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2 Samuel 22 The Rebellion of Sheba

1 David’s Song of Praise
David sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.

2 He said:
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;

3 my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield and the horn of my salvation.
He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—
from violent men you save me.

4 I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.

5 “The waves of death swirled about me;
the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.

6 The cords of the grave coiled around me;
the snares of death confronted me.

7 In my distress I called to the Lord;
I called out to my God.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came to his ears.

8 “The earth trembled and quaked,
the foundations of the heavens shook;
they trembled because he was angry.

9 Smoke rose from his nostrils;
consuming fire came from his mouth,
burning coals blazed out of it.

10 He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds were under his feet.

11 He mounted the cherubim and flew;
he soared on the wings of the wind.

12 He made darkness his canopy around him—
the dark rain clouds of the sky.

13 Out of the brightness of his presence
bolts of lightning blazed forth.

14 The Lord thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.

15 He shot arrows and scattered the enemies,
bolts of lightning and routed them.

16 The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at the rebuke of the Lord,
at the blast of breath from his nostrils.

17 “He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.

18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.

19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the Lord was my support.

20 He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.

21 “The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.

22 For I have kept the ways of the Lord;
I have not done evil by turning from my God.

23 All his laws are before me;
I have not turned away from his decrees.

24 I have been blameless before him
and have kept myself from sin.

25 The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
according to my cleanness in his sight.

26 “To the faithful you show yourself faithful,
to the blameless you show yourself blameless,

27 to the pure you show yourself pure,
but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.

28 You save the humble,
but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low.

29 You are my lamp, O Lord;
the Lord turns my darkness into light.

30 With your help I can advance against a troop;
with my God I can scale a wall.

31 “As for God, his way is perfect;
the word of the Lord is flawless.
He is a shield
for all who take refuge in him.

32 For who is God besides the Lord?
And who is the Rock except our God?

33 It is God who arms me with strength
and makes my way perfect.

34 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he enables me to stand on the heights.

35 He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

36 You give me your shield of victory;
you stoop down to make me great.

37 You broaden the path beneath me,
so that my ankles do not turn.

38 “I pursued my enemies and crushed them;
I did not turn back till they were destroyed.

39 I crushed them completely, and they could not rise;
they fell beneath my feet.

40 You armed me with strength for battle;
you made my adversaries bow at my feet.

41 You made my enemies turn their backs in flight,
and I destroyed my foes.

42 They cried for help, but there was no one to save them—
to the Lord, but he did not answer.

43 I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth;
I pounded and trampled them like mud in the streets.

44 “You have delivered me from the attacks of my people;
you have preserved me as the head of nations.
People I did not know are subject to me,

45 and foreigners come cringing to me;
as soon as they hear me, they obey me.

46 They all lose heart;
they come trembling from their strongholds.

47 “The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock!
Exalted be God, the Rock, my Savior!

48 He is the God who avenges me,
who puts the nations under me,

49 who sets me free from my enemies.
You exalted me above my foes;
from violent men you rescued me.

50 Therefore I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations;
I will sing praises to your name.

51 He gives his king great victories;
he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed,
to David and his descendants forever.”

Previous Chapter 2 Samuel 21 Next Chapter 2 Samuel 23

Analysis of 2 Samuel Chapter 22

2 Samuel Chapter 22 is one of the most spiritually uplifting and poetically rich chapters in the entire Bible, an illustrious hymn attributed to King David. This chapter captures David’s profound sense of gratitude towards God for His deliverance from enemies and difficult circumstances. It mirrors Psalm 18 almost word for word, and hence, provides significant theological and inspirational insights. Here, David poetizes his relationship with God with vivid imagery, metaphorical language, and heartfelt praise, making it a vital chapter for understanding Biblical themes of faith, deliverance, and divine providence.

Verses 1-4: A Declaration of Praise

In the opening verses, David begins with a declaration of praise to God:

“David sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said: ‘The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior— from violent people you save me. I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and have been saved from my enemies.'”

David immediately acknowledges God as his protector and savior using various powerful metaphors—rock, fortress, deliverer, refuge, shield, horn of salvation, stronghold, and savior. Each of these terms describes different aspects of God’s protective and salvific role. By using such varied imagery, David emphasizes the multifaceted nature of God’s protection.

The phrase “horn of my salvation” is significant as it symbolizes power and strength; the horn being an emblem of might in Biblical symbolism. David’s initial acknowledgment sets a tone of gratitude and establishes the central theme: divine deliverance in times of distress.

Verses 5-7: The Peril and the Cry

David then recounts the dangers and his subsequent plea to God:

“The waves of death swirled about me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress, I called to the Lord; I called out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears.”

These verses poetically depict the dire situations David faced, likened to engulfing waters, binding ropes, and snares of death. This vivid language conveys the intensity of his tribulations and the desperate nature of his cries for divine intervention.

It is worth noting that despite the overwhelming nature of his distress, David’s act of calling upon God underscores his unwavering faith. His acknowledgment that God heard his plea “from his temple” further indicates the immediate and attentive response of a personal and present God.

Verses 8-16: The Theophany

In these verses, David describes a dramatic depiction of God’s intervention:

“The earth trembled and quaked, the foundations of the heavens shook; they trembled because he was angry. Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it. He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet. He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind. He made darkness his canopy around him—the dark rain clouds of the sky. Out of the brightness of his presence bolts of lightning blazed forth. The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded. He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy, with great bolts of lightning he routed them. The valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at the rebuke of the Lord, at the blast of breath from his nostrils.”

