God frequently rescues people from danger, suffering and sin, often through human agency.
The source of deliverance
Deliverance comes from God
Psalm 3:8 See also Exodus 3:7–8; Psalm 18:2; Daniel 3:16–17; Jonah 2:9
Salvation belongs to the LORD; may Your blessing be on Your people. Selah
There is no deliverance by other gods
2 Kings 18:33 parallel Isaiah 36:18
There is no escape from God
Deliverance may be declined
Matthew 26:53–54; John 18:36; Hebrews 11:35
Different kinds of deliverance
From danger
1 Samuel 17:37 See also Luke 8:23–24; 2 Corinthians 1:9–10; 2 Timothy 4:17
David added, “The LORD, who delivered me from the claws of the lion and the bear, will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” “Go,” said Saul, “and may the LORD be with you.”
From illness
From trouble
Psalm 34:17, Psalm 34:19, Psalm 54:7
From slavery
From enemies
Jeremiah 38:10–13; Daniel 6:19–22; Luke 1:74; 2 Thessalonians 3:2
From Satan
From the fear of death
From all fears
From sin
Galatians 1:4 See also Psalm 32:7; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Revelation 1:5
who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
From the coming wrath
Luke 3:7; 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:9
Deliverance for God's people
God promises deliverance
Jeremiah 15:11 See also Daniel 12:1
The LORD said: “Surely I will deliver you for a good purpose; surely I will intercede with your enemy in your time of trouble, in your time of distress.
God's people are to pray for deliverance
Matthew 6:13 See also 2 Kings 19:19 parallel Isaiah 37:20; Psalm 59:1–2
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
The means of deliverance
Direct intervention by God
Deliverance by angels
Deliverance by human agency
Genesis 37:17–22; Judges 2:16; Acts 23:16–24
God's people as deliverers
Abraham
Moses
Acts 7:35–36 See also Psalm 77:20
This Moses, whom they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’ is the one whom God sent to be their ruler and redeemer through the angel who appeared to him in the bush. He led them out and performed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, at the Red Sea, and for forty years in the wilderness.
Joshua
The judges
Judges 2:16 See also Judges 3:9, Judges 3:15, Judges 3:31, Judges 4:1–10, Judges 4:23, Judges 6:12, Judges 6:16, Judges 10:1, Judges 11:32, Judges 13:2–5, Judges 13:24–25
Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them from the hands of those who plundered them.
Samuel
Saul
Jonathan
David
Jesus Christ
Luke 4:18–19 See also Isaiah 61:1–2; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 2:14–15
“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Ministers and others through the gospel
Acts 26:17–18; 2 Timothy 2:25–26; James 5:19–20
Gifted Christians
Matthew 10:1 parallel Luke 9:1 See also Mark 16:17; Acts 3:6, Acts 8:6–7, Acts 16:16–18; 1 Corinthians 12:10
And calling His twelve disciples to Him, Jesus gave them authority over unclean spirits, so that they could drive them out and heal every disease and sickness.
The proper response to deliverance
Praise
Delight
Thanksgiving
Psalm 30:11–12, Psalm 106:47, Psalm 107:6–8, Psalm 107:14–15, Psalm 107:20–21, Psalm 107:30–31; Romans 7:24–25
Trust
Obedience
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.