READ: 2 Samuel 22
2 Samuel 22 is a song that
David composed in response to the Lord’s deliverance in his life. David is
nearing the end of his life and is reflecting on the many ways that God has
shown faithfulness to him. The psalm paints a handful of pictures and declares
a few major themes: 1) I called out the
Lord and He heard me; 2) The Lord
came down in power and might and delivered me; 3) The Lord saves me because of my righteousness; 4) The Lord has helped me to be victorious over
my enemies; 5) Praise the Lord for
saving me, the king.
One of the most striking
portions of this psalm is verses 21-25 where David makes such claims as: “The LORD dealt with me according to my
righteousness” and “For I have kept
the ways of the LORD” and “I was
blameless before Him”. How can David say such things?! Has he forgotten the
adultery, deception and murder he committed? Has he forgotten the death of his
baby? Has he forgotten the raping of Tamar, and the deaths of Amnon and
Absalom? No. He has not forgotten his sin. But
God has. As David penned in Psalm 103: “For
as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for
those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed
our transgressions from us.” (v 11-12) Oh what a glorious thought –
that God would take the transgressions of the repentant sinner and throw them
to the very ends of the earth! What a treasure that, though our sins are like
scarlet, as red as crimson, He has washed
them as white as snow, as white as wool! (Isaiah 1:18) This was the
wonderful truth David knew, the wonderful truth that had captured his heart and
wooed him back to the Lord. He was not a perfect man – he knew this so well –
and yet he could confidently claim that he was righteous and blameless! This is
the truth for the repentant sinner. True, we cannot live a double life. We
cannot claim God’s righteousness when we are knowingly living in sin and
rebellion. But when we are truly repentant – as David was when he confessed his
sin to God – we are covered with the righteousness of Christ. His blood, which
was crimson, washes over us so that we shine as clean and pure and white as
snow before God. This is the message of the cross.
This psalm shows God to be an
intimate, all-powerful Saviour. The description of God coming down from His
temple in verses 8-20 is captivating. He is a mighty warrior, sovereign over
all creation, coming down to rescue His son from the hand of the enemy. God is
a faithful Father and a mighty
warrior. He is one we can cling to
and one who evokes a measure of fear. How wonderful to follow this mighty God!
JORNALING AND PRAYER
1. Read
the song again and take note of the different themes and the specific words
David uses. (In verses 2-3 alone he uses seven words to describe the protection
offered by God!) Meditate on these things – really think about what they mean
and what they declare about God.
a. Write
down all of the truths declared about God in this chapter.
b. Think
back on David’s life. As you read, jot down specific instances in David’s life
when God delivered him.
2. Take
some time to reflect back on your own life. How has God delivered you from the
hand of your enemies? How has he shown you the cleansing power of His blood?
Why can you praise Him? Write your own prayer, or poem, of thanksgiving and
praise to God.
3. Thank
Jesus for the power of His blood. Thank Him that you can stand blameless before
Him because He has forgiven you for your sins when you have repented. Pray for
someone in your life who has not experienced the cleansing of sin through the
blood of Jesus. Titus 3:5-7 says: But
when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved
us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He
saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy
Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our
Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become
heirs having the hope of eternal life. Use the wonderful truths
of this verse to pray for this person.
