2 Samuel chapter 22 is quite simply a song that David sang to the Lord “when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies“. Remember, David the king and the military general was a musician at heart. Years ago I learned the healing power of words. They help us express and examine our emotions and conflicts. Sharing those internal feelings with another creates vulnerability and a new level of intimacy. David’s song might have been one he wrote in his youth but repeated often throughout his life. We can feel the intimacy David has with God. The song begins: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior from violent men you save me. I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies“. Clearly David has a very personal relationship with God.
The song continues with David reminding himself of God’s faithfulness, “In my distress I called to the Lord; I called out to my God. From His temple He heard my voice; my cry came to His ears… He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me“. Next we read something that seems completely arrogant. “The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me. For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I have not done evil by turning from my God… I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin. The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight“. Is David claiming he earned God’s favor through his own righteousness? I believe in reality it is a statement of faith. Back in chapter 12, Nathan the prophet pointed out David’s sin with Bathsheba. In humility David replied, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin“. Apparently David held on to that promise for the rest of his life.
The song ends with David’s unrestrained praise to God. “The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God, the Rock, my Savior! He is the God who avenges me, who puts the nations under me, who sets me free from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from violent men you rescued me. Therefore I will praise You, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing praises to Your name“. Most of us are so self conscious about what we say, but this song is from David’s heart to God and he does not care who hears it. Oh that we could be so public with our praise to God! God desires intimacy with us in our joy and in our sorrow. He desires for us to believe He has taken away our sin as well. “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:15). What song is on your lips today?