II Samuel 22:47-51 – The Lord Lives

Ø (read verse 47) God is alive, unlike the pagan gods created by men’s hands. See the psalmist’s description of false gods in Psalm 115:4-8.

Ø (read verses 48-49) Again David gives God the credit for his victories. Keep in mind that in poetic language, some phrases and themes are repeated frequently.

Ø (read verses 50-51) David is not embarrassed or hesitant to give thanks to God for what He has blessed him with. Too often we pray to God for help, and then after that help is provided, we forget to give thanks. It is something we need to continually remind ourselves to do.

Ø “God is the tower of salvation for David; he shows mercy to him, and will show it to his descendants through forthcoming ages” (Winton).

II Samuel 22:29-46 – Illustrations of God’s Goodness

Ø (read verse 29) What does light do? What happens if we try to walk through the house at night without any lights on?

Ø Read I John 1:5-7, I Peter 2:9, Matthew 5:14-16. Just as God is our light, we should serve as lights to those around us. We should stand out as being different because God has made us different by His grace and mercy. What does I Peter 2:9 say again? But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people… Literally it is “a people acquired,” some versions have “a people for His own possession”…as His people, we should reflect Him in our lives.

Ø (read verses 30-35) David talks here of the strength God provides for those who follow His perfect way. Read II Corinthians 2:14; Philippians 4:13; I Timothy 1:12.

Ø (read verses 36-43) Throughout this psalm, David attributes his success to God. He knew that he was not powerful enough by himself to overcome his enemies, and that God provided protection and strength.

Ø (read verses 44-46) Even when the Israelites turned against David, he was still protected by God because he was God’s chosen king. Ishbosheth, Absalom, and Sheba all failed in their attempts to overthrow David.

II Samuel 22:20-28 – David Devotes Himself to Serving God

Ø (read 20-24) Was David a perfect person? Did he live a sinless life? How then could he say these things?

Ø “He is not to be understood as claiming perfect obedience to God’s word in every particular, for all who have read his history are fully aware of his sin with Bathsheba, his complicity in the death of Uriah, and other short-comings on his part. However, when he learned that he had committed sin, he was quick to repent, and humbly accepted the punishment God chose to dispense” (Winton).

Ø We have already discussed “calling upon the Lord” and how it is more than merely calling out to Him or saying His name, and here we see that David understands one who is accepted by the Lord must live by the Lord’s will.

Ø (read 25-28) “Broadly speaking, God shows to the individual the kind of response as the person has shown toward God” (Winton). Consider Romans 11:22, Galatians 6:7-8 in relation to this point.

II Samuel 22:4-19 – David Describes the Deliverance he has Received

Ø (read verse 4) What does it mean to call on the Lord?

Ø What happened, not only to David but to other leaders of Israel as well, when they went into battle without first consulting God? They may not have always lost the battle, but they didn’t have God’s help in winning!

Ø To “call on the Lord” is more than uttering His name, and it is more than calling out to Him! Read Matthew 7:21-23 and Acts 22:16. After reading these two passages what is involved in “calling on the Lord”?

Ø (read verses 5-16) David recognized that he needed God, and so he cried out to God, and God responded. Keep in mind that this is a work of poetry, there is a lot of figurative language here. The imagery of the earth shaking and the foundations of heaven moving, smoke coming from His nostrils and fire from His mouth, represent his anger against the enemies of His followers.

Ø (verses 17-19) Many times in the Old Testament we see the Israelites face what we would consider insurmountable odds, but by God’s power they are delivered. “David’s strong enemies were too powerful for him to defeat on his own, but with the assistance of the Almighty, his triumph was certain and complete” (Winton)

Ø What are some examples of David overcoming stronger enemies? Goliath, Saul, Absalom

II Samuel 22:1-3 -- Introduction to David's Song of Triumph

Ø This psalm recorded in II Samuel 22 is very similar to Psalm 18.

Ø (read verse 1) It is a song of praise and thanksgiving for the Lord’s help and deliverance from enemies, including Saul. JFB says that Saul “is mentioned, not as the last of David’s persecutors, but rather as…the greatest and most formidable of them all.”

Ø (read verses 2-3) These verses express the power of God and signify His protection of David. “The heaping up of these predicates is an expression both of liveliest gratitude, and also of hope for the future” (Keil). Not only had God been all of these things for David in the past, but future generations could look back and see what God was and can be for those who trust in Him.

Ø “Horn” is “a figure of might and strength”. (Winton)

Ø “High tower” is “a structure which was used as an observation post from which the guard could be ever vigilant for the approach of the enemy; God is therefore, on guard duty, protecting David” (Winton).

Does Doctrine Matter?

There is a religious book that has been quite popular for the past couple of years, The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. While the premise and purpose of the book is a good one, much religious error is propagated throughout its pages. It is not a book that should be read or studied by those who do not have a good grounding in the Scriptures, as they may be easily misled.

Take, for instance, what Mr. Warren says on page 34, concerning the final judgment: "God won't ask you about your religious background or doctrinal views. The only thing that will matter is, did you accept what Jesus did for you and did you learn to love and trust him?"

Think about this statement for a moment. Does not one's "religious background and doctrinal views" depend directly upon one's acceptance, love, and trust of the Savior?

If one truly accepts Jesus, he will follow Him. "I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). Do you accept Jesus as the only way into a righteous relationship with the Father?

If one truly loves Jesus, he will follow Him. "If you love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). Do you obey Jesus, or do you only say you love Him?

If one truly trusts Jesus, he will follow Him. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:16). Do you trust Jesus, or do you "explain away" this crystal-clear statement?

One who accepts, loves, and trusts Jesus will have the "religious background or doctrinal views" that God expects and desires of His people. Those who have obeyed the Lord will be added to His church, thus having the right "religious background." "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved" (Acts 2:47b).

Those who continue to obey the Lord will have the proper "doctrinal views." "But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine..." (Titus 2:1).

Doctrine does matter! This truth is made abundantly clear throughout the New Testament!

Timothy was told, "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also" (II Timothy 2:2). Timothy couldn't make up his own doctrine -- he had to follow the doctrine that the apostle Paul taught.

And Paul didn't make up his own doctrine either! "But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ" (Galatians 1:11-12). Those things that Paul taught came directly from God. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God..." (II Timothy 3:16a).

We must give heed to those things taught in the New Testament -- we must not only accept them as true, but obey them! "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day" (John 12:48). If we reject the words of the Lord, if we rebel against Him and refuse to obey, we have no one to blame but our own self.

Love for the Scriptures

"If there is anything in my style or thought to be commended, the credit is due to my kind parents in instilling into my mind an early love for the Scriptures" -- Webster.

Love for the Scriptures is an essential attribute for God's people to possess. Without a love for the Scriptures, one could never know what God expects of him. "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God....But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Romans 10:17; Hebrews 11:6). Faith is not just what you "feel is right," but what you learn is right through the inspired Word.

Love for the Scriputres leads to blessings. Remember that God "is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Hebrews 11:6). The Psalmist said, "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night" (Psalm 1:1-2).

Do you posses a love for the Scriptures?