David’s Psalm Song of Thanksgiving
2nd Samuel 22
The shadows of life are growing long for David. He is older and is even no longer fit for battle as we see in chapter 21. Age is creeping up on him.
He has achieved true greatness in a life lived ( almost always) for the Lord. He is a mighty king ruling a great kingdom. God has given him victory over all his enemies. Now as David reflects on all that the Lord has done for him, he takes up his pen and writes his feelings on these matters. This chapter is almost ·word for word the same as Psalm 18.
Some scholars conclude this was the last work written by David. This special work g1ves us insight into what God did in David's life and what He will do in the life of his children still today. What does David tell us in this great song of his?
DAVID SINGS OF THE GOD WHO SAVES (2-20)
He sings of a personal relationship. He uses the words "my" & "me" 10 times in the first two verses. This relation is not abstract but is strongly personal.
He sings of a powerful relationship. He knows the Lord as his savior and his sanctuary. God is the place David runs to in time of trouble. David says He is our stability, our shield, our safety, our security, and savior.
He sings of a profound relationship. David goes into great detail to explain how the Lord moved in power to defend him and to sustain him. He tells us of God using His miracle power time and again to deliver him and in verse 20 David finally reveals his special place in God's heart:" ... he delivered me because he delighted in me ... ".
DAVID SINGS OF THE GOD WHO SUSTAINS (21-30)
God has saved David and knew him in a sustaining relation. He has sustained David through:
Times of temptation (21-28)
Times of testing (29)
Times of trials (30)
Do we remember this is exactly the same. thing the Lord does for every one of His children, meaning us?
DAVID SINGS OF A GOD WHO STRENGTHENS (31-49)
David's life had been filled with war & conflict. How had God strengthened him?
God had protected him (31-34)
God had prepared him (35-37)
God had promoted him from an obscure shepherd to king (38-49)
DAVID SINGS OF AGOD WHO SECURES (50-51)
David begins these verses with "therefore" meaning becl;!-use of what has been said before. David sees his security through the years is because of the clear hand work of the Lord that kept him and blessed him.
Security in the Lord is a past, present and permanent thing. We have the same assurances in our own lives. The .Lord placed us here with a plan for our life, guided us into and through His plan for us and keeps us secure if we follow Him and His divine method of security for those who ar.e. His.
What is the lesson from these reflections of this king on his own ruler?
WE SHOULD ALL BE SINGING THIS SAME SONG!