1Und Dawid redete zum Ewigen die Worte dieses Liedes am Tag, da der Ewige ihn gerettet aus der Hand aller seiner Feinde und aus der Hand Schauls. 2. Und er sprach: 2«O Ewiger, mein Fels und meine Burg Und mein Erretter mir. 3Gott meines Felsens, bei dem ich mich berge, Mein Schild und meines Heiles Horn; Mir Veste, Zuflucht, Helfer mein, 4Der vor Gewalt du mich schützest. ,Gerühmet' - ruf ich - ,Ewiger', Da ist vor meinen Feinden mir geholfen. 5Denn mich umschwemmen Todesbrandungen, Die Flüsse schreckten mich des Nimmerseins. 6Die Stricke des Scheol umwanden mich, Des Todes Schlingen jagten vor mir hin. 7Da mir so angst, rief aus ich ,Ewiger', Zu meinem Gotte rief ich. Und er erhört' aus seinem Tempel meine Stimme, Mein Schrei - in seinen Ohren. 8Da schwankts, es wankt' die Erde, Des Himmels Gründe bebten; Erzitterten, da er ergrimmt. 9Auf stieg ein Qualm aus seinem Antlitz, Und Lohe fraß aus seinem Mund, Glutkohlen zündeten an ihm. 10Er neigt' den Himmel, fuhr herab, Ein Wolkendunkel unter seinen Füßen. 11Fuhr auf dem Kerub her und flog, Erscheinend auf des Windes Flügeln. 12Macht' Finsternis rings um sich zum Verhang, Des Wassers Sieb, die Wolkenfetzen. 13Vom Glanz vor ihm entflammten Feuerkohlen. 14Erdonnern läßts der Ewige vom Himmel, Der Höchste schlägt mit seiner Stimme an. 15Er sandte Pfeile und verstreut' sie, Den Blitz und grollte. 16Da zeigten sich des Meeres Betten, Bloß legten sich des Festlands Gründe Vom Dräun des Ewigen, Vom Hauch des Odems seines Angesichts. 17Langt aus der Höhe, fasset mich, Zieht mich empor aus vielen Wassern. 18Entreißt dem Feinde mich, der stark, Den Hassern mein, die mächtiger als ich. 19Sie sind vor mir an meines Unglücks Tag, Der Ewge aber ward mir Stütze. 20Er führte mich hinaus ins Weite, Errettet mich, weil er nach mir verlangt. 21Der Ewige zahlt mir nach meiner Rechtlichkeit, Nach meiner Hände Reinheit stattet er mirs ab. 22Ich hab des Ewgen Wege ja gewahrt, Hab nicht an meinem Gott gefrevelt. 23Denn alle seine Rechte stehn vor mir, Und seine Satzungen - nicht geh ich davon ab. 24Untadelig war ich bei ihm Und wahrte mich vor Schuld an mir. 25Und es vergalt der Ewge mir nach meiner Rechtlichkeit, Nach meiner Reinheit, ihm vor Augen. 26Treufrommem zeigst du treu dich, Untadlig Wackerm du untadelig. 27Mit Lauterm bist du lauter, Mit Krummem ungerade. 28Bedrücktem Volke hilfst du, Senkst nieder, kommt dein Blick auf Stolze. 29Denn du bist meine Leuchte, Ewiger, Der Ewige erhellt mein Dunkel. 30Denn mit dir renn ich Scharen an, Mit meinem Gotte setz ich über Mauern. 31Ja Gott, untadlig ist sein Weg, Des Ewgen Spruch geläutert, Ein Schild er allen, die bei ihm sich bergen. 32Denn wer ist Gott, wenn nicht der Ewige, Und wer ein Fels, wär es nicht unser Gott! 33Gott, meine mächtge Veste, Frei macht er, ohne Fehle, meine Bahn. 34Der meine Füße bildet wie der Hinden, Und auf Erschlagene mich stellt. 35Der meine Hände unterweist zum Kampf, Daß erznen Bogen meine Arme spannen. 36Du gabst mir deines Heiles Schild, Und dein Erhören macht mich groß. 37Gabst Weite meinem Schritte unter mir, Nicht wankten meine Knöchel. 38Jag meinen Feinden nach, vernichte sie Und kehr nicht um, bis sie getilgt. 39Vernichte, metzle sie, sie können nimmer auf, Sie sinken unter meine Füße. 40Du gürtetest mit Macht zum Kampf mich, Zwangst meine Gegner nieder unter mich. 41Stellst mir die Feinde mit dem Nacken, Und meine Hasser, daß ich sie vertilge. 