David’s Song
2 Samuel 22:1-32
Introduction
David wrote many songs of praise to the Lord. This one is included at the end of 2 Samuel and
is repeated in much the same form in Psalm 18. The song is a song of praise and thanksgiving to
the Lord. It can be separated into two broad themes; thanksgiving for being saved from his
enemies (vv.1-32); and thanksgiving for being set over his enemies (vv. 33-51).
Harold Willmington (The Outline Bible p.122) outlines as follows:
God’s Protection (vv.2-7)
God’s Power (vv.8-16)
God’s Provision (vv.17-25)
God’s Perfect Justice (vv.26-28)
God’s Proven Dependability (vv.29-32)
When did David write this song? Scholars are divided. Some think David wrote this after
Nathan’s visit to David when David suggested building the temple. Others have suggested
David wrote the song late in life. Chuck Swindoll believes it might even be David’s last song.
The song had a tremendous impact on Jews in ever age. “. . .It was part of the “Haphtarah” or
lessons from the prophets, appointed to be read in the synagogue of the Jews on the Sabbath in
conjunction with Deuteronomy 32, a passage from the Law” (see Winter--Studies in Samuel;
College Press p. 595). The Psalm was also read by Spanish Jews on the Sabbath Day of the
Passover celebration.
The more we learn about David the more we learn about ourselves. He is no alabaster statue
with a golden halo. He is a man. Imperfect--passionate with lights as well as shadows in his
character. But--David loved the Lord and made himself available to the Lord. David
relinquished the right to his own life--career and talents.
David was a poet, prophet and king. David learned to trust the Lord in what most would
consider impossible circumstances. David failed on a number of occasions but God never failed
David. All of us experience things that become “major” or life defining moments; for some it
takes the form of childhood abuse; or others events in marriage, divorce, death, catastrophic
illness or major disappointment. David has experienced the premature death of children, their
rebellion, his own infidelity and murder. Another major blow that knocked David to his knees
was the catastrophic famine that plagued the land of Israel. Then there was the ever present
threat of war from neighbors--with most of the sorrow coming from the age old enemies we have
come to call Philistines. David was exhausted (see 2 Samuel 21:15). Disappointment, disease,
death--it can start to weary even the strongest. Yet David does not sing the blues.
Are you experiencing a hard time? “For David it was a time of violence (v.3); a time when
“torrents of destruction overwhelmed him (v.5). David sang the song when the world was
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David’s Song
2 Samuel 22:1-32
collapsing, when he was surrounded by frightening foes and powerful enemies (vv.18-19)” (see
Swindoll p. 264).
Augustine pointed out “Ye have enemies: for who can live on this earth without them? Take
heed to yourselves: love them. In no way can thy enemy so hurt thee by his violence, as thou
dost hurt thyself if thou love him not.”
The Lord’s Gracious Deliverance (vv.1-20)
2 Samuel 22:1 (NKJV) Then David spoke to the Lord the words of this song, on the day when the
Lord had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul.
The enemies can refer either to people or trials or temptations that are committed to our defeat or
destruction. When life brings lemons we make lemonade. Diamonds are coal (carbon) under
intense heat and pressure. When life is tough God is our refuge. He is our security. In a world
subject to change the Lord is unchanging.
When you stand for Jesus there are those who will stand against Jesus. When you stand for truth
there are those who will stand against you. “Beware when all men speak well of you.” It is
hard to live without offending some. Offenses take many forms; some people will become angry
with us or bitter towards us; some may hate us or despise us. Some may even seek to harm us.
But wicked men and women are not the only enemies we face. The Bible teaches the Devil
means us harm; the Bible teaches that a world system seeks to squeeze us into its mold (Rom.
12:1-2). Take you pick; fatigue, exhaustion, anxiety, distress, torment, physical or sexual abuse,
loneliness, depression, lack of purpose or direction, immoral thoughts or deeds, addictions,
illness or disease, accidents, financial difficulties, social circumstances, unemployment,
pornography, the death of a loved one. What is your hope of escape and deliverance? Some side
with self, reason, government, friends, family, some simply embrace despair. For David the
setting of the song celebrates the Lord’s deliverance.
God’s Protection (vv.2-7)
2 Samuel 22:2 (NKJV) And he said: The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
2 Samuel 22:3 (NKJV)
horn of my salvation,
violence.
The God of my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the
My stronghold and my refuge;
My Savior, You save me from
Horn carried the idea of power.
2 Samuel 22:4 (NKJV)
I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies.
