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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>S E C O N D S A M U E L</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XXII.</FONT>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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This chapter is a psalm, a psalm of praise; we find it afterwards
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inserted among David's psalms
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+18:1-50">Ps. xviii.</A>)
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with some little variation. We have it here as it was first composed
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for his own closed and his own harp; but there we have it as it was
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afterwards delivered to the chief musician for the service of the
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church, a second edition with some amendments; for, though it was
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calculated primarily for David's case, yet it might indifferently serve
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the devotion of others, in giving thanks for their deliverances; or it
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was intended that his people should thus join with him in his
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thanksgivings, because, being a public person, his deliverances were to
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be accounted public blessings and called for public acknowledgments.
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The inspired historian, having largely related David's deliverances in
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this and the foregoing book, and one particularly in the close of the
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foregoing chapter, thought fit to record this sacred poem as a memorial
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of all that had been before related. Some think that David penned this
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psalm when he was old, upon a general review of the mercies of his life
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and the many wonderful preservations God had blessed him with, from
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first to last. We should in our praises, look as far back as we can,
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and not suffer time to wear out the sense of God's favours. Others
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think that he penned it when he was young, upon occasion of some of his
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first deliverances, and kept it by him for his use afterwards, and
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that, upon every new deliverance, his practice was to sing this song.
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But the book of Psalms shows that he varied as there was occasion, and
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confined not himself to one form. Here is,
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I. The title of the psalm,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:1">ver. 1</A>.
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II. The psalm itself, in which, with a very warm devotion and very
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great fluency and copiousness of expression,
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1. He gives glory to God.
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2. He takes comfort in him; and he finds matter for both,
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(1.) In the experiences he had of God's former favours.
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(2.) In the expectations he had of his further favours. These are
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intermixed throughout the whole psalm.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="2Sa22_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>David's Song of Praise.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1020.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And David spake unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> the words of this song in the
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day <I>that</I> the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> had delivered him out of the hand of all his
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enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Observe here,
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I. That it has often been the lot of God's people to have many enemies,
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and to be in imminent danger of falling into their hands. David was a
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man after God's heart, but not after men's heart: many were those that
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hated him, and sought his ruin; Saul is particularly named, either,
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1. As distinguished from his enemies of the heathen nations. Saul
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hated David, but David did not hate Saul, and therefore would not
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reckon him among his enemies; or, rather,
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2. As the chief of his enemies, who was more malicious and powerful
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than any of them. Let not those whom God loves marvel if the world hate
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them.</P>
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<P>
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II. Those that trust God in the way of duty shall find him a present
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help to them in their greatest dangers. David did so. God delivered him
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out of the hand of Saul. He takes special notice of this. Remarkable
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preservations should be mentioned in our praises with a particular
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emphasis. He delivered him also <I>out of the hand of all his
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enemies,</I> one after another, sometimes in one way, sometimes in
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another; and David, from his own experience, has assured us <I>that,
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though many are the troubles of the righteous, yet the Lord delivers
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them out of them all,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+34:19">Ps. xxxiv. 19</A>.
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We shall never be delivered from all our enemies till we get to heaven;
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and to that heavenly kingdom God will preserve all that are his,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ti+4:18">2 Tim. iv. 18</A>.</P>
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<P>
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III. Those that have received many signal mercies from God ought to
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give him the glory of them. Every new mercy in our hand should put a
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new song into our mouth, even praises to our God. Where there is a
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grateful heart, out of the abundance of that the mouth will speak.
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David spoke, not only to himself, for his own pleasure, not merely to
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those about him, for their instruction, but <I>to the Lord,</I> for his
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honour, <I>the words of this song.</I> Then we sing with grace when we
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sing to the Lord. In distress he <I>cried with his voice</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+142:1">Ps. cxlii. 1</A>),
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therefore with his voice he gave thanks. Thanksgiving to God is the
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sweetest vocal music.</P>
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<P>
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IV. We ought to be speedy in our thankful returns to God: <I>In the day
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that God delivered him he sang this song.</I> While the mercy is fresh,
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and our devout affections are most excited by it, let the
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thank-offering be brought, that it may be kindled with the fire of
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those affections.</P>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>David's Thanksgiving.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1020.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>2 And he said, The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> <I>is</I> my rock, and my fortress, and my
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deliverer;
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3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: <I>he is</I> my shield,
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and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my
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saviour; thou savest me from violence.