42Sie blicken auf, doch keiner hilft, Zum Ewgen, er erhört sie nicht: 43«Ich laß die (Himmel) morschen; wie den Lehm der Erde, Wie Schlamm der Fluren deck' ich (wieder) dünn sie aus.» 44Du rettest mich aus meines Volkes Fehden, Bewahrest mich als der Nationen Haupt, Volk, das ich nicht gekannt, das front mir, 45Der Fremde Söhne, mir verleugnet, Vom Ohrenhören mir erhört, 46Der Fremde Söhne welken hin, Sie schlottern vor aus ihren Kerkern. 47Es lebt der Ewige, gepriesen sei mein Fels, Erhöht der Gott, Fels meines Heils. 48Der Gott, der Rache mir verlieh Und Völker stürzte unter mich. 49Der du den Feinden mich entreißt Und über meine Gegner mich erhöhst, Vom Mann des Raubes mich errettest. 50Drum huldige ich bei den Völkern, Ewger, dir, Und deinem Namen will ich singen. 51Er, seines Königs Siegesturm, Der Liebe hält dem ihm Gesalbten, Dawid und dessen Samen, ewiglich.»
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary 1 Observe here, I. That it has often been the lot of God's people to have many enemies, and to be in imminent danger of falling into their hands. David was a man after God's heart, but not after men's heart: many were those that hated him, and sought his ruin; Saul is particularly named, either, 1. As distinguished from his enemies of the heathen nations. Saul hated David, but David did not hate Saul, and therefore would not reckon him among his enemies; or, rather, 2. As the chief of his enemies, who was more malicious and powerful than any of them. Let not those whom God loves marvel if the world hate them.
II. Those that trust God in the way of duty shall find him a present help to them in their greatest dangers. David did so. God delivered him out of the hand of Saul. He takes special notice of this. Remarkable preservations should be mentioned in our praises with a particular emphasis. He delivered him also
out of the hand of all his enemies, one after another, sometimes in one way, sometimes in another; and David, from his own experience, has assured us
that, though many are the troubles of the righteous, yet the Lord delivers them out of them all, Pss 34:19. We shall never be delivered from all our enemies till we get to heaven; and to that heavenly kingdom God will preserve all that are his,
2Tim 4:18.
III. Those that have received many signal mercies from God ought to give him the glory of them. Every new mercy in our hand should put a new song into our mouth, even praises to our God. Where there is a grateful heart, out of the abundance of that the mouth will speak. David spoke, not only to himself, for his own pleasure, not merely to those about him, for their instruction, but
to the Lord, for his honour,
the words of this song. Then we sing with grace when we sing to the Lord. In distress he
cried with his voice (
Pss 142:1), therefore with his voice he gave thanks. Thanksgiving to God is the sweetest vocal music.
IV. We ought to be speedy in our thankful returns to God:
In the day that God delivered him he sang this song. While the mercy is fresh, and our devout affections are most excited by it, let the thank-offering be brought, that it may be kindled with the fire of those affections.
2 Let us observe, in this song of praise,
I. How David adores God, and gives him the glory of his infinite perfections. There is none like him, nor any to be compared with him (
2Sam 22:32):
Who is God, save the Lord? All others that are adored as deities are counterfeits and pretenders. None is to be relied on but he.
Who is a rock, save our God? They are dead, but
the Lord liveth, 2Sam 22:47. They disappoint their worshippers when they most need them. But
as for God his way is perfect, 2Sam 22:31. Men begin in kindness, but end not - promise, but perform not; but God will finish his work, and his word is tried, and what we may trust.