This vivid depiction of God’s intervention employs theophany—a manifestation of God that is powerful and awe-inspiring. The imagery of trembling earth, smoke, fire, and lightning elevates the narrative from a personal experience to a cosmic battle. It suggests that God’s response to David’s plea was not just spiritual but manifested physically in nature’s convulsions.

The utter sovereignty and supremacy of God are depicted through these cataclysmic events, emphasizing His control over the universe and his unfathomable power to protect and deliver His faithful ones. This vivid description evokes both awe and reverence for the power and majesty of God.

Verses 17-20: Divine Deliverance

David continues by recounting God’s deliverance:

“He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.”

These verses shift from portraying the grandeur of God’s intervention to focusing on the intimate and personal experience of deliverance. The metaphor “deep waters” again signifies overwhelming trouble from which David was rescued. Despite the strength and numbers of his enemies, it is God’s support that prevails. The concept of God “delighting” in David highlights a profound relational aspect of God’s care and intervention.

The “spacious place” symbolizes freedom, safety, and relief from oppression, further underscoring God’s ability and willingness to transform dire circumstances into boundless spaces of peace and security.

Verses 21-28: Divine Justice and Relationship

David attributes his deliverance to his righteousness:

“The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me. For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I am not guilty of turning from my God. All his laws are before me; I have not turned away from his decrees. I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin. The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight. To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the devious you show yourself shrewd. You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low.”

In these verses, David reflects on the principle of divine justice. He believes his deliverance is closely tied to his righteousness and adherence to God’s commands. It’s essential to interpret this within the larger theological understanding that while human righteousness is significant, it is God’s grace and covenantal faithfulness that ultimately enable and reward human faithfulness.

The reciprocal relationship outlined here—faithfulness for faithfulness, blamelessness for blamelessness—highlights God’s consistent and fair dealings with humanity. However, the mention of God’s shrewdness towards the devious and His rejection of the proud reinforces the idea that God values humility and integrity.

Verses 29-37: God as Deliverer and Defender

“You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You make your saving help my shield; your help has made me great. You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way.”

These verses further elaborate on God’s provision and protection. The metaphor of God as a lamp turning darkness into light portrays divine guidance and illumination, which is spiritually uplifting and comforting. David attributes military successes and personal strength to God’s intervention, emphasizing that human capabilities are enhanced by divine aid.

The description of God’s way as perfect and His word as flawless reinforces the idea of divine reliability and trustworthiness, establishing a foundation of faith for believers. This section is rich in physical and military imagery, reflecting David’s life as a warrior king, and also metaphorically illustrates spiritual warfare where God equips and empowers His followers.

Verses 38-43: Victory Over Enemies

“I pursued my enemies and crushed them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed. I crushed them completely, and they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet. You armed me with strength for battle; you humbled my adversaries before me. You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed my foes. They cried for help, but there was no one to save them—to the Lord, but he did not answer. I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth; I pounded and trampled them like mud in the streets.”

David details his triumph over his enemies, attributing his success to divine empowerment. This passage emphasizes God’s role in granting David the strength and strategy to achieve victory. The imagery of enemies being “crushed completely” and turned to “dust of the earth” signifies total and utter defeat, displaying the extent of divine deliverance.

The desperateness of the enemies, crying out for help, but receiving none, serves to highlight the futility of opposition against God’s anointed. It underscores the ultimate sovereignty of God in all conflicts, validating David’s kingship and God’s backing.

Verses 44-46: Establishment and Praise

“You have delivered me from the attacks of the people; you have preserved me as the head of nations. People I did not know now serve me, foreigners cower before me; as soon as they hear of me, they obey me. They all lose heart; they come trembling from their strongholds.”

These verses recognize God’s role in not only delivering David but also in establishing his rule. The acknowledgment that foreign nations now serve and obey him points to divine favor in expanding his influence and authority. This reflects the broader aspiration of Israel being a light to other nations under God’s covenant.

David’s victories and the response of foreign peoples signify a broader divine purpose in establishing peace and order through David’s reign, fulfilling aspects of the Abrahamic covenant by expanding Israel’s influence.

Verses 47-51: Concluding Praise

“The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be my God, the Rock, my Savior! He is the God who avenges me, who puts the nations under me, who sets me free from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from a violent man you rescued me. Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name. He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever.”

The final verses serve as a grand doxology, exalting God for His living presence and continuous deliverance. The repetition of God as “Rock” highlights His reliability and unchanging nature. David’s recognition of God as the avenger and the one who subjugates nations under him speaks to divine justice and the establishment of David’s rightful place.

The concluding promise of God showing unfailing kindness to David and his descendants forever points to the Davidic Covenant—God’s eternal promise to sustain David’s lineage. This everlasting covenant prefigures the messianic expectation, eventually fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

2 Samuel Chapter 22 is a profound testament of David’s faith and God’s relentless grace and power. It seamlessly interweaves themes of personal deliverance, divine justice, guidance, and ultimate sovereignty. This chapter elevates David’s individual experiences while painting a broader theological picture of God’s relationship with humanity. It is a chronicle of faith rewarded and chaos subdued by divine intervention, offering readers a poignant reminder of God’s omnipotence and unwavering support in their lives.