David's Song Of Deliverance Series

Scripture

Chapters 21-24 of Second Samuel form an epilogue to “The Life of David.” The epilogue is in the form of what is known as a “chiasm.” That is, the first and last section are parallel to one another, the second and next-to-last section are parallel to one another, and so on. There are six sections in chapters 21-24 of Second Samuel. Commentator John Woodhouse suggests that we can outline these sections as follows:

a. 21:1–14: A problem in David’s kingdom, part 1.

b. 21:15–22: The strength of David’s kingdom, part 1.

c. 22:1–51: The hope of David’s kingdom, part 1.

c. 23:1–7: The hope of David’s kingdom, part 2.

b. 23:8–39: The strength of David’s kingdom, part 2.

a. 24:1–25: A problem in David’s kingdom, part 2.

Today we come to the third section in the epilogue. This is what Woodhouse calls “The hope of David’s kingdom.” It covers all of chapter 22, and I am calling it “David’s Song of Deliverance.”

It is a marvelous song in which David praises God for the many ways in which he delivered David. It is a long song and we could profitably spend many weeks examining the various portions of this song. However, for the sake of time, I will just examine in detail the first portion of the song in which David praises God for his deliverance.

Let’s read David’s song of deliverance in 2 Samuel 22:1-51, although we will only examine verses 1-3 today:

1 And David spoke to the LORD the words of this song on the day when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. 2 He said,

“The LORD is my rock and my fortress

and my deliverer,

3 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.

4 I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,

and I am saved from my enemies.

5 “For the waves of death encompassed me,

the torrents of destruction assailed me;

6 the cords of Sheol entangled me;

the snares of death confronted me.

7 “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.

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.

21 “The LORD dealt with me according to my righteousness;

according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me.

22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD

and have not wickedly departed from my God.

23 For all his rules were before me,

and from his statutes I did not turn aside.

24 I was blameless before him,

and I kept myself from guilt.

25 And the LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness,

according to my cleanness in his sight.

26 “With the merciful you show yourself merciful;

with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;

27 with the purified you deal purely,

and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.

28 You save a humble people,

but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down.

29 For you are my lamp, O LORD,

and my God lightens my darkness.

30 For by you I can run against a troop,

and by my God I can leap over a wall.

31 This God—his way is perfect;

the word of the LORD proves true;

he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.