2 Samuel 22 - Printer Friendly

What does 2 Samuel 22 mean?

Chapter Commentary:

Second Samuel 22:1—23:7 gives two of David's psalms that describe the major themes in David's life: his devotion to God and God's protection of and favor to him.

The psalms echo the structure of Hannah's prayer in 1 Samuel 2:1–10. They both praise God for His character and for rescue from their enemies. Hannah thanked God for her ability to give life; David, for God's rescue from death. When Hannah, Samuel's mother, lived, Israel had no king. And yet, she introduces David's psalms by ending with "[The Lord] will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed" (1 Samuel 2:10).

Second Samuel 22:1—23:7 is also the center of the mirrored structure found in 2 Samuel 21—24. As the center, it is the theme of the group of four chapters. Whether through failure or victory, every blessing comes from God, and He deserves praise.

A. 2 Samuel 21:1–14: Saul's failure against the Gibeonites is dealt with.
B. 2 Samuel 21:15–22: David's men beat the Philistines.
C 2 Samuel 22:1—23:7: God has rescued and blessed David, and David sings God's praises.
B' 2 Samuel 23:8–38: David's men beat the Philistines.
A' 2 Samuel 24: David's failure with the census is dealt with.
Second Samuel 22 is repeated in Psalm 18 with slightly different wording for a different use.

The first verse introduces the occasion: David wrote the psalm after God had delivered him from his enemies and Saul. Narrowing down exactly when he wrote it is more difficult. The psalm mentions David's position as king of Israel (2 Samuel 22:51), God's covenant with David (2 Samuel 22:51; 7:8–16), and Absalom's rebellion (2 Samuel 22:44). The psalm doesn't mention David's two egregious sins (2 Samuel 11; 24), although his sin against Bathsheba and Uriah occurred before Absalom's rebellion. The psalm is a retrospective of David's relationship with YHWH as a man and as king. It isn't meant to thoroughly describe David's life (2 Samuel 22:1).

The psalm begins with a summary statement: David calls out to God, God protects and strengthens David, and David praises God. Except for a few regrettable instances, this is a major theme in David's life (2 Samuel 22:2–4; Psalm 18:2–3).

Even when David is surrounded by chaos, faced with death, he will cry out to God and God will hear from His temple: the place where He dwells with His people (2 Samuel 22:5–7; Psalm 18:4–6).

David compares God's response to cataclysmic natural disasters. God comes down to earth, hiding His holiness in dark clouds. In His anger against David's enemies, He metaphorically rains down burning coals and lightning, and lays bare the bed of the sea. God rescues David and places him in safety because He loves him (2 Samuel 22:8–20; Psalm 18:7–19).

God blesses and rescues David because he's righteous. At the time of writing, David had only Saul to compare himself to. Saul blatantly and unrepentantly disobeyed God's commands and expectations, including refusing to accept David as his successor (1 Samuel 13:8–14; 15:2–3, 9). David sinned seriously. Then, he repented and humbly and submissively accepted God's punishment. David loved God's law, and his sins were outliers; they weren't characteristic of his reign like Saul's were (2 Samuel 22:21–31; Psalm 18:20–30).

God directly defended David, but He also equipped him for battle. First, God made sure that in war, David was blameless. He was not cruel to his enemies, and he didn't take on battles that God didn't ordain (1 Samuel 29). God made David a feared warrior and military commander who fought God's wars God's way (2 Samuel 22:32–43; Psalm 18:31–42).

God didn't give David victory in war for his own benefit. God established David as king and kept his reign secured against enemies both foreign and domestic, personal and national (2 Samuel 22:44–49; Psalm 18:43–48).

In a reflection of the introduction (2 Samuel 22:2–4), David reiterates that he will praise God because God brings salvation to himself and his descendants (2 Samuel 22:50–51).

Second Samuel 23:1–7 records David's last psalm. He asserts that he is a Spirit-led prophet as well as a king. He ruled justly, and God made an everlasting covenant with him and his descendants. He finishes with a warning against worthless men. David left a safe and prosperous nation. Unfortunately, he also left an heir who chose idolatry.

Second Samuel 22:1–4 introduces the psalm David wrote to describe his lifelong relationship with God. No matter the difficult circumstance, David called out to God and God answered by rescuing him. God is David's salvation, safe place, strength, and refuge. The psalm continues with metaphorical descriptions of the circumstances in which God saved and blessed David. Second Samuel 22:2–4 is a variation of Psalm 18:2–3.

