will survive, for the Lord upholds them with His hand. (Psalm 37:24 TPT). Therefore, beloved, let us examine our lives carefully. What is most important is for us to be and remain those in whom the Lord delights. By living in this way, like David, we can be confident that God’s deliverance in our lives will be even greater than what David experienced.
Meanwhile, it’s crucial to understand that God will not delight in a life that is perpetually steeped in sin. Sin drives God away because He cannot tolerate it. When a person lives in constant sin, they shut themselves off from God’s favour and delight. Sin hinders a person from experiencing God’s delight, making it impossible to continue in sin and still expect to be in God’s favour.
However, when we reach the point where God delights in us, it opens the door to endless possibilities. More importantly, as the Scripture says, God establishes our steps, guiding us in every aspect of our lives.
In conclusion, this passage reminds us of the importance of living a life that pleases God. Like David, we should seek to be individuals in whom God delights. This requires us to live righteously, avoiding the pitfalls of sin, and continually trusting in God’s guidance. When we do so, God will establish our steps, provide us with strength and deliverance, and lead us into a spacious place where we can experience His abundant blessings.