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4 I will call on the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, <I>who is</I> worthy to be praised: so
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shall I be saved from mine enemies.
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5 When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly
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men made me afraid;
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6 The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death
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prevented me;
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7 In my distress I called upon the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and cried to my God:
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and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry <I>did
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enter</I> into his ears.
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8 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven
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moved and shook, because he was wroth.
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9 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of
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his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
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10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness <I>was</I>
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under his feet.
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11 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon
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the wings of the wind.
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12 And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters,
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<I>and</I> thick clouds of the skies.
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13 Through the brightness before him were coals of fire
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kindled.
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14 The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered
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his voice.
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15 And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and
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discomfited them.
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16 And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the
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world were discovered, at the rebuking of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, at the blast
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of the breath of his nostrils.
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17 He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many
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waters;
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18 He delivered me from my strong enemy, <I>and</I> from them that
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hated me: for they were too strong for me.
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19 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>
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was my stay.
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20 He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered
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me, because he delighted in me.
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21 The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> rewarded me according to my righteousness:
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according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
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22 For I have kept the ways of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and have not wickedly
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departed from my God.
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23 For all his judgments <I>were</I> before me: and <I>as for</I> his
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statutes, I did not depart from them.
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24 I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from
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mine iniquity.
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25 Therefore the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> hath recompensed me according to my
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righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight.
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26 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, <I>and</I>
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with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.
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27 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the
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froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury.
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28 And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes
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<I>are</I> upon the haughty, <I>that</I> thou mayest bring <I>them</I> down.
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29 For thou <I>art</I> my lamp, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>: and the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> will lighten my
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darkness.
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30 For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I
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leaped over a wall.
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31 <I>As for</I> God, his way <I>is</I> perfect; the word of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>
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<I>is</I> tried: he <I>is</I> a buckler to all them that trust in him.
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32 For who <I>is</I> God, save the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>? and who <I>is</I> a rock, save
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our God?
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33 God <I>is</I> my strength <I>and</I> power: and he maketh my way
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perfect.
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34 He maketh my feet like hinds' <I>feet:</I> and setteth me upon my
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high places.
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35 He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is
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broken by mine arms.
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36 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy
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gentleness hath made me great.
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37 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did
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not slip.
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38 I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned
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not again until I had consumed them.
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39 And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could
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not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet.
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40 For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that
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rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.
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41 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I
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might destroy them that hate me.
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42 They looked, but <I>there was</I> none to save; <I>even</I> unto the
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L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, but he answered them not.
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43 Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I
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did stamp them as the mire of the street, <I>and</I> did spread them
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abroad.
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44 Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people,
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thou hast kept me <I>to be</I> head of the heathen: a people <I>which</I> I
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knew not shall serve me.
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45 Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they
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hear, they shall be obedient unto me.
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46 Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of
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their close places.
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47 The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> liveth; and blessed <I>be</I> my rock; and exalted be
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the God of the rock of my salvation.
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48 It <I>is</I> God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the
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people under me,
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49 And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast
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lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou
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hast delivered me from the violent man.
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50 Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, among the
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heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.
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51 <I>He is</I> the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth
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mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Let us observe, in this song of praise,</P>
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<P>
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I. How David adores God, and gives him the glory of his infinite
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perfections. There is none like him, nor any to be compared with him
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:32"><I>v.</I> 32</A>):
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<I>Who is God, save the Lord?</I> All others that are adored as deities
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are counterfeits and pretenders. None is to be relied on but he. <I>Who
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is a rock, save our God?</I> They are dead, but <I>the Lord liveth,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:47"><I>v.</I> 47</A>.
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They disappoint their worshippers when they most need them. But <I>as
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for God his way is perfect,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>.