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David praised the Lord for His willingness to hear and answer prayer! What is even more
remarkable is God’s willingness to hear when David faced death or grave sorrow or urgent
distress.
Some enemies are so fierce or powerful or persistent that no man can help. Peter writes (1
Peter 3:12) “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open to their
prayers; but the face the Lord is against them that do evil”.
David was no stranger to deliverance. He had experienced God’s protection time and time again.
Guzik:
God delivered David from Goliath
God delivered David from Saul
God delivered David from backsliding
God delivered David from Israel’s enemies
God delivered David from Absalom
God delivered David from David’s own sinful passions
2 Samuel 22:7 (NKJV)
In my distress I called upon the Lord,
And cried out to my God;
He heard my voice from His temple,
And my cry entered His ears.
David describes a God who hears our cries and responds!
The philosophers have spoken of the Watchmaker God--who builds His universe and winds up
His universe and walks away from His universe! Ancient peoples in every culture and in every
location have believed in a Deity or deities; the deity responds on the basis of whim or desire.
But even in ancient days people believed the deities were far too busy to bother with them. They
had important things to do. The Bible speaks of a God who is great and has the ability to order
all things down to the most minute detail. This includes not only the ability to hear; but a
willingness to hear and a willingness to answer and a willingness to love!
God’s Power (vv.8-16)
2 Samuel 22:8 (NKJV)
Then the earth shook and trembled;
quaked and were shaken,
Because He was angry.
The foundations of heaven
God has the power to shake heaven and earth.
2 Samuel 22:9 (NKJV)
Smoke went up from His nostrils,
mouth;
Coals were kindled by it.
2 Samuel 22:12 (NKJV)
And devouring fire from His
He made darkness canopies around Him,
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Dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
God’s Provision (vv.17-25)
2 Samuel 22:17 (NKJV)
He sent from above, He took me,
He drew me out of many waters.
2 Samuel 22:18 (NKJV)
He delivered me from my strong enemy,
me;
For they were too strong for me.
2 Samuel 22:19 (NKJV)
my support.
From those who hated
They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
2 Samuel 22:20 (NKJV)
He also brought me out into a broad place;
because He delighted in me.
But the Lord was
He delivered me
What does David sing? The enemy confronts David in the day of calamity (v.19); human enemy,
natural catastrophe, or physical misfortune. The Lord is able to save David.
David employs poetic imagery and describes a series of wonderful salvations and deliverance;
The Lord rescues him from drowning in the deep waters (v.17)
The Lord rescues him from powerful enemies, from all foes who hate him and are too strong for
him (v.18);
The Lord upholds him and provides support in the face of disaster, calamity (v.19);
The Lord delivers him and leads him to the place of safety (v.20)
The Lord delivers him because the Lord delights in David (v.20).
The Lord God delights in David. The Lord God delights in David even when times are tough.
The Lord is our security. David makes it clear that God sees and cares about what is happening
in our lives right now. The Lord is our support and security. He rescues us because he delights
in us! What a concept! God delivers us because God delights in us!
(vv.21-24)
Some suggest David had to have written this before his sin with Bathsheba. Yet the text
indicates David could sing the song at the end of his life (look at verse 1). How can we explain
this? David simply believed the words of the prophet Nathan were true; (2 Sam. 12:13); “The
Lord also has put away your sin”.
Some people find that impossible to believe. No wonder they think it is impossible for Jesus to
put away our sin. But that is exactly what Christ’s sacrifice has done; it has put away our sin.
David was a forgiven man; David was forgiven because God had forgiven David, David was
cleansed because God had cleansed David, David’s hands were clean--not because they had
never gotten dirty; but because God had cleansed David’s hands.
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“I have kept the ways of the LORD”. . .I was also blameless before Him: Is David claiming
sinless perfection? I don’t think so. What David is making reference to is his attitude towards
God; the position he has obtained by God; and contrasts that with the wickedness of his enemies.
Spurgeon put it this way; “Before God the man after God’s own heart was a humble sinner, but
before his slanderers he could with unblushing face speak of the ‘cleanness of his hands’ and the
righteousness of his life”.
We come to God in Christ not on the basis of our righteousness but the righteousness found in
David’s Son--the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is our righteousness.
1 Corinthians 1:30 (NKJV) But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from
God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption”
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV) 21For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might
become the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Samuel 22:24 (NKJV) I was also blameless before Him, And I kept myself from my iniquity.
How do we explain David’s words? Is David indulging in some sanctified wishful thinking?
Did David really keep himself from iniquity? Is David speaking from arrogance or pride?
