The Lord will rescue. Psalm 34:22
Kevin McKay drove the school bus along gridlocked, dark roads as pockets of fire burned all around. Nearly two dozen elementary school children were on board with him. Smoke began to fill the bus, so McKay took off a shirt. He and two teachers on the bus tore it into pieces and doused them with water. The children held the damp pieces of cloth to their mouths and breathed through them. He had only been on the job, driving the bus for Ponderosa Elementary School in the northern California city of Paradise, for a few months. Now, McKay was ferrying the 22 stranded children to safety as the fire scorched everything in its path. It would take five harrowing hours for them to reach safety. Family members of most other students had already picked up their children. But nearly two dozen students were stranded because their family members hadn’t made it to the school. McKay discussed evacuating the students with Ponderosa’s principal. Two teachers, Abbie Davis and Mary Ludwig, evacuated with McKay and the students. As they drove away from the school on roads thick with smoke, the bus became stuck in the gridlock of vehicles trying to leave Paradise. Should they abandon the bus, they wondered? Davis said she thought she was going to die several times along the journey. At one point, they prayed, Ludwig said. Hours later, parents and children were reunited. McKay said Davis’ husband hugged him so hard, he “near lifted me off the ground.” This particular fire was one of the deadliest and most destructive fire in California history. Recounting their escape, McKay was modest. But Davis and Ludwig said McKay was a true hero. “We had the ‘bus driver from heaven,’ Ludwig said.”[1]
This incredible story of rescue, of a rescuer, and of the joy of those rescued illustrates the narrative of God’s intervening love for mankind. In the face of man’s greatest need, and under the threat of man’s greatest danger, there came a rescuer. This is the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God sent His Son. God stepped into our darkness and rescued us.
From a song of David, we have a powerful reminder of God our rescuer.
The Lord will rescue His servants; no one who takes refuge in Him will be condemned. (Psalm 34:22)
Looking into the Verse (the terminology):
The literal meaning of rescue is “to redeem.” The primary sense is “to buy, or to ransom.” But the fuller meaning does not stop at the meaning of “purchase”, but rather a rescue from danger and death by the interposition of power and providence. In David’s song, God interposed in David’s dark moment and offered His divine power to redeem, and His providence to meet every need. This is the rescue and redemption of God: His power and providence in our lives.
Looking historically into the narrative of Psalm 34:
The immediate context from David’s words represents a song of celebration for God’s rescue, so we learn much in the historical narrative from which David’s words came. The history of Psalm 34 referenced the fears of David when sojourning from Judah to live among the land of the Philistines. Even when David’s faith was weak, God delivered Him. And so, David celebrated in song God as rescuer and deliverer.
Looking unto the Christ:
God in Christ has purchased us from the slave block of sin. His price knew no limits as He gave His only son. In His power, He overcame sin, the grave, and hell itself. In His providence, He saves completely. All of this characterizes the idea of rescue throughout the whole of the Scriptures. This action, God rescuing us, speaks as much about God’s character as His activity. Our God is our rescuer.
Although freedom from suffering is never promised, God’s ultimate and eternal salvation is indeed the church’s proclamation of hope. Our God saves.
Today, join the Psalmist David in celebrating that we are rescued. We are delivered through Jesus Christ from sin, death, and hell.
If you have trusted in Jesus, you have been rescued. You have a rescuer. Worship Him this day! Celebrate as one rescued!
Blessings.
[1] Paul Vercammen, Eliott C. McLaughlin and Darran Simon, ‘’Bus driver from heaven’ rescued young children from California wildfire’ CNN (11-19-18)
