Day #142

Sermon - Audio
2 Samuel 22-23 & Psalm 57 - Daily Audio
2 Sameul 22-23 & Psalm 57 - Daily Reading

Daily Insights - Please Comment

2 Sam 22-23

• 2 Samuel 22 is a Psalm of thanks, praise and confidence in God. This Psalm can also be found (with minor changes) in the book of Psalms, Psalm 18.
• 22.1: The Psalm is a reflection on the years of goodness and deliverance of God. As such it comes from the later part of David’s reign. It is a fitting “conclusion” to the book of Samuel (at one time 1 &2 Samuel were one book) that “began” with the song of Hannah.
• 22.2: “rock” represents a secure defense that is impregnable.
• 22.3: “horn” represents strength. Picture two rams butting horns and the power conveyed in that.
• 22.5: “waves of death…” the picture is of chaos that will overwhelm not just David but all of creation. In rescuing David, God rescues his entire creation from chaos.
• 22.6: “chords of the grave...snares of death” is the picture of a noose on the ground. Death/Sheol is the hunter that is coming after David.
• 22.7: Distress is associated with being in a confined space, to be rescued is to be brought out into a spacious place.
• 22.8-16: God does battle for David unleashing the forces of nature on his behalf.
• 22.9: “burning coals” cf. Romans 12.20, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, given him something to drink. In doing this you will heap burning coals on his head.” David’s son Solomon said these words in Proverbs 25. Did he get them from the time David had the opportunity to kill Saul, was encouraged by his men to do so but didn’t? The result being that Saul declared that David was more righteous than he (1 Samuel 24).
• 22.15: Arrows = bolts of lightening
• 22.18: David admits that those against him were stronger. He needed the rescue of God to become king--therefore he is forever in his debt. It is a theme that David spoke in 2 Samuel 7.18 when he said, “Who am I?”.
• 22.21-25: David is not declaring he has no sin (see Psalm 51). What he is saying is that God delights to bless those who are living for him.
• 22.31: David acknowledges the great theme of the covenant that God knows how life is to be done and we are wise to follow in it (See Dt. 32.47; Psalm 1)
• 22.37: This is a vivid picture. Many paths in Israel are very narrow and on steep slopes. It is easy to slip off the path and sprain or break your ankle. David speaks of a God who makes the path wide so that he does not slip down the slope.
• 22.38: “did not turn back until they were destroyed” so showing himself faithful to the covenant where God commanded that the enemies of Israel/God be completely destroyed. Unlike Saul who let those who were supposed to die, live (see 1 Samuel 15.7-9).
• 22.44: “my people” a possible reference to Saul and Absalom.
• 22.47: A concluding cacophony of praise.
• 22.51: “unfailing kindness” is literally “hesed” or covenant faithfulness
• 22.51: “his annointed” is literally “his messiah”
• 22.51: “forever” David is assured that God will be faithful from generation to generation and therefore the people of Israel can be assured of their future as well.
• 
  
• 23.1: We are also given last words of David in 1 Kings 2. The words in Kings are final instructions to Solomon. The last words in Samuel are a reflection on what it takes to be a godly king and a celebration of God’s promise. This may have been the last “psalm” that David writes.
• 23.1: Oracle is typically something spoken by God. In applying the word to David we have the one time in the scripture when David may be being referred to as a prophet.
• 23.1: “exalted by the most high” David again points out that he is where he is because of God, not because of his own efforts.
• 23.2: David tells us that his words are inspired by God.
• 23.3-4: A just ruler is one who fears God i.e. rules according to God’s ways. Such a ruler brings light to his people and refreshes them like rain.
• 23.5: David proclaims that his dynasty has ruled in a just way. It is worth remembering the David has not done this perfectly (the writer of 2 Samuel will remind us of this by listing Uriah as the last of David’s mighty men in verse 39), but he proclaims that overall his administration has followed the ways of God. It may be worth remembering that when David’s administration fails there is always repentance, unlike Saul’s where there is a coverup.
• 23.5: David celebrates the covenant God has made with him and what that will mean for future generations.
• 23.6: “evil men” are those who oppose David and God’s rules over his people Israel.
• 23.8: We have a list of David’s mighty men reminding us of the power of David’s army, but more importantly the power of God.
• 23.10,12: The writer points out that the great victories of these mighty men are really the victories of God who empowered them in impossible situations.
• 23.14: Some have suggested that this stronghold is Masada. If so, this would have happened at a time before David became king.
• 23.17: In David’s culture to pour out the water was a sign of deep respect and love for his men.
• 23.20: “two of Moab’s best men” is literally “struck down two ariels” we don’t know what an ariel is. The NIV is taking a guess to make the text more readable.
• 23.20: To kill a lion showed one’s power and manliness. To kill a lion in the snow which made footing more treacherous adds to the wow factor of the deed.
• 23.34: Eliam son of Ahithophel is the father of Bathsheba.
• 23.39: The passage ends on a somber note by mentioning Uriah. While David may have loved his men (cf. water incident) he is not above having one of them killed if it furthered his purpose.

Psalm 57

Psalm 57 has its background in more of David’s troubles. This time it speaks of when he was hiding in a cave. Most likely the background to this Psalm is 1 Samuel 22.1-5.

• 57.1: “shadow of your wings” As a mother bird protects her young from danger by gathering them under her wings so David escapes into the protection of God. One wonders if David saw the cave and its protection as being under the wings of God since the land of Canaan was God’s land. Notice also that Jesus speaks of his longing to gather the people of Israel as a mother bird gathers her young under her wings, but they didn’t desire it (Luke 13.34). The context is a conversation about Herod. Jesus is being warned that Herod wants to kill him. In response Jesus speaks of his own safety and how he longs to protect Israel, but they refuse his protection. Such protection would have come if they had lived according to the teachings of Jesus –love your enemy etc.—in which case they would not have been destroyed.
• 57.1: “destruction” means to have a fall in fortune. David is going to stay under God’s wings until this present fall in fortune has ended, then he can come out in the light again.
• 57.2: The words of this verse are literally, “he who fulfills for me”. The question is “what is God fulfilling for David?” The NIV puts in “his purpose”; the NASB says, “all things”. The NIV and NASB both get at the sense of it. Since the Psalm is based strongly in the covenant God has made with David in anointing him king, it is fair to say that God is going to accomplish God’s covenant purposes for David. The words of this verse seem to be a foreshadowing of words that Paul writes to the church of Philippi, For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1.6
• 57.3: NIV “love and faithfulness” are God’s covenant love (hesed) and truth (emet). David declares that God will be faithful to his covenant promises and that God will be truth to him i.e. someone who David can count on. Truth means to be continuously faithful in the way you do life.
• 57.4: God is so great that he is above even the heavens.
• 57.6: In true wisdom literature fashion the wicked are caught up in their own schemes. These words seem to ring true when later Saul enters a cave where David is and David has the opportunity to turn the tables and kill Saul. David refuses because Saul is God’s anointed.
• 57.7: “steadfast” means to be firm and unwavering, but in the Hebrew it also means that your soul is at peace, that you are confident in God. As such it is a word that reflects the chorus of the song, When Peace Like a River. – “it is well with my soul”.
• 57.8: “awake the dawn” i.e. I’ve been singing all night and so I am awakening the dawn, not the other way around.
• 57.10: David celebrates God’s hesed and his emet.
• 57.11: David repeats his proclamation of God’s greatness from verse 5.