Psalms 31:8
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You have not delivered me to the enemy; You have set my feet in the open.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
It is probable that David penned this psalm when he was persecuted by Saul; some passages in it agree particularly to the narrow escapes he had, at Keilah (Sa1 23:13), then in the wilderness of Maon, when Saul marched on one side of the hill and he on the other, and, soon after, in the cave in the wilderness of En-gedi; but that it was penned upon any of those occasions we are not told. It is a mixture of prayers, and praises, and professions of confidence in God, all which do well together and are helpful to one another. I. David professes his cheerful confidence in God, and, in that confidence, prays for deliverance out of his present troubles (Psa 31:1-8). II. He complains of the very deplorable condition he was in, and, in the sense of his calamities, still prays that God would graciously appear for him against his persecutors (Psa 31:9-18). III. He concludes the psalm with praise and triumph, giving glory to God, and encouraging himself and others to trust in him (Psa 31:19-24). To the chief musician. A psalm of David.
Open source ↗31:8 A safe place literally means a broad place, in contrast to a “narrow” or constricted place of distress (see 18:19).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
Indeed, He drew you from the jaws of distress to a spacious and broad place, to a table full of richness.
Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved my distress; show me grace and hear my prayer.
He brought me out into the open; He rescued me because He delighted in me.
How could one man pursue a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the LORD had given them up?
And you have shown this day how well you have dealt with me; for when the LORD delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me.
This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand. This day I will strike you down, cut off your head, and give the carcasses of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the creatures of the earth. Then the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.
I will deliver the Egyptians into the hands of harsh masters, and a fierce king will rule over them,” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.
God has delivered me to unjust men; He has thrown me to the clutches of the wicked.
You have removed my friends from me; You have made me repulsive to them; I am confined and cannot escape.
Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hand. Now, therefore, please let me thrust the spear through him into the ground with one stroke. I will not need to strike him twice!”