A Large Place

2 Samuel 22:20 KJV

“He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.”

  This song of David found at the end of the book of Second Samuel and also in the Psalms were sung by David to the Lord after his deliverance from his enemies including Saul and his sons. It echoes the thankfulness that he had that we find in similar veins throughout the Psalms.

  This verse uses language that we don’t use in our time when he says, “He brought me forth into a large place”. What benefit is there in a large place? Many people are quite content in a tent or a tiny home. They don’t have many needs and don’t mind tight spaces. Others get claustrophobic easily and feel trapped even if it’s just tall trees surrounding them. They want to be able to see the horizon. I was pondering this “Large” place that David speaks of and remembered what one writer had written about being in solitary confinement.

  He likened this dark small prison cell to hell. He thought that hell would be to sit alone in darkness pondering past sins. What a dreadful thing to consider. After I mentioned this one brother told me that too often, he has had that experience of being trapped in the prison of his mind. Bound by sin. This indeed is a small place.

  What a joy though when it can be revealed to us that our captivity has been broken. We have been set free by the work of our Savior on that center cross of Calvary. He gives us the faith to see his finished work and we stand in awe of it. He doesn’t do this because he owes us something, but rather that he delights in us as David wrote. This large place that he leads us into is his embrace. His arms are wide open like the Lenten song “Wide Open are Thy Hands” expresses:

“Wide open are Thine arms,


A fallen world t’embrace;


To take to love and endless rest


Our whole forsaken race.”

  This large place has enough room for you and I. In fact, his embrace is large enough for the entire human race. Look into the scriptures and find that one who delights in you and take hold of his outstretched hand that bears the nail prints. He will deliver you into that endless rest.

Praise God for his unspeakable mercies towards us in Christ!

Hans Lampinen

Submitted by Pastor Stan