II. How he triumphs in the interest he has in this God, and his relation to him, which he lays down as the foundation of all the benefits he has received from him:
He is my God; as such he cries to him (
2Sam 22:7), and cleaves to him (
2Sam 22:22); and, if
my God, then
my rock (
2Sam 22:2), that is, my strength and my power (
2Sam 22:33), the rock under which I take shelter (he who is to me as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land), the rock on which I build my hope,
2Sam 22:3. Whatever is my strength and support, it is
the God of my rock that makes it so; nay, he is
the God of the rock of my salvation (
2Sam 22:47): my saving strength is in him and from him. David often hid himself in a rock (
1Sam 24:2), but God was his chief hiding-place. He is my fortress, in which I am safe and think myself so -
my high tower, or stronghold, in which I am out of the reach of real evils - the
tower of salvation (
2Sam 22:51), which can never be sealed nor battered, nor undermined. Salvation itself saves me. Am I in distress? he is my deliverer - struck at, shot at? he is my shield - pursued? he is my refuge - oppressed? he is my saviour, that rescues me out of the hand of those that seek my ruin. Nay, he is the
horn of my salvation, by which I am strongly protected, and my enemies are strongly pushed. Christ is spoken of as the
horn of salvation in the house of David,
Luke 1:69. Am I burdened, and ready to sink?
The Lord is my stay (
2Sam 22:19), by whom I am supported. Am I in the dark, benighted, at a loss?
Thou art my lamp, O Lord! to show me my way, and thou wilt dispel
my darkness, 2Sam 22:29. If we sincerely take the Lord for our God, all this, and much more, he will be to us, all we need and can desire.
III. What improvement he makes of his interest in God. If he be mine, 1.
In him will I trust (
2Sam 22:3), that is, I will resign myself to his direction, and then depend upon his power, and wisdom, and goodness, to conduct me well. 2.
On him I will call (
2Sam 22:4),
for he is worthy to be praised. What we have found in God that is worthy to be praised should engage us to pray to him and give glory to him. 3.
To him will I give thanks (
2Sam 22:50), and that publicly. When he was among the heathen he would neither be afraid nor ashamed to own his obligations to the God of Israel.
IV. The full and large account he keeps for himself, and gives to others, of the great and kind things God had done for him. This takes up most of the song. He gives God the glory both of his deliverances and of his successes, showing both the perils he was delivered from and the power he was advanced to.
1. He magnifies the great salvations God had wrought for him. God sometimes brings his people into very great difficulties and dangers, that he may have the honour of saving them and they the comfort of being saved by him. He owns,
Thou hast saved me from violence (
2Sam 22:3),
from my enemies (
2Sam 22:4),
from my strong enemy, meaning Saul, who, if God had not succoured him, would have been too hard for him,
2Sam 22:18. Thou hast given me
the shield of thy salvation, 2Sam 22:36. To magnify the salvation, he observes,
(1.) That the danger was very great and threatening out of which he was delivered. Men
rose up against him (
2Sam 22:40,
2Sam 22:49) that
hated him (
2Sam 22:41),
a violent man (
2Sam 22:49) namely, Saul, who was malicious in his designs against him and vigorous in his pursuit. This is expressed figuratively,
2Sam 22:5,
2Sam 22:6. He was surrounded with death on every side, threatened to be overwhelmed, and saw no way of escape. So violently did the waves of death beat upon him, so strongly did the cords and snares of death hold him, that he could not help himself, any more than a man in the grave can. The floods of Belial, the wicked one, and his wicked instruments, made him afraid; he trembled to see not only earth, but death and hell, in arms against him.
(2.) That his deliverance was an answer to prayer,
2Sam 22:7. He has here left us a good example, when we are in distress, to cry unto God with importunity, as children in a fright cry to their parents; and great encouragement to do so, in that he found God ready to answer prayer out of his temple in heaven, where he is continually served and adored.