Second Samuel 22:5–7 depicts God rescuing David from death. The complete chapter is David's psalm, which describes how he calls on God who saves, equips, and blesses him. In his first example, David talks about the chaos that threatened his life. He called to God, and God heard him from His temple: the place where God dwells with His people. The next section describes God's mighty acts in a metaphor of nature and weather (2 Samuel 22:8–16). This passage is nearly identical to Psalm 18:4–6.

Second Samuel 22:8–16 includes David's vivid metaphor of natural disaster to describe how God rescued him. David cried out for God to save his life (2 Samuel 22:5–7). In His anger, God arrived with earthquakes, fiery projectiles, and dark clouds. Once God rebuked David's enemies, He reached down and placed David in a safe place (2 Samuel 22:17–20). This passage is nearly identical to Psalm 18:7–15.

Second Samuel 22:17–20 describes how God reached down and saved David. David cried to God, in fear for his life (2 Samuel 22:5–7). God arrived with earthquakes and lightning (2 Samuel 22:8–16). He destroyed David's enemies and pulled David out of "many waters," a symbol of chaos. God placed David in a safe place, and David explains he's received God's favor because of his obedience (2 Samuel 22:21–25). This passage is also recorded in Psalm 18:16–19.

Second Samuel 22:21–31 proclaims how God rescues David from his enemies because of his righteousness. Saul disobeyed God (1 Samuel 13:8–14; 15:2–3, 9). The pagan kings worshipped demon-idols (1 Samuel 5:2). David egregiously sinned, but he also repented, and God forgave him (2 Samuel 11; 24). God restored David's righteousness through Jesus' sacrifice. God then rescued him, and empowered him to lead well in war and politics (2 Samuel 22:33–49). This passage is nearly identical to Psalm 18:20–30.

Second Samuel 22:32–43 describes how God has equipped David to lead His people. God did more than rescue David from danger. He also blessed David with skill in war and a stable kingdom. David goes on to say God protected him from internal rebellion and made foreign nations fear him (2 Samuel 22:44–46). This passage is repeated in Psalm 18:31–42 but some of the lines are different.

Second Samuel 22:44–49 praises God for His favor in domestic and international affairs. Despite his son's rebellion (2 Samuel 15:1–14) and the dissatisfaction of the northern tribes (2 Samuel 20:2), God kept David on the throne. Because God blessed David with military prowess, foreign nations feared David and Israel. God protected and blessed David both as a man and as king. This passage is nearly identical to Psalm 18:43–48.

Second Samuel 22:50–51 summarizes David's psalm of thanksgiving. Because God blessed and saved David, David praises Him. David touches on the covenant God made with him which was fulfilled in Jesus. The following psalm speaks more about that covenant as well as David's place in history as a prophet and a king (2 Samuel 23:1–7). This passage is nearly identical to Psalm 18:49–50.

Chapter Summary:

Through a psalm, David gives God credit for his life. David faithfully relied on God. In response, God rescued him from violent men, internal rebellion, and foreign armies. God strengthened David in battle, secured his throne, and made foreign nations serve him. God did so because David was blameless: David did sin greatly, but he also deeply repented his sin. David praises God for His love in establishing his kingdom for himself and his descendants. Second Samuel 23:1–7 speaks more about God's covenant with David. Psalm 18 records a slightly altered version of this chapter.

Chapter Context:

Second Samuel 22 is part of an epilogue. When originally written, there was a single book, which was later split into 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel. This chapter begins to close out the story so far. This is the center of a mirror-like structure, called a "chiasm," seen in 2 Samuel 21—24. Despite Saul's sins (2 Samuel 21:1–14) and David's sins (2 Samuel 24), God gives Israel victory over their enemies (2 Samuel 21:15–22; 23:8–39). Second Samuel 22:1—23:7 describes how God used David in this. God rescued David from his enemies so he could fight for Israel and lead well. That blessing continues in the Davidic Covenant which is fulfilled in Jesus (2 Samuel 23:5). Psalm 18 is an edited version of 2 Samuel 22.

Second Samuel continues the story of David, who will become king over Judah. The other tribes of Israel are resistant, eventually sparking a civil war. David wins and makes Jerusalem his capital. Early success is followed by moral failure and controversy in David's house. The book of 1 Kings will begin by detailing David's decline and death.

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