The Lord Helps the Humble
David's song of thanksgiving for God's deliverance continues here in 2 Samuel 22. Here in verses 26-28, he makes a statement that illustrates God's dealings with men.
2 Samuel 22:26–28 (ESV) “With the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless man you show yourself blameless; 27 with the purified you deal purely, and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous. 28 You save a humble people, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down.
Please take note, God does NOT respond the same way to all people. He reveals different sides of His nature to different kinds of people. I consider that many people get exactly what they expect from God. If they expect Him to be tortuous, He will be. Yet if they expect Him to be merciful and good, He will be. Notice that David ends with the humble person. God's salvation power works for those who remain reliant on Him.
The interesting thing here for David is that he sees God's goodness work for him as he remains humbly receptive to the Lord:
2 Samuel 22:29–30 (ESV) For you are my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness. 30 For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall.
God not only saves the humble, He empowers them to succeed. David says the Lord illuminated his way and quickened his feet for victory. So many think humility is the path to nowhere. That God is only looking to humble you so that you think you're a nobody. Not true. God is looking to elevate the humble and bring them great power and success. This means that true humility is NOT being nothing! True humility is relying not on yourself but on God who empowers those who come to Him.
Consider David's own testimony:
2 Samuel 22:34–38 (ESV) He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. 35 He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 36 You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your gentleness made me great. 37 You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip; 38 I pursued my enemies and destroyed them, and did not turn back until they were consumed.
Now, this is not to say David suffered no setbacks. His costly choice of adultery and conspiracy to murder brought incredible pain to his life. Yet it was his humility before God, understanding he was NOT entitled to anything, that turned the tide.
2 Samuel 22:47–49 (ESV) “The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation, 48 the God who gave me vengeance and brought down peoples under me, 49 who brought me out from my enemies; you exalted me above those who rose against me; you delivered me from men of violence.
We have learned well from David that when injustice is suffered, the best response is to turn to God and do what is right. To repay evil to no one but entrust your future to the Lord. David ends this beautiful song of praise with a final refrain that encapsulates the heart of a man who's highest desire was the Lord:
2 Samuel 22:50–51 (ESV) “For this I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations, and sing praises to your name. 51 Great salvation he brings to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his offspring forever.”
2 Samuel 22:26–28 (ESV) “With the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless man you show yourself blameless; 27 with the purified you deal purely, and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous. 28 You save a humble people, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down.
Please take note, God does NOT respond the same way to all people. He reveals different sides of His nature to different kinds of people. I consider that many people get exactly what they expect from God. If they expect Him to be tortuous, He will be. Yet if they expect Him to be merciful and good, He will be. Notice that David ends with the humble person. God's salvation power works for those who remain reliant on Him.
The interesting thing here for David is that he sees God's goodness work for him as he remains humbly receptive to the Lord:
2 Samuel 22:29–30 (ESV) For you are my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness. 30 For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall.
God not only saves the humble, He empowers them to succeed. David says the Lord illuminated his way and quickened his feet for victory. So many think humility is the path to nowhere. That God is only looking to humble you so that you think you're a nobody. Not true. God is looking to elevate the humble and bring them great power and success. This means that true humility is NOT being nothing! True humility is relying not on yourself but on God who empowers those who come to Him.
Consider David's own testimony:
2 Samuel 22:34–38 (ESV) He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. 35 He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 36 You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your gentleness made me great. 37 You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip; 38 I pursued my enemies and destroyed them, and did not turn back until they were consumed.
Now, this is not to say David suffered no setbacks. His costly choice of adultery and conspiracy to murder brought incredible pain to his life. Yet it was his humility before God, understanding he was NOT entitled to anything, that turned the tide.
2 Samuel 22:47–49 (ESV) “The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation, 48 the God who gave me vengeance and brought down peoples under me, 49 who brought me out from my enemies; you exalted me above those who rose against me; you delivered me from men of violence.
2 Samuel 22:50–51 (ESV) “For this I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations, and sing praises to your name. 51 Great salvation he brings to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his offspring forever.”
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