(3.) That God appeared in a singular and extraordinary manner for him and against his enemies. The expressions are borrowed from the descent of the divine Majesty upon Mount Sinai,
2Sam 22:8,
2Sam 22:9, etc. We do not find that in any of David's battles God fought for him with thunder (as in Samuel's time), or with hail (as in Joshua's time), or with the stars in their courses (as in Deborah's time); but these lofty metaphors are used, [1.] To set forth the glory of God, which was manifested in his deliverance. God's wisdom and power, his goodness and faithfulness, his justice and holiness, and his sovereign dominion over all the creatures and all the counsels of men, which appeared in favour of David, were as clear and bright a discovery of God's glory to an eye of faith as such miraculous interpositions would have been to an eye of sense. [2.] To set forth God's displeasure against his enemies, God so espoused his cause that he showed himself an enemy to all his enemies; his anger is set forth by a
smoke out of his nostrils, and
fire out of his mouth (
2Sam 22:9),
coals kindled (
2Sam 22:13),
arrows, 2Sam 22:15. Who knows the power and terror of his wrath? [3.] To set forth the extraordinary confusion which his enemies were put into, and the consternation that seized them; as if the earth had trembled and the
foundations of the world had been discovered,
2Sam 22:8,
2Sam 22:16. Who can stand before God when he is angry? [4.] To show how ready God was to help him:
He rode upon a cherub and did fly, 2Sam 22:11. God hastened to his succour, and came to him with seasonable relief, though he had seemed at a distance; yet he was
a God hiding himself (
Isa 14:15), for he made
darkness his pavilion (
2Sam 22:12), for the amazement of his enemies and the protection of his own people.
(4.) That God manifested his particular favour and kindness to him in these deliverances (
2Sam 22:20):
He delivered me, because he delighted in me. The deliverance came not from common providence, but covenant-love; he was herein treated as a favourite: so he perceived by the communications of divine grace and comfort to his soul with these deliverances, and the communion he had with God in them. Herein he was a type of Christ, whom God upheld because he
delighted in him, Isa 42:1,
Isa 42:2.
2. He magnifies the great successes God had crowned him with. He had not only preserved but prospered him. He was blessed, (1.) With liberty and enlargement. He was
brought into a large place (
2Sam 22:20), where he had room to thrive, and his
steps were enlarged under him, so that he had room to stir (
2Sam 22:37), being no longer straitened and confined. (2.) With military skill, and strength, and swiftness. Though he was bred up to the crook, he was well instructed in the arts of war and qualified for the toils and perils of it. God, having called him to fight his battles, qualified him for the service. He made him very ingenious (
He teacheth my hands to war, 2Sam 22:35. And this ingenuity was as good as strength, for it follows, so
that a bow of steel is broken by my arms, not so much by main force as by dexterity), and very vigorous and valiant. (
Thou hast girded me with strength to battle, 2Sam 22:40. He gives God the glory of all his courage and ability for service), and very expeditious:
He maketh my feet swift like hinds feet (
2Sam 22:34), which is of great advantage both in charging and retreating. (3.) With victory over his enemies, not only Saul and Absalom, but the Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, Syrians, and other neighbouring nations, whom he subdued and made tributaries to Israel. His wonderful victories are here described, (2Sam:22:38-43). They were
speedy victories (
I turned not again till I had consumed them, 2Sam 22:38) and
complete victories. The enemies of Israel were
wounded, destroyed, consumed, fell
under his feet, trampled upon, and disabled to rise, and their necks lay at his mercy. They cried both to earth and heaven for help, but in vain.
There was none to save, none that durst appear for them. God
answered them, not for they were not on his side, nor did they cry unto him till they were brought to the last extremity. Being thus abandoned, they became an easy prey to David's righteous and victorious sword, so that he
beat them as small as the dust of the earth, which is scattered by the wind and trodden on by every foot. (4.) With advancement to honour and power. To this he was anointed before his troubles began, and at length,
post tot discrimina rerum -
after all his dangers and disasters, he gained his point. God
made his way perfect (
2Sam 22:33), gave him success in all his undertakings,
set him upon his high places (
2Sam 22:34), denoting both safety and dignity. God's gentleness, his grace and tender mercy,
made him great (
2Sam 22:36), gave him great wealth, and great authority, and a name like that of the great men of the earth. He was
kept to be the head of the heathen (
2Sam 22:44); his signal preservations evinced that he was designed and reserved for something great - to rule over all Israel, notwithstanding the
strivings of the people, and so that those whom
he had not known should serve him, many of the nations that lay remote. Thus he was
lifted up on high, as high as the throne, above those that
rose up against him, 2Sam 22:49.
