Enlarged in Pressure - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2025

When I call, answer me, O God of my righteousness: in pressure Thou hast enlarged me; be gracious unto me, and hear my prayer.
Psalm 4:1

Enlarged in Pressure
Psalm 4 was written by King David. We do not know the exact circumstances which gave rise to the psalm. There were many times in David's life when he experienced pressure. Even though he had been anointed king by Samuel, he lived the life of a fugitive with many close calls and narrow escapes. At times it seemed as if he was surrounded by his enemies and that the walls were closing in around him—pressure indeed.

In the natural order of things in the physical world, when objects are placed under pressure there is the tendency for the object to contract or shrink in size. This is not hard to understand; it is simply the physics of the matter.

In spiritual things, however, the case is different. Humanly speaking, David could have complained that his situation was unfair: even though he was the true king, he had to flee from cave to cave. There were times when his own followers questioned him and his enemies raised false accusations against him, but he had no way to address that situation. David says that instead of the pressure constricting and contracting him, it had "enlarged" him! Trials— even though unpleasant—will enlarge us spiritually in the long run (Rom. 5:3-5).

There is a "gospel" abroad in the land which is really a "different gospel" (Gal. 1:6), but it is surprisingly common. It goes something like this: "If you believe in Jesus Christ you will get rich, you will have a big house, you will never get sick, and never experience a tragedy or trouble." However, the Lord Jesus said that in the world you will have tribulation (Jn. 16:33). Do not fear, dear saint, for these things can only enlarge you.

Brian Reynolds