Verse 16
Out of the strait into a broad place.
An invitation to straitened souls
What is literally straitness? The word “strait” means “narrow.” The place between two mountains or two seas is a strait or narrow passage. A strait implies a difficulty of choice. “I am in a strait betwixt two.” We say of a man, when he cannot pay his debts, that he is in straitened circumstances. Other countries have similar terms. In Scotland they say “pinched,” or “hampered,” in America that “he has a hard row to hoe,” alluding to the hoeing of sugar or corn. We say a man is in a strait when he has a large family and a small income. As strait places are unpleasant in temporal circumstances, they are also unpleasant in spiritual affairs. Then pray “Bring me out of a strait place tonight.”
1. One reason is, that the grand design of Christ may be answered.
2. Another reason is, that our heavenly Father wants to take us into a broad place.
3. His desire is, that we should be contented with all our circumstances. “Contentment is great gain.” (J. Caughey.)
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