2 Samuel 22
2 Samuel 22 is part of “David's Final Years” (21–24) in the outline of 2 Samuel.
2 Samuel 22 summary
This chapter is a psalm, a psalm of praise; we find it afterwards inserted among David's psalms (Ps. 18) with some little variation. We have it here as it was first composed for his own closed and his own harp; but there we have it as it was afterwards delivered to the chief musician for the service of the church, a second edition with some amendments; for, though it was calculated primarily for David's case, yet it might indifferently serve the devotion of others, in giving thanks for their deliverances; or it was intended that his people should thus join with him in his thanksgivings, because, being a public person, his deliverances were…
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This chapter is a psalm, a psalm of praise; we find it afterwards inserted among David's psalms (Ps. 18) with some little variation. We have it here as it was first composed for his own closed and his own harp; but there we have it as it was afterwards delivered to the chief musician for the service of the church, a second edition with some amendments; for, though it was calculated primarily for David's case, yet it might indifferently serve the devotion of others, in giving thanks for their deliverances; or it was intended that his people should thus join with him in his thanksgivings, because, being a public person, his deliverances were to be accounted public blessings and called for public acknowledgments. The inspired historian, having largely related David's deliverances in this and the foregoing book, and one particularly in the close of the foregoing chapter, thought fit to record this sacred poem as a memorial of all that had been before related. Some think that David penned this psalm when he was old, upon a general review of the mercies of his life and the many wonderful preservations God had blessed him with, from first to last. We should in our praises, look as far back as we can, and not suffer time to wear out the sense of God's favours. Others think that he penned it when he was young, upon occasion of some of his first deliverances, and kept it by him for his use afterwards, and that, upon every new deliverance, his practice was to sing this song. But the book of Psalms shows that he varied as there was occasion, and confined not himself to one form. Here is, I. The title of the psalm (Sa2 22:1). II. The psalm itself, in which, with a very warm devotion and very great fluency and copiousness of expression, 1. He gives glory to God. 2. He takes comfort in him; and he finds matter for both, (1.) In the experiences he had of God's former favours. (2.) In the expectations he had of his further favours. These are intermixed throughout the whole psalm.
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Key verses in 2 Samuel 22
2 Samuel 22 (ASV)
American Standard Version (public domain)
David's Song of Deliverance
1And David spake unto Jehovah the words of this song in the day that Jehovah delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul: 2and he said, Jehovah is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, even mine; 3God, my rock, in him will I take refuge; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge; My saviour, thou savest me from violence. 4I will call upon Jehovah, who is worthy to be praised: So shall I be saved from mine enemies. 5For the waves of death compassed me; The floods of ungodliness made me afraid: 6The cords of Sheol were round about me; The snares of death came upon me. 7In my distress I called upon Jehovah; Yea, I called unto my God: And he heard my voice out of his temple, And my cry [came] into his ears. 8Then the earth shook and trembled, The foundations of heaven quaked And were shaken, because he was wroth. 9There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, And fire out of his mouth devoured: Coals were kindled by it. 10He bowed the heavens also, and came down; And thick darkness was under his feet. 11And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly; Yea, he was seen upon the wings of the wind. 12And he made darkness pavilions round about him, Gathering of waters, thick clouds of the skies. 13At the brightness before him Coals of fire were kindled. 14Jehovah thundered from heaven, And the Most High uttered his voice. 15And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; Lightning, and discomfited them. 16Then the channels of the sea appeared, The foundations of the world were laid bare, By the rebuke of Jehovah, At the blast of the breath of his nostrils. 17He sent from on high, he took me; He drew me out of many waters; 18He delivered me from my strong enemy, From them that hated me; for they were too mighty for me. 19They came upon me in the day of my calamity; But Jehovah was my stay. 20He brought me forth also into a large place; He delivered me, because he delighted in me. 21Jehovah rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. 22For I have kept the ways of Jehovah, And have not wickedly departed from my God. 23For all his ordinances were before me; And as for his statutes, I did not depart from them. 24I was also perfect toward him; And I kept myself from mine iniquity. 25Therefore hath Jehovah recompensed me according to my righteousness, According to my cleanness in his eyesight. 26With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful; With the perfect man thou wilt show thyself perfect; 27With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure; And with the perverse thou wilt show thyself froward. 28And the afflicted people thou wilt save; But thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down. 29For thou art my lamp, O Jehovah; And Jehovah will lighten my darkness. 30For by thee I run upon a troop; By my God do I leap over a wall. 31As for God, his way is perfect: The word of Jehovah is tried; He is a shield unto all them that take refuge in him. 32For who is God, save Jehovah? And who is a rock, save our God? 33God is my strong fortress; And he guideth the perfect in his way. 34He maketh his feet like hinds’ [feet], And setteth me upon my high places. 35He teacheth my hands to war, So that mine arms do bend a bow of brass. 36Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation; And thy gentleness hath made me great. 37Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; And my feet have not slipped. 38I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; Neither did I turn again till they were consumed. 39And I have consumed them, and smitten them through, so that they cannot arise: Yea, they are fallen under my feet. 40For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle; Thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me. 41Thou hast also made mine enemies turn their backs unto me, That I might cut off them that hate me. 42They looked, but there was none to save; Even unto Jehovah, but he answered them not. 43Then did I beat them small as the dust of the earth, I did crush them as the mire of the streets, and did spread them abroad. 44Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people; Thou hast kept me to be the head of the nations: A people whom I have not known shall serve me. 45The foreigners shall submit themselves unto me: As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me. 46The foreigners shall fade away, And shall come trembling out of their close places. 47Jehovah liveth; And blessed be my rock; And exalted be God, the rock of my salvation, 48Even the God that executeth vengeance for me, And that bringeth down peoples under me, 49And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: Yea, thou liftest me up above them that rise up against me; Thou deliverest me from the violent man. 50Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Jehovah, among the nations, And will sing praises unto thy name. 51Great deliverance giveth he to his king, And showeth lovingkindness to his anointed, To David and to his seed, for evermore.