David’s Song of Praise
August 26, 2021
Commentary
This is David’s song of praise and is similar to Psalm 18. In this passage David states the basic principles that the Lord follows in delivering or judging people:
1. He declares why the Lord has delivered him from his enemies (vv.26-30). He tells how God will save the humble but oppose the proud (v. 28). The proud try to put themselves in God’s place, and He will never allow that to happen (Prov. 3:34).
2. He states the extent of the Lord’s deliverance from his enemies (vv. 31-46).
3. He concludes with his resolve to praise his delivering Lord, even among the Gentiles (vv. 47-51)
David was showing how people see God through the filter of their spiritual condition. Believers see God as loving and forgiving. Unrepentant sinners, on the other hand, see God only as a judge and avenger. To those in rebellion, God appears untrustworthy and manipulative. However, God remains what He has always been; holy, just, loving, pure and compassionate.
The Lord did approve of David’s battles and gave him victory wherever he went. God showed himself superior to rival gods and their armies. The remainder of this passage accentuates David’s praise to God for his deliverances (vv. 31-51). David never lost his desire to know and please God and grew close to Lord because of his heart’s desire to spend time alone with Him, Spiritual greatness is born in the presence of God.
Application
The Lord’s desire is for me to spend time with Him each day and I really look forward to my Quiet Time with Him when I first get up each morning. He is teaching me so much!
2 Samuel 22:26– 51 (NET)
26 You prove to be loyal to one who is faithful; you prove to be trustworthy to one who is innocent.
27 You prove to be reliable to one who is blameless, but you prove to be deceptive to one who is perverse.
28 You deliver oppressed people, but you watch the proud and bring them down.
29 Indeed, you are my lamp, Lord. The Lord illumines the darkness around me.
30 Indeed, with your help I can charge against an army; by my God’s power I can jump over a wall.
31 The one true God acts in a faithful manner; the Lord’s promise is reliable; he is a shield to all who take shelter in him.
32 Indeed, who is God besides the Lord? Who is a protector besides our God?
33 The one true God is my mighty refuge; he removes the obstacles in my way.
34 He gives me the agility of a deer; he enables me to negotiate the rugged terrain.
35 He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend even the strongest bow.
36 You give me your protective shield; your willingness to help enables me to prevail.
37 You widen my path; my feet do not slip.
38 I chase my enemies and destroy them; I do not turn back until I wipe them out.
39 I wipe them out and beat them to death; they cannot get up; they fall at my feet.
40 You give me strength for battle; you make my foes kneel before me.
41 You make my enemies retreat; I destroy those who hate me.
42 They cry out, but there is no one to help them; they cry out to the Lord, but he does not answer them.
43 I grind them as fine as the dust of the ground; I crush them and stomp them like clay in the streets.
44 You rescue me from a hostile army; you preserve me as a leader of nations; people over whom I had no authority are now my subjects.
45 Foreigners are powerless before me; when they hear of my exploits, they submit to me.
46 Foreigners lose their courage; they shake with fear as they leave their strongholds.
47 The Lord is alive! My Protector is praiseworthy! The God who delivers me is exalted as king!
48 The one true God completely vindicates me; he makes nations submit to me.
49 He delivers me from my enemies; you snatch me away from those who attack me; you rescue me from violent men.
50 So I will give you thanks, O Lord, before the nations! I will sing praises to you.
51 He gives his king magnificent victories; he is faithful to his chosen ruler, to David and to his descendants forever!”