The Song of the Rescued

2 Samuel 22 is another version of Psalm 18 but this time, the song is placed in the historical setting at which it was uttered. David has lived a blessed and sustained life from the Lord. He acknowledges freely and joyfully that without the Lord he would have been doomed.

One thing that jumps off the page for me is that the mighty king and warrior is also a worshipper. So often we think worship is for the weak or maybe even the feminine. It is not just for them! It is also for the strong, the mighty, the one who knows the Lord is strong FOR them and THROUGH them.


2 Samuel 22:2–4 (ESV) He said, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, 3 my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence. 4 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.

Notice the personal relationship David maintained with the Lord. Ten times in the first three verses he uses the personal possessive pronoun, "my." David knew the Lord personally and it brought him great confidence from the days of Shepherding his father's sheep to the days of deliverance and king.

The song continues for the next 12 verses to extol the works and wonders of the Lord.
2 Samuel 22:14–15 (ESV) The LORD thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered his voice. 15 And he sent out arrows and scattered them; lightning, and routed them.

For David, the Lord was the "Most High" being in the world. From his limited ancient perspective of the cosmos, David held God in the highest esteem and considered NOTHING to small for Him.

Then it's back to personal pronouns as God's mighty works are personal victories for David to experience:

2 Samuel 22:17–20 (ESV) “He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters. 18 He rescued me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. 19 They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my support. 20 He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.

Key to this passage is the final line, "He rescued me, because He delighted in me." For David, the Lord was not some mean-spirited supernatural being but a loving Heavenly friend and warrior who cared for David's life. 

Then comes the part of the song that commentators struggle with:

2 Samuel 22:21–25 (ESV) “The Lord dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me. 22 For I have kept the ways of the Lord and have not wickedly departed from my God. 23 For all his rules were before me, and from his statutes I did not turn aside. 24 I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from guilt. 25 And the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight.

We know the life of David by now in scripture: He committed conspiracy to murder in order to get away with adultery. This was no innocent man. How could he claim to be "blameless" before the Lord and consider himself rewarded? 

Unless we consider the Bible's standard of blamelessness in light of what David says here. It is not that one NEVER sins, but that sins do not stay unconfessed and precious to the person. David did transgress the word of the Lord, but when confronted he repented immediately. This, sadly, is what many people REFUSE to do. They want righteousness on their terms. Consequently, they want a reward for their presupposed righteous record. This is self-determined self-righteousness and it NEVER flies with the Lord. 

David shows us here that a man who confesses his sins and forsakes his errors will receive a reward from the Lord even after the discipline for such sins comes. We learn that God is not simply imagined in our own designs but true to His Word and faithful to those who seek Him even when they've disappointed Him. Let us learn from David and turn to God for grace and mercy, for when we do, we get it.