David's Song of Praise – 2 Samuel 22:1-51

I believe that chapter’s 21-22 are musings in David’s elderly years. He was reflecting back on days gone by and events that had taken place.

In 2Sa 21, God sent a famine because Saul had tried to kill the Gibeonites with whom Joshua had made a covenant of peace. David recalled how he had dealt with that problem. Then he recalled some of his last battles with the Philistines and how the giants nearly killed him.

In 2Sa 22, David sang a song of praise to God. He must have written the song after battle victories in his early years. Often we do not praise God as we should for all that He does for us.

Transition

In this song, we David’s words remind us of four major reasons for which we ought to praise the Lord.

We Ought to

Praise the Lord for His Protection (v.1-4)

David described God’s protection (v.1-3). God had protected him in many situations.
1. The LORD is a rock. This could be a high cliff or a secure cave in a rock. (JFB)
2. He is our fortress. A strong fort for protection.
3. He is our deliverer. One who will bring us to safety.
4. He is our shield.
5. He is our horn of salvation. The horns are the protection and fighting weapon of bulls and other cattle.
6. He is our high tower. This was a high place of safety and a lookout for danger.
7. He is our refuge. This was a place of escape.
8. He is our saviour. He is the one who delivers us.
  ☆ What is the one thing that all these descriptions of God’s protection have in common? They will do us no good if we are not near them. We must stay near the Lord if we want His protection from sin and dangers in life. (Psalms 91:1) He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
  ☆ I believe that is why God gives us this warning. (1 Timothy 6:11) But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. (2 Timothy 2:22) Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
David prayed for God’s protection (v.4)
1. We ought to always pray for protection. Such prayers will be natural if we pray daily to communicate with God.
2. David noted that God was worthy to be praised.
  We Ought to

Praise the Lord for His Deliverance (v.5-20)

David described his troubles (v.5-6). Our troubles are not like David’s but we all have troubles.
David called on the Lord for help (v.7).
☆ Here again we are reminded o the importance of prayer. God commands us to pray without ceasing (be in prayer mode all day long). If the only time you pray is when you are rushing to get dressed or just before you drop into bed at night, your prayer life is greatly lacking. Every Christian ought to spend quality time alone with God in prayer every day. Thank Him! Ask Him questions about your Bible reading. Praise Him! Share your burdens with Him. Ask Him for help. Be specific. How would God rate your prayer time with Him? – Poor, Average, Good, or Great. If your prayer time is not all that God wants it to be, you must seriously work on it.
David lists God’s mighty acts of deliverance (v.8-20)
1. The earth shook (v.8)
2. Smoke went out of God’s nostrils (v.9)
3. God left heaven and came down with miracles to help David in his troubles (v.10-16)
4. He rescued David out of waters of trouble (v.17)
5. The Lord delivered David (v.18-20)
  ☆ David was praying specifically and God was answering his prayers. God wants to do the same for you.
  We Ought to

Praise the Lord for His Rewards (v.21-28)

David praised God that He rewarded him for living righteously (v.21-25).
1. Here is another reason this must have been an early song. David could not have sang these words after his sin with Bathsheba. God did forgive him, but he had wickedly departed from God.
2. God’s blessing is on the lives of those who live right in the sight of the Lord. It does pay to live right! It does pay to live for the glory of the Lord. (1 Corinthians 9:25) And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. (Explain this verse.)
3. Does the Lord really see if we live right or not? Yes! (Proverbs 15:3) The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. (Job 34:21) For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.
4. What does it mean to live right in the sight of the Lord?
  1. Is it right in God’s eyes to tell a “little” lie?
  2. Is it right in God’s eyes to watch a movie that contains cursing or swearing or immodesty or drunkenness or bedroom scenes?
  3. Is it right in God’s eyes to disobey a parent or boss or teacher or road law in some small way?
  4. Is it right in God’s eyes to wear clothing that may draw attention to your body?
5. It will help us to live right if we remember that God is holy and that he expects His children to live holy. (1 Peter 1:14) As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: (15) But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; (16) Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
David praised God for rewarding justly (v.26-28)
1. God will treat the merciful as merciful.
2. God will treat upright as upright.
3. God will treat the pure as pure.
4. God will treat the froward (crooked) as unsavoury (crooked).
5. God will treat the afflicted with deliverance.
6. God will treat the haughty with abasement (bring them down).
7. Of this section in Psalm 18:25, Charles Spurgeon wrote, “Every man shall have his meat weighed in his own scales, his corn meted in his own bushel, and his land measured with his own rod. No rule can be more fair, to ungodly men more terrible, or to the generous man more honourable.” (ToD) The emphasis here is to do right so God can treat us as we want to be treated.
  We Ought to

Praise the Lord for His Direction (v.29-51)

The Lord is a lamp to lighten our dark paths (v.29).
God’s way is perfect. His word is tried (refined). He is a buckler (shield) to all who trust in Him (v.31). God will never lead you astray!
God is our strength and power to make our way perfect or complete (v.33).
God prepares us for things we will face (v.34-46).
The Lord is alive! (v.47) He is not dead. He is not made of carved wood. He is alive and cares about us.
God deserves our thanks and praises to His name in song (v.50).
☆ If God has saved your soul, sing to Him! One of the ways you can worship and praise the Lord is with your singing. You do not need to be a professional singer to sing. Just lift up your voice and sing!

Conclusion

This whole chapter is one of David’s songs of praise to the Lord. As you consider what we have studied this evening, it ought to motivate you to pray and sing praises to the Lord. It ought to pull your heart to stay close to the Lord so that He can protect you and so you will live right in His sight.

What is God speaking to your heart about this evening? Do you need to set aside more quality time with God in prayer? Do you need to live more righteously before God? Do you need to sing from your heart to the Lord? Do you need to praise God more?

Let’s not leave tonight the same way we came.

Song: I Surrender All – 394
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David’s Song of Praise
29 November 2015 PM – 2 Samuel 22:1-51 – Life of David – Scott Childs

Sermons

David’s Song of Praise – 2 Samuel 22:1-51