Spurgeon again explains the passage; “Yet we know there is a certainly a sense in which we keep
ourselves from sin, even as Paul spoke of a man cleansing himself for God’s glory and for
greater service (2 Tim. 2:21). Blameless does not mean sinless.
God’s Perfect Justice (vv.26-28)
2 Samuel 22:26 (NKJV) With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful;
blameless man You will show Yourself blameless;
With a
Jesus taught “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy”.
David experienced the mercy of God; but David demonstrated mercy to people like Saul (1 Sam.
24:10-13) and Shemei (2 Sam.16:7-12). Spurgeon points out that even the merciful need mercy;
“no amount of generosity to the poor, or forgiveness to enemies; can set us beyond the need of
mercy”.
2 Samuel 22:27 (NKJV)
With the pure You will show Yourself pure;
And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd.
What in the world does this mean? To the pure all things are pure. Clearly if a man is pure
towards God, God will be pure towards that person. But God is incapable of wickedness. If
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human beings are wicked towards God; will God be wicked towards human beings? The answer
is no. God will always be just.
James Montgomery Boice:
“David expresses the second half of the parallel by a somewhat ambiguous word, the root
meaning of which is ‘twisted’. The verse actually says, ‘To the twisted (or crooked). . .The idea
seems to be that if a person insists in going devious ways in his dealings with God, God will
outwit him, as that man deserves”.
2 Samuel 22:28 (NKJV)
You will save the humble people;
haughty, that You may bring them down.
But Your eyes are on the
Why does it surprise us that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble? The principle
is repeated in Proverbs 3:34; James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5. There is something about genuine
humility that prompts the heart of God; that God responds with grace and mercy; forgiveness and
love; and there is something about pride that causes God to resist the proud and even invite
judgment. Humility is not low self-esteem--but rather a biblical assessment of the true condition
of the self; coupled with a willingness to place others first; humility combines the elements of
self-lessness and sacrifice and service to others.
God is just. God will reward the righteous and punish the wicked. If a person is merciful,
God will be merciful. If a person is blameless, the Lord will prove blameless towards that
person. If a person is pure God will be pure. If a person is wicked, hostile, devious, shrewd,
then God will out wit that person. If a person is proud, God will bring him down. Justice, the
law of sowing and reaping, whatever a person measures it will be measured to them.
God’s Proven Dependability (vv.29-32)
2 Samuel 22:29 (NKJV) For You are my lamp, O Lord; The Lord shall enlighten my darkness.
Now David introduces another great theme. When days are dark God is our light!
In order to meet David’s need God had to bring David light.
God doesn’t alway allow us to see everything we would like to see. But we are allowed to see
what God allows us to see. Why doesn’t God give us a clear picture of our future? Perhaps the
reason in part is so we will trust Him. Perhaps the reason in part is to avoid an argument. God is
not interested in arguing with you about His plans and purposes. The Lord God will always give
us enough light to order our next step. That really is all we need. Charles Allen wrote:
“When a person is suddenly alone, often panic and fear come. I distinctly remember my mother
saying to me after my father’s death, “I cannot go on without him”. I depended upon him for
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everything.” My mother believed that, but she did go on without him. In fact. she lived twentyfive wonderful years after my father died. I remember that one of the things that bothered my
mother was that she could not drive a car. She learned that she could live without driving a car.
I feel the most creative years of my mother’s life were the years when she was forced to depend
on herself. She had her anxious moments, but somewhere along the way she learned the old
expression, “Life by the yard is hard. but life by the inch is a cinch” (See Swindoll quoted from
his book; pp. 267-268).
One of the great themes of this Psalm is “you are my lamp Lord You give me enough light to see
what I need to see.”
2 Samuel 22:30 (NKJV) For by You I can run against a troop; By my God I can leap over a wall.
2 Samuel 22:31 (NKJV) As for God, His way is perfect;
The word of the Lord is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
The Word of the Lord had been tested and passed the test! God’s way is perfect. What does that
mean? The way God prescribes, the simple absolute way of holy duty, the way God prescribes in
the Bible to guide the soul. Contrast that with the ways of man; the way of worldly wisdom; the
ways of man’s fallen passions; the way of pride.
2 Samuel 22:32 (NKJV) For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?
David is not trusting in his own power, position, identity or self-esteem. David does not pretend
to have strength. David ascribes his ability to continue in the Lord to the Lord.
Conclusion
God’s deliverance; God’s unfailing love, unfailing security; his open ears, his strong arms, the
resources provided (vv.21-24);
David will rejoice and extoll the strength and victory given by God and David’s worship of the
Lord (vv.47-51).
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