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Men begin in kindness, but end not-promise, but perform not; but God
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will finish his work, and his word is tried, and what we may trust.</P>
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<P>
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II. How he triumphs in the interest he has in this God, and his
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relation to him, which he lays down as the foundation of all the
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benefits he has received from him: <I>He is my God;</I> as such he
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cries to him
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>),
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and cleaves to him
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>);
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"and, if <I>my God,</I> then <I>my rock</I>"
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>),
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that is, "my strength and my power
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:33"><I>v.</I> 33</A>),
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the rock under which I take shelter (he who is to me as the shadow of a
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great rock in a weary land), the rock on which I build my hope,"
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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Whatever is my strength and support, it is <I>the God of my rock that
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makes it so;</I> nay, he is <I>the God of the rock of my salvation</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:47"><I>v.</I> 47</A>):
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my saving strength is in him and from him. David often hid himself in
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a rock
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:2">1 Sam. xxiv. 2</A>),
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but God was his chief hiding-place. "He is my fortress, in which I am
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safe and think myself so--<I>my high tower,</I> or stronghold, in which
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I am out of the reach of real evils--the <I>tower of salvation</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:51"><I>v.</I> 51</A>),
|
|
|
|
which can never be sealed nor battered, nor undermined. Salvation
|
|
itself saves me. Am I in distress? he is my deliverer--struck at, shot
|
|
at? he is my shield--pursued? he is my refuge--oppressed? he is my
|
|
saviour, that rescues me out of the hand of those that seek my ruin.
|
|
Nay, he is the <I>horn of my salvation,</I> by which I am strongly
|
|
protected, and my enemies are strongly pushed." Christ is spoken of as
|
|
the <I>horn of salvation</I> in the house of David,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+1:69">Luke i. 69</A>.
|
|
|
|
"Am I burdened, and ready to sink? <I>The Lord is my stay</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>),
|
|
|
|
by whom I am supported. Am I in the dark, benighted, at a loss? <I>Thou
|
|
art my lamp, O Lord!</I> to show me my way, and thou wilt dispel <I>my
|
|
darkness,</I>"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:29"><I>v.</I> 29</A>.
|
|
|
|
If we sincerely take the Lord for our God, all this, and much more, he
|
|
will be to us, all we need and can desire.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. What improvement he makes of his interest in God. If he be mine,
|
|
|
|
1. <I>In him will I trust</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
|
|
|
|
that is, "I will resign myself to his direction, and then depend upon
|
|
his power, and wisdom, and goodness, to conduct me well."
|
|
|
|
2. <I>On him I will call</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>for he is worthy to be praised.</I> What we have found in God that
|
|
is worthy to be praised should engage us to pray to him and give glory
|
|
to him.
|
|
|
|
3. <I>To him will I give thanks</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:50"><I>v.</I> 50</A>),
|
|
|
|
and that publicly. When he was among the heathen he would neither be
|
|
afraid nor ashamed to own his obligations to the God of Israel.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. The full and large account he keeps for himself, and gives to
|
|
others, of the great and kind things God had done for him. This takes
|
|
up most of the song. He gives God the glory both of his deliverances
|
|
and of his successes, showing both the perils he was delivered from and
|
|
the power he was advanced to.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. He magnifies the great salvations God had wrought for him. God
|
|
sometimes brings his people into very great difficulties and dangers,
|
|
that he may have the honour of saving them and they the comfort of
|
|
being saved by him. He owns, <I>Thou hast saved me from violence</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>from my enemies</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>from my strong enemy,</I> meaning Saul, who, if God had not
|
|
succoured him, would have been too hard for him,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
Thou hast given me <I>the shield of thy salvation,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:36"><I>v.</I> 36</A>.
|
|
|
|
To magnify the salvation, he observes,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) That the danger was very great and threatening out of which he was
|
|
delivered. Men <I>rose up against him</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:40,49"><I>v.</I> 40, 49</A>)
|
|
|
|
that <I>hated him</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:41"><I>v.</I> 41</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>a violent man</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:49"><I>v.</I> 49</A>)
|
|
|
|
namely, Saul, who was malicious in his designs against him and vigorous
|
|
in his pursuit. This is expressed figuratively,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:5,6"><I>v.</I> 5, 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
He was surrounded with death on every side, threatened to be
|
|
overwhelmed, and saw no way of escape. So violently did the waves of
|
|
death beat upon him, so strongly did the cords and snares of death hold
|
|
him, that he could not help himself, any more than a man in the grave
|
|
can. The floods of Belial, the wicked one, and his wicked instruments,
|
|
made him afraid; he trembled to see not only earth, but death and hell,
|
|
in arms against him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) That his deliverance was an answer to prayer,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
He has here left us a good example, when we are in distress, to cry
|
|
unto God with importunity, as children in a fright cry to their
|
|
parents; and great encouragement to do so, in that he found God ready
|
|
to answer prayer out of his temple in heaven, where he is continually
|
|
served and adored.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(3.) That God appeared in a singular and extraordinary manner for him
|
|
and against his enemies. The expressions are borrowed from the descent
|
|
of the divine Majesty upon Mount Sinai,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:8,9"><I>v.</I> 8, 9</A>,
|
|
|
|
&c. We do not find that in any of David's battles God fought for him
|
|
with thunder (as in Samuel's time), or with hail (as in Joshua's time),
|
|
or with the stars in their courses (as in Deborah's time); but these
|
|
lofty metaphors are used,
|
|
|
|
[1.] To set forth the glory of God, which was manifested in his
|
|
deliverance. God's wisdom and power, his goodness and faithfulness,
|
|
his justice and holiness, and his sovereign dominion over all the
|
|
creatures and all the counsels of men, which appeared in favour of
|
|
David, were as clear and bright a discovery of God's glory to an eye of
|
|
faith as such miraculous interpositions would have been to an eye of
|
|
sense.
