He reached down from above and took hold of me;
he pulled me from the surging water.
Psalm 18.16 NET.
BY ARNALDO LOUZADA ─ This verse portrays a God who does not merely observe from a distance but actively intervenes in the psalmist’s life. The verb "יִשְׁלַח" (yishlach), meaning "to send" or "to extend," indicates that help comes directly from God. "יִקָּחֵנִי" (yiqqacheni), derived from the root לקח (laqach), which means "to take" or "to grasp," emphasizes God’s action in holding and rescuing.
The expression "מַּיִם רַבִּים" (mayim rabbim), translated as "deep sea" or "turbulent waters," symbolizes great afflictions and dangers. In Hebrew culture, water often represents chaos and adversity (as seen in the Flood or the Red Sea), and being pulled from it signifies deliverance and restoration.
This verse reminds us that even when we feel ourselves sinking under life’s difficulties, God does not abandon us. He leans down from on high, extends His hand, and rescues us, proving His love and faithfulness. Just as Peter began to sink in the waters and cried out to Jesus, receiving His immediate help, Matthew 14.30-31, we can trust that the Lord will always reach us when we call for help.
May this word strengthen your faith and give you hope, reminding you that no matter the depths we find ourselves in, God is mighty to pull us out and set us on solid ground.
Arnaldo is a lawyer in the Brazilian city of Porto Alegre.
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