Rescued and Rewarded: When God Delights in You

By Romina Chevren

“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. The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me. For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I am not guilty of turning from my God. All his laws are before me; I have not turned away from his decrees. I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin. The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight.”—2 Samuel 22:18–25 (NIV)

In the middle of his song of deliverance, David continues to describe how God rescued him from impossible situations. He writes: “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.” These words aren’t coming from a place of comfort, but from someone who has lived through real fear, real battles, and real opposition. David acknowledges he was up against forces more powerful than himself. He wasn’t exaggerating. He had been pursued by Saul, betrayed by those he trusted, and surrounded by enemies many times. His enemies had the numbers, the strength, and the upper hand. He was outmatched—and he knew it.

But in that vulnerable, terrifying space where strength ran out, David found the truest foundation: “The Lord was my support.” God didn’t show up late. He didn’t wait for David to prove his faith. He came when David needed Him most—in the day of his disaster. That’s who God is. He doesn’t just show up for the victory lap; He meets us in the middle of the battle.

David goes on to say, “He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.” After seasons of hiding in caves, running through the wilderness, and sleeping in enemy territory, David now describes what it’s like to breathe again. God doesn’t only rescue us from something, He brings us into something better. A spacious place. A place where we can breathe, grow, and rest. Why does God do it? David says, “Because He delighted in me.” That’s it. God wasn’t obligated. David hadn’t earned His intervention. It was God’s pleasure to rescue the one He loved.

These next verses are bold, and at first glance they might sound self-righteous, but they come from a place of honesty: “The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands He has rewarded me. For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I am not guilty of turning from my God. All His laws are before me; I have not turned away from His decrees. I have been blameless before Him and have kept myself from sin.” David isn’t claiming to be perfect. We know his story. He sinned deeply, and he repented deeply. But here, David’s reflecting on his consistent posture of obedience and repentance. His heart was set on God. Even when he failed, he returned. He didn’t turn away. He didn’t walk in rebellion. He allowed God’s Word to guide him.

What David’s celebrating isn’t his own greatness, but God’s faithfulness in rewarding a sincere and submitted heart. When we live in reverence toward God, when we keep His ways before us and let His truth shape our lives, He honors that. He sees the small choices, the private integrity, the quiet obedience.

“The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in His sight.” Notice how David ends this section with the phrase “in His sight.” Ultimately, God’s the one who sees what’s real and not what others assume about us—not even what we convince ourselves. God sees the heart—the sincerity, the struggle, the repentance, the desire to please Him. And He rewards not perfection, but a heart that stays turned toward Him.

This passage reminds us that God’s not blind to anyone’s battles. He knows when the enemy is too strong for you. He sees the day of disaster. He supports you—not just when you’re strong, but when you’ve reached the end of your strength. And He rescues you not because you’ve earned it, but because He delights in you.

Even when life feels narrow, pressured, and hard, God’s working to bring you into a spacious place—a place of freedom and rest. So, keep your heart anchored in Him. Keep His Word before you. And trust that in His time, He’ll lift you up and reward your faithfulness. Because the God who rescued David is still rescuing today—and He still delights in those who call on His name.

Pause: Take a moment to sit quietly and let God speak to your heart. Are you facing something right now that feels too strong for you?

Practice: Speak this simple truth aloud today: "The Lord is my support. He rescues me because He delights in me." Let that truth anchor your mind when fear or discouragement rises.

Pray: Heavenly Father, I come to You today with a heart that’s humbled and grateful for who You are. Just as You rescued David from enemies too strong for him, I thank You that You’re still the same God who rescues me when I’m overwhelmed, outnumbered, and too weak to fight on my own. I trust You as my defender, my deliverer, and the One who knows me completely. Reward me not according to the world’s standards, but according to Your mercy and righteousness. May my life reflect Your grace and my story proclaim Your faithfulness. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.