
2 Samuel 22: Fifty-one verses of deep gratitude for God’s care and deliverance!
Don’t know if you’ve ever had a determined adversary – someone who was insanely dedicated to your destruction – there are some believers in Afghanistan who are facing that today. And David faced that reality in the Bible. His name was Saul… Saul hunted David like an animal. Chased him like incessantly. Plotted to kill him. And that was the return David received for vowing that he would never “touch God’s anointed” and do Saul no harm!
2 Samuel 22 is a song of incredible relief – of great gratitude – for God’s protection and deliverance from a human adversary like Saul! It is filled with graphic imagery that begs for your imagination… believe me, it’s worth reading! Here’s just a taste of its themes…
“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. He said, ‘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… 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… He bowed the heavens and came down… He sent from on high, he took me; He drew me out of many waters. He rescued me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me… He brought me out into a broad place; He rescued me, because he delighted in me! … This God – His way is perfect; the word of God proves true! He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him! … The Lord lives! Blessed by my Rock, and exalted be my God, the Rock of my salvation.’” (From 2 Samuel 22 ESV)
According to the Bible, we all have a determined “adversary” – the devil! He is not imaginary! His methods are devious, his objective is your eternal destruction, his home is hell… The Bible says, “Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) His goal, like a thief, is to “steal, kill and destroy”! But the “Good Shepherd” – your Deliverer – “lays down His life for you” and his objective is “that you might have life and have it abundantly!” (from John 10:10-11)
So here’s the deal… Those fifty-one verses of 2 Samuel 22 aren’t just David’s song of deliverance… They can be your as well!! And to that I say, Praise the Lord!!!