2Samuel 22 2Samuel 22:1–51 A Royal Psalm of Thanksgiving These studies are designed for believers in Jesus Christ only. If you have exercised faith in Christ, then you are in the right place. If you have not, then you need to heed the words of our Lord, Who said, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten [or, uniquely-born] Son, so that every [one] believing [or, trusting] in Him shall not perish, but shall be have eternal life! For God did not send His Son into the world so that He should judge the world, but so that the world shall be saved through Him. The one believing [or, trusting] in Him is not judged, but the one not believing has already been judged, because he has not believed in the Name of the only-begotten [or, uniquely-born] Son of God.” (John 3:16–18). “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life! No one comes to the Father except through [or, by means of] Me!” (John 14:6). Every study of the Word of God ought to be preceded by a naming of your sins to God. This restores you to fellowship with God (1John 1:8–10). If there are people around, you would name these sins silently. If there is no one around, then it does not matter if you name them silently or whether you speak aloud. These exegetical studies are not designed for you to read each and every word. For instance, the Hebrew exegesis is put into greyish tables, so that if you want to skip over them, that is fine. If you question a translation, you can always refer back to the appropriate Hebrew tables to sort it all out. The intent is to make this particular study the most complete and most accurate examination of 2Samuel 22 which is available in writing. The idea is to make every phrase, verse and passage understandable; and to make application of all that is studied. Besides teaching you the doctrinal principles related to this chapter, this commentary is also to help bring this narrative to life, so that you can understand the various characters, their motivations, and the choices that they make. Ideally, you will be able to visualize the peoples and armies as they move across the landscape of the Land of Promise. 2Samuel 22:2–3 “Jehovah is my Rock-cliff and my fortress; and He is my Deliverer. He is the God of my Rock and I take refuge in Him. He is both my shield and the horn of my salvation; He is my stronghold and my refuge; furthermore, He is my Savior. J. Vernon McGee: God has brought you up to this moment, friend; why in the world do you think he is going to let you down now? God's loving care for David in the past gives him confidence in the future.1 Kukis: As a believer in Jesus Christ, once you have begun to mature, you will see a variety of changes which take place in your life, and you will see how God, through His Word, has guided you through your life. There may be nothing by way of a miraculous nature in your life; but, if you are a growing believer, the clear hand of God should be something that you can see and recognize. 1 From https://archive.org/stream/10-2Samuel/10-2Samuel_djvu.txt accessed April 1, 2014. 7931 The Book of Samuel L. M. Grant: This chapter presents David's song of triumph after God had subdued all his enemies under him.2 Peter Pett: [This] section [of Samuel] now focuses in on the God of Deliverance Himself. Its purpose is to make clear that the background to all that has been described in the book of Samuel has been that of God acting invisibly but effectively in deliverance. It is that fact that has been the secret of David's outwitting of Saul, and it that fact that has been the secret of all his victories over his enemies. Thus in the Psalm that now follows we are given an insider's view of the effective, invisible activity of God working on David's behalf.3 Youngblood: "It has long been recognized that 2Samuel 22 is not only one of the oldest major poems in the OT but also that, because Psalms 18 parallels it almost verbatim, it is a key passage for the theory and practice of OT textual criticism."4 Dr. Thomas Constable: This is a psalm of declarative praise for what God had done for David. It reflects David's rich spiritual life. While David focused attention on the Lord more than on himself, his emphasis was