CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 943

 “A Broad Place”

I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul, and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; you have set my feet in a broad place. (Psalm 31:7-8)

Whenever I read this Scripture verse I picture the scene from the movie The Sound of Music where Julie Andrews is dancing in a high mountain meadow. For me this is a picture of rejoicing and being glad in the steadfast love of God which He shows to us by delivering us and setting our feet in a broad place.

The root word from the original text translated ‘a broad place’ carries the meaning of liberty, welfare, and freedom. This same root word is found in Psalm 118:5 and in Psalm 18:19.

 Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free. (Psalm 118:5)

He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me. (Psalm 18:19)

God delivers and rescues us and sets us free from our affliction and distress because He delights in us. Why does God delight in us? He delights in us because we respect and revere Him and place our hope in Him.

His delight is not in the strength of the horse…but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. (Psalm 147:10-11)

Many of us are afflicted in one form or another. Some of us are distressed to the point of despair. It is out of our distress that we are to call on the Lord. Our hope must be placed completely in Him.

The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue. Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. (Psalm 33:16-19)

May your trust and hope be in Almighty God and in His Son, Jesus Christ, your Savior. May the Holy Spirit still and quiet your soul as you wait for God’s hand of deliverance. This is His peace that surpasses understanding.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)

May rejoicing and gladness burst forth now in praise and thanksgiving for you know that the Lord will indeed deliver you and set your feet in a broad place.

Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you. (Psalm 33:20-22)