|
|
|
|
[2.] To set forth God's displeasure against his enemies, God so
|
|
espoused his cause that he showed himself an enemy to all his enemies;
|
|
his anger is set forth by a <I>smoke out of his nostrils,</I> and
|
|
<I>fire out of his mouth</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>coals kindled</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>arrows,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
Who knows the power and terror of his wrath?
|
|
|
|
[3.] To set forth the extraordinary confusion which his enemies were
|
|
put into, and the consternation that seized them; as if the earth had
|
|
trembled and the <I>foundations of the world</I> had been discovered,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:8,16"><I>v.</I> 8, 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
Who can stand before God when he is angry?
|
|
|
|
[4.] To show how ready God was to help him: <I>He rode upon a cherub
|
|
and did fly,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
God hastened to his succour, and came to him with seasonable relief,
|
|
though he had seemed at a distance; yet he was <I>a God hiding
|
|
himself</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+14:15">Isa. xiv. 15</A>),
|
|
|
|
for he made <I>darkness his pavilion</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
|
|
|
|
for the amazement of his enemies and the protection of his own
|
|
people.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(4.) That God manifested his particular favour and kindness to him in
|
|
these deliverances
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>He delivered me, because he delighted in me.</I> The deliverance
|
|
came not from common providence, but covenant-love; he was herein
|
|
treated as a favourite: so he perceived by the communications of divine
|
|
grace and comfort to his soul with these deliverances, and the
|
|
communion he had with God in them. Herein he was a type of Christ, whom
|
|
God upheld because he <I>delighted in him,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+42:1,2">Isa. xlii. 1, 2</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. He magnifies the great successes God had crowned him with. He had
|
|
not only preserved but prospered him. He was blessed,
|
|
|
|
(1.) With liberty and enlargement. He was <I>brought into a large
|
|
place</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>),
|
|
|
|
where he had room to thrive, and his <I>steps were enlarged under
|
|
him,</I> so that he had room to stir
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:37"><I>v.</I> 37</A>),
|
|
|
|
being no longer straitened and confined.
|
|
|
|
(2.) With military skill, and strength, and swiftness. Though he was
|
|
bred up to the crook, he was well instructed in the arts of war and
|
|
qualified for the toils and perils of it. God, having called him to
|
|
fight his battles, qualified him for the service. He made him very
|
|
ingenious (<I>He teacheth my hands to war,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:35"><I>v.</I> 35</A>.
|
|
|
|
And this ingenuity was as good as strength, for it follows, "so <I>that
|
|
a bow of steel is broken by my arms,</I>" not so much by main force as
|
|
by dexterity), and very vigorous and valiant. (<I>Thou hast girded me
|
|
with strength to battle,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:40"><I>v.</I> 40</A>.
|
|
|
|
He gives God the glory of all his courage and ability for service), and
|
|
very expeditious: <I>He maketh my feet swift like hinds feet</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:34"><I>v.</I> 34</A>),
|
|
|
|
which is of great advantage both in charging and retreating.
|
|
|
|
(3.) With victory over his enemies, not only Saul and Absalom, but the
|
|
Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, Syrians, and other neighbouring
|
|
nations, whom he subdued and made tributaries to Israel. His wonderful
|
|
victories are here described,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:38-43"><I>v.</I> 38-43</A>.
