2 Samuel 22:1
David's song here is similar to Psalm 18. While the song is written about a specific time, there is no time line for when it was written; although many think it must have been written early in David's reign prior to Bathsheba. The Psalm may well have been written then, but David can still sing it and it is recorded in the scripture associating it with an older aged David. From this we get a pretty good picture of David's view of God. It also serves as a highlight of David's relationship with God over the years.
2 Samuel 22:2-4
David saw God as sovereign and purposeful; willing to chasten him but also to deliver him from the evil, from his enemies and those who sought to put him down. David saw God as his strong tower, fortress, deliverer and rock. These are very picturesque words. When David was on the run from Saul he had no home, no fortress, nothing but the wilderness. He found strength and security in the Lord. God was his hiding place and safe haven. God was his nightwatch, rear guard and lookout. God provided his battle plan, provisions and reinforcements.
2 Samuel 22:5-7
David describes the most helpless and hopeless situation where he was looking at his own demise. He felt like he was in the grip of death when the Lord suddenly showed up and made a way for him to be delivered. David cried out; God heard. It is important that we learn to call out to the Lord in times of distress. We learn this by calling out to him in the good times also. We make communication with God the pattern of our life so it's no surprise and comes quite natural to call out to Him in distress.
2 Samuel 22:8-20
Wow! This is amazing language. When David's cry entered the ears of God things began to happen. The picture is of God moving heaven and earth to answer the cry of His children. At the threat against David, God was angered. This is no passive anger but clearly brings the thought of 'woe' and 'wrath' to mind. David speaks of God coming down on the wings of the angel cloaked in darkness but even in darkness the light of God kindled fires.
This is very poetic language and also leads to believe David is speaking of God moving and being visible in some form in an actual event. When was this? Where? We don't know for sure, but we can be sure that God rescued David in a way that could not be mistaken as anythign other than God delivering him in a miraculous and dramatic way. God not only saved David but He delivered him to a broad place; this is a wide open place of safety. David said this was because God delighted in him.
2 Samuel 22:21-25
Most believe this verse means David couldn't have written this after the incident with Bathsheba. Yet, David may be looking back and seeing how God dealth with in those days. It's good to remember the way God has blessed us previously to draw strength in the present.
David's righteousness wasn't perfection but a 'right standing' with God. Our relationship isn't based on our goodness but on the goodness of God. No matter how much we mess up; if our hearts are inclined to Him, he will love us and guide us; chasten and grow. If, however, we aren't broken and contrite, it doesn't matter how 'good' we think we are, God will break us to bring us back to Him with a broken and contrite heart. Someone once said, "God will take a man; God will break a man; so God can make a man."
We can never hold God in debt; thinking we were good and didn't sin so God might owe us something. We are to live in obedience and reverence of our heavenly Father. In doing so, God wants to bless us in so many ways. He really does this and as we grow we recognize more and more ways in which He does this. It's not money and checks in the mail; it's simple things, sunrises, rainbows, special people in your life, children, a quiet moment when you hear God speak to you. He loves to surprise us so we have to pay attention because He's always up to something.
2 Samuel 22:26-28
God seems to return on us what we bring to Him. If we come haughty and proud resisting Him, He will resist us and break us. If, however, we come broken and merciful, He will return His mercy on us. It certainly sounds like good advice to approach God with a right attitude and right heart.
2 Samuel 22:29-37
In this section we see how God affects David's personal life. He is a personal (My light) to David. God allowed him to run and leap in ways he couldn't account for. He knew God was strengthening him and guiding him. God's ways and words have never failed. Even when it seems to make no sense, remembering this fact and trusting in Him brings God's protection on your life.
There were many so called gods around. They supposedly ruled this and that. David had learned they were nothing; no gods at all. He knew that Yahweh was God alone and everything answered to Him.
2 Samuel 22:38-46
David had put himself in God's hands. He had trusted him and made him self and his life available to Him. God had taken David, a shepherd boy, and made him king. God had conquered giants and great armies. He had done many things amazing things. And, in his older years, David would say God would have done more had he remained faithful and kept himself from sin. David's life took a drastic detour and this must have broken God's heart.
David highlights how God has worked in his life and he seems to find it difficult to believe God did all that through him.
2 Samuel 22:47-51
David ends the Psalm with blessing and exaltation of God. Can there be any mistake? He lives, He reigns, He moves in the lives of those that love Him and seek Him. He loves for us to bring that praise back to Him and be thankful for all that He's done.
©2016 Doug Ford
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