Series: Blessed Be
*2 Samuel 22:2-4 ESV
2 Samuel 22:5-7 ESV
2 Samuel 22:8-20 ESV
Background: I Samuel 21-30, I Samuel 17:1-58, I Samuel 13:1
David suffered many great trials in his life especially from the time of his youth until the time when he was crowned King of Israel.
We know from I Samuel 21-30 that young David, the shepherd boy suffered many trials as he fled from jealous King Saul.
He escaped from mighty King Saul when he was in the cities of Keilah, Zion, and Maon.
While he was in Keilah David saved the people from the mighty Philistines. We read about David’s encounter with Goliath the mighty Philistine in 1 Samuel 17:1-58.
In his travel as he ran from Saul and Saul’s men he made up a story about being on a special mission, he pretended to be crazy, and he hid in caves to stay alive. We must remember David was young.
I Samuel 21-31 took place from 1018-1014 B.C.
David was born in 1040 B.C. so King Saul began pursuing David when he was in his early twenties. David was considered to be a young man. We know from I Samuel 13:1 that Saul became King when he was 30 years old. He reigned for forty two years.
According to those dates Saul would have been around 75 years old when he died around 1000 B.C.
In 1000 B.C. David would have been around forty years old when he became King. We remember David was chosen as a shepherd boy to be king but he did not assume the throne for several years. During that time for approximately fifteen years he was running from King Saul and his men.
The Songs of David reveal where David found his strength as he ran, as he fought the mighty giant Goliath, and as he waited many years for God to prepare him to be King of Israel.
We have to remember that through all the trials and tribulations as David waited, God was preparing him to be king. While it would have been very difficult for young David to be constantly on the run and away from his boyhood home, it was necessary. God wasn’t only thinking of Israel, God was thinking of David who would be a great king.
As we read David’s song that he wrote, we can see God at work in David’s life.
In 2 Samuel 22:2-4 he sang to God:
“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.”
As David sang he remembered God had been his fortress and deliverer. He knew God was his rock, his ever present refuge and his deliverer as he continuously ran from Saul.
David knew it was God who was his salvation, his shield, and that God saved him from violent attacks.
In 2 Samuel 22:5-7 David sang,
“For the waves of death encompassed me, the torrents of destruction assailed me;
the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I called. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry came to his ears.”
As David wrote and sang the words to mighty Yahweh God, he recounted the times he was close to death and he was faced with destruction. It’s clear from the words in the song that David felt evil and death were ever so close as he ran from his evil pursuers.
Yet at the same time we know from verse 7 that David remembered crying out to God and being heard. David was certain that God heard his voice and God remembered him.
Then as David’s song continued in 2 Samuel 22:8-20 we know:
(8) “Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations of the heavens trembled and quaked, because he was angry.
(9) Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him.
(10) He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under his feet.
(11) He rode on a cherub and flew; he was seen on the wings of the wind.
(12) He made darkness around him his canopy, thick clouds, a gathering of water.
(13) Out of the brightness before him coals of fire flamed forth.
(14) The Lord thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered his voice.
(15) And he sent out arrows and scattered them; lightning, and routed them.
(16) Then the channels of the sea were seen; the foundations of the world were laid bare,at the rebuke of the Lord, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.
(17) “He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters.
(18) He rescued me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.
(19) They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my support.
(20) He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.”
Not only did God hear David, God responded (verses 9-20).
God rescued the afflicted who were mighty.
God supported him.
God brought him to a place of safety.
David’s song in 2 Samuel 22:8-20 gave testament to God’s protection and salvation.
Even when we may have felt forgotten or overwhelmed, think of David’s Song and remember…
Spiritual Practice: Write
Write a modern day story (to yourself) or a song based on David’s song.
In God, Deborah
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