|
|
|
|
They were <I>speedy</I> victories (<I>I turned not again till I had
|
|
consumed them,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:38"><I>v.</I> 38</A>)
|
|
|
|
and <I>complete</I> victories. The enemies of Israel were <I>wounded,
|
|
destroyed, consumed,</I> fell <I>under his feet,</I> trampled upon, and
|
|
disabled to rise, and their necks lay at his mercy. They cried both to
|
|
earth and heaven for help, but in vain. <I>There was none to save,</I>
|
|
none that durst appear for them. God <I>answered them, not</I> for they
|
|
were not on his side, nor did they cry unto him till they were brought
|
|
to the last extremity. Being thus abandoned, they became an easy prey
|
|
to David's righteous and victorious sword, so that he <I>beat them as
|
|
small as the dust of the earth,</I> which is scattered by the wind and
|
|
trodden on by every foot.
|
|
|
|
(4.) With advancement to honour and power. To this he was anointed
|
|
before his troubles began, and at length, <I>post tot discrimina
|
|
rerum--after all his dangers and disasters,</I> he gained his point.
|
|
God <I>made his way perfect</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:33"><I>v.</I> 33</A>),
|
|
|
|
gave him success in all his undertakings, <I>set him upon his high
|
|
places</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:34"><I>v.</I> 34</A>),
|
|
|
|
denoting both safety and dignity. God's gentleness, his grace and
|
|
tender mercy, <I>made him great</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:36"><I>v.</I> 36</A>),
|
|
|
|
gave him great wealth, and great authority, and a name like that of the
|
|
great men of the earth. He was <I>kept to be the head of the
|
|
heathen</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:44"><I>v.</I> 44</A>);
|
|
|
|
his signal preservations evinced that he was designed and reserved for
|
|
something great--to rule over all Israel, notwithstanding the
|
|
<I>strivings of the people,</I> and so that those whom <I>he had not
|
|
known should serve him,</I> many of the nations that lay remote. Thus
|
|
he was <I>lifted up on high,</I> as high as the throne, above those
|
|
that <I>rose up against him,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:49"><I>v.</I> 49</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
V. The comfortable reflections he makes upon his own integrity, which
|
|
God, by those wonderful deliverances, had graciously owned and
|
|
witnessed to,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:21-25"><I>v.</I> 21-25</A>.
|
|
|
|
He means especially his integrity with reference to Saul and
|
|
Ishbosheth, Absalom and Sheba, and those who either opposed his coming
|
|
to the crown or endeavoured to dethrone him. They falsely accused him
|
|
and misrepresented him, but he had the testimony of this conscience for
|
|
him that he was not an ambitious aspiring man, a false and bloody man,
|
|
as they called him,--that he had never taken any indirect unlawful
|
|
courses to secure or raise himself, but in his whole conduct had kept
|
|
in the way of his duty,--and that in the whole course of his
|
|
conversation he had, for the main, made religion his business, so that
|
|
he could take God's favours to him as the rewards of his righteousness,
|
|
not of debt, but of grace. God had recompensed him, though not for his
|
|
righteousness, as if that had merited any thing at the hand of God, yet
|
|
according to his righteousness, which he was well pleased with, and had
|
|
an eye to. His conscience witnessed for him,
|
|
|
|
1. That he had made the word of God his rule, and had kept to it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>.
|
|
|
|
Wherever he was, God's judgments were before him as his guide;
|
|
whithersoever he went, he took his religion along with him, and though
|
|
he was forced to depart from his country, and sent, as it were, to
|
|
serve other gods, yet as for God's statutes, he did not depart from
|
|
them, but kept the way of the Lord and walked in it.
|
|
|
|
2. That he had carefully avoided the bye-paths of sin. He had not
|
|
wickedly departed from his God. He could not say but that he had taken
|
|
some false steps, but he had not deserted God, nor forsaken his way.
|
|
Sins of infirmity he could not acquit himself from, but the grace of
|
|
God had kept him from presumptuous sins. Though he had sometimes
|
|
<I>weakly</I> departed from his God. By this it appeared that he was
|
|
<I>upright before God,</I> or <I>to God</I> (in his sight, and with an
|
|
eye to him), that he <I>kept himself from his own iniquity,</I> not
|
|
only from that particular sin of killing Saul when it was in the power
|
|
of his hand to do it, but, in general, he was afraid of sin and
|
|
watchful against it, and made conscience of what he said and did. The
|
|
matter of Uriah is an exception
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+15:5">1 Kings xv. 5</A>),
|
|
|
|
like that in Hezekiah's character,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:31">2 Chron. xxxii. 31</A>.