on the blessings Yahweh had bestowed on him.5 The Expositor's Bible Commentary: It is quite like David; at the conclusion of his military enterprises, to cast his eye gratefully over the whole, and acknowledge the goodness and mercy that had followed him all along. Unlike many, he was as careful to thank God for mercies past and present as to entreat Him for mercies to come.6 The Expositor's Bible Commentary: [David’s] sufferings and deliverances are indicated, but they are but prophetic of Jesus Christ, whose sufferings and whose victory are foreshadowed in David's life and experience. The great deliverance psalm includes therefore prophetically the story of David's greater Son, our Lord Jesus Chris.7 Therefore, I celebrate You, O Jehovah, before the nations and I sing praises regarding Your name. He gives salvation to His king and He manufactures grace to His anointed, to David and to his seed forever.” (2Sam. 22:50–51) Outline of Chapter 22:8 Introduction vv. 1–2a Prose setup vv. 2b–4 God is David’s Strength and Salvation vv. 5–7 David Calling for God When in Personal Disaster vv. 8–13 God Comes Down from Heaven to Execute Judgment vv. 14–16 God’s Judgments Upon the Earth vv. 17–20 God Delivers David vv. 21–25 David’s Fidelity to the Ways of God vv. 26–28 God’s Interaction with Mankind 2 From http://www.studylight.org/com/lmg/view.cgi?bk=9&ch=22 accessed April 4, 2014. 3 From http://www.studylight.org/com/pet/view.cgi?bk=9&ch=22 accessed April 3, 2014; emphasis mine. 4 From http://www.studylight.org/com/dcc/view.cgi?bk=9&ch=22 accessed April 4, 2014. 5 From http://www.studylight.org/com/dcc/view.cgi?bk=9&ch=22 accessed April 4, 2014. 6 From http://www.studylight.org/com/teb/view.cgi?bk=9&ch=22 accessed April 4, 2014. 7 From http://www.studylight.org/com/teb/view.cgi?bk=9&ch=22 accessed April 4, 2014 (slightly edited). 8 This is a very long psalm, and I depended mostly upon the NKJV and the Open Bible to organize this chapter. New King James Version; Thomas Nelson Publishers; ©1994; pp 290–292. The Open Bible; the New Living Translation; Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, TN; ©1996, pp. 434–435. 2Samuel 22 7932 vv. 29–31 God Shows David the Way vv. 32–35 God Directly Impacts David’s Life vv. 36–37 God Preserves and Protects David vv. 38–43 David Destroys His Enemies with God’s Power vv. 44–46 David Rules Under God’s Power vv. 47–49 It is God Who Makes David who he is vv. 50–51 Gratitude and Praise to God from the Psalmist Addendum Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines: Introduction The Principals of 2Samuel 22 Introduction The Prequel of 2Samuel 22 Introduction The Abbreviated Davidic Timeline Introduction A Synopsis of 2Samuel 22 Introduction Dr. Thomas Constable’s Epigrammatic Outline for 2Samuel 22 Introduction Arno Gaebelein’s Outline of 2Samuel 22 Introduction Two Views of the Differences Between 2Samuel 22 and Psalm 18 v. 1 Why There Is 2Samuel 22 AND Psalm 18 in the Bible v. 2 The Abbreviated Doctrine of the Rock in the Old Testament v. 2 2Samuel 22:2 Graphic v. 3 Contrasting the Hebrew Words for “Rock” v. 3 2Samuel 22:2–3a Graphic v. 3 2Samuel 22:2–3 Graphic v. 3 Summarizing 2Samuel 22:2–3 v. 7 The Trinity in the Old Testament (the Abbreviated Version) v. 7 The Doctrine of Omnipresence of God v. 7 2Samuel 22:7 Graphic v. 8 The Dual Authorship of the Holy Scriptures v. 8 David and the Key to 2Samuel 22 v. 13 2Samuel 22:8–13 Expressed as a Chiasmos v. 17 2Samuel 22:17 Graphic v. 20 L. J. Hooge Presents 2Samuel 22:1–20 as a Chiasmos v. 21 2Samuel 22:21 Graphic v. 23 The Meaning of Mishemereth v. 23 The Ordinances or Statutes of God v. 23 Explaining 2Samuel 22:23 in the Light of David’s Sin Nature v. 24 Understanding Tâmîym in the Context of 2Samuel 22:24 v. 24 The Abbreviated Doctrine of Rebound (Confession of Personal Sin) v. 25 2Samuel 22:21–25: A Short Chiasmos v. 29 God and Light v. 29 2Samuel 22:29 Graphic v. 30 2Samuel 22:30 Graphic v. 31 2Samuel 22:31a Graphic v. 31 2Samuel 22:31 Graphic v. 32 A Chart of the Transliterated Names of God v. 33 2Samuel 22:33 Graphic v. 34 2Samuel 22:34 Graphic v. 37 2Samuel 22:37 Graphic v. 40 2Samuel 22:40 Graphic v. 43 2Samuel 22:43 Graphic 7933 The Book of Samuel v.