|
|
|
|
Note, A careful abstaining from our own iniquity is one of the best
|
|
evidences of our own integrity; and the testimony of our conscience for
|
|
us that we have done so will be such a rejoicing as will not only
|
|
lessen the griefs of an afflicted state, but increase the comforts of a
|
|
prosperous state. David reflected with more comfort upon his victories
|
|
over his own iniquity than upon his conquest of Goliath and all the
|
|
hosts of the uncircumcised Philistines; and the witness of his own
|
|
heart to his uprightness was sweeter though more silent music than
|
|
theirs that sang, <I>David has slain his ten thousands.</I> If a great
|
|
man be a good man, his goodness will be much more his satisfaction than
|
|
his greatness. Let favour be shown to the upright and his uprightness
|
|
will sweeten it, will double it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
VI. The comfortable prospects he has of God's further favour. As he
|
|
looks back, so he looks forward, with pleasure, and assures himself of
|
|
the kindness God has in store for all the saints, for himself, and also
|
|
for his seed.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. For all good people,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:26-28"><I>v.</I> 26-28</A>.
|
|
|
|
As God had dealt with him according to his uprightness, so he will with
|
|
all others. He takes occasion here to lay down the established rules of
|
|
God's procedure with the children of men:--</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) That he will do good to those that are upright in their hearts. As
|
|
we are found towards God, he will be found towards us.
|
|
|
|
[1.] God's mercy and grace will be the joy of those that are merciful
|
|
and gracious. Even the merciful need mercy; and they shall obtain it.
|
|
|
|
[2.] God's uprightness, his justice and faithfulness, will be the joy
|
|
of those that are upright, just, and faithful, both towards God and
|
|
man.
|
|
|
|
[3.] God's purity and holiness will be the joy of those that are pure
|
|
and holy, who therefore give thanks at the remembrance thereof. And, if
|
|
any of these good people be <I>afflicted people, he will save</I> them,
|
|
either out of their afflictions or by and after them. On the other
|
|
hand,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) That those who turn aside to crooked ways he will <I>lead forth
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with the workers of iniquity,</I> as he says in another psalm. <I>With
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the froward he will wrestle;</I> and those with whom God wrestles are
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sure to be foiled. <I>Woe unto him that strives with his Maker!</I> God
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will walk contrary to those that walk contrary to him and be displeased
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with those that are displeased with him. As for the haughty, his eyes
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are upon them, marking them out, as it were, to be brought down; for
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<I>he resists the proud.</I></P>
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<P>
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2. For himself. He foresaw that his conquests and kingdom would be yet
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further enlarged,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:45,46"><I>v.</I> 45, 46</A>.
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Even the <I>sons of the stranger,</I> that would hear the report of his
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victories and the tokens of God's presence with him, would be possessed
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with a fear of him, would be forced to submit to him, though feignedly,
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and would be obedient to him. The successes which he had had he looked
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upon as earnests of more and means of more. Who durst oppose him by
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whom so many had been overcome? Thus the Son of David <I>goes on
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conquering and to conquer,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+6:2">Rev. vi. 2</A>.
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His gospel, which has been victorious, shall be so more and more.</P>
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<P>
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3. For his seed: He <I>showeth mercy to his Messiah</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+22:51"><I>v.</I> 51</A>),
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not only to David himself, but to that seed of his for evermore. David
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was himself anointed of God, not a usurper, but duly called to the
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government and qualified for it; therefore he doubted not but God would
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show mercy to him, that mercy which he had promised not to take from
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|
him nor from his posterity
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+7:15,16"><I>ch.</I> vii. 15, 16</A>);
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on that promise he depends, with an eye to Christ, who alone is his
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<I>seed for evermore,</I> whose throne and kingdom still continue, and
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will to the end, whereas the seed and lineage of David are long since
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extinct. See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+89:28,29">Ps. lxxxix. 28, 29</A>.
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Thus all his joys and all his hopes terminate, as ours should, in the
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great Redeemer.</P>
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