V. The comfortable reflections he makes upon his own integrity, which God, by those wonderful deliverances, had graciously owned and witnessed to, (2Sam:22:21-25). He means especially his integrity with reference to Saul and Ishbosheth, Absalom and Sheba, and those who either opposed his coming to the crown or endeavoured to dethrone him. They falsely accused him and misrepresented him, but he had the testimony of this conscience for him that he was not an ambitious aspiring man, a false and bloody man, as they called him, - that he had never taken any indirect unlawful courses to secure or raise himself, but in his whole conduct had kept in the way of his duty, - and that in the whole course of his conversation he had, for the main, made religion his business, so that he could take God's favours to him as the rewards of his righteousness, not of debt, but of grace. God had recompensed him, though not for his righteousness, as if that had merited any thing at the hand of God, yet according to his righteousness, which he was well pleased with, and had an eye to. His conscience witnessed for him, 1. That he had made the word of God his rule, and had kept to it,
2Sam 22:23. Wherever he was, God's judgments were before him as his guide; whithersoever he went, he took his religion along with him, and though he was forced to depart from his country, and sent, as it were, to serve other gods, yet as for God's statutes, he did not depart from them, but kept the way of the Lord and walked in it. 2. That he had carefully avoided the bye-paths of sin. He had not wickedly departed from his God. He could not say but that he had taken some false steps, but he had not deserted God, nor forsaken his way. Sins of infirmity he could not acquit himself from, but the grace of God had kept him from presumptuous sins. Though he had sometimes
weakly departed from his God. By this it appeared that he was
upright before God, or
to God (in his sight, and with an eye to him), that he
kept himself from his own iniquity, not only from that particular sin of killing Saul when it was in the power of his hand to do it, but, in general, he was afraid of sin and watchful against it, and made conscience of what he said and did. The matter of Uriah is an exception (
1Kgs 15:5), like that in Hezekiah's character,
2Chr 32:31. Note, A careful abstaining from our own iniquity is one of the best evidences of our own integrity; and the testimony of our conscience for us that we have done so will be such a rejoicing as will not only lessen the griefs of an afflicted state, but increase the comforts of a prosperous state. David reflected with more comfort upon his victories over his own iniquity than upon his conquest of Goliath and all the hosts of the uncircumcised Philistines; and the witness of his own heart to his uprightness was sweeter though more silent music than theirs that sang,
David has slain his ten thousands. If a great man be a good man, his goodness will be much more his satisfaction than his greatness. Let favour be shown to the upright and his uprightness will sweeten it, will double it.
VI. The comfortable prospects he has of God's further favour. As he looks back, so he looks forward, with pleasure, and assures himself of the kindness God has in store for all the saints, for himself, and also for his seed.
1. For all good people, (2Sam:22:26-28). As God had dealt with him according to his uprightness, so he will with all others. He takes occasion here to lay down the established rules of God's procedure with the children of men: -
(1.) That he will do good to those that are upright in their hearts. As we are found towards God, he will be found towards us. [1.] God's mercy and grace will be the joy of those that are merciful and gracious. Even the merciful need mercy; and they shall obtain it. [2.] God's uprightness, his justice and faithfulness, will be the joy of those that are upright, just, and faithful, both towards God and man. [3.] God's purity and holiness will be the joy of those that are pure and holy, who therefore give thanks at the remembrance thereof. And, if any of these good people be
afflicted people, he will save them, either out of their afflictions or by and after them. On the other hand,
(2.) That those who turn aside to crooked ways he will
lead forth with the workers of iniquity, as he says in another psalm.
With the froward he will wrestle; and those with whom God wrestles are sure to be foiled.
Woe unto him that strives with his Maker! God will walk contrary to those that walk contrary to him and be displeased with those that are displeased with him. As for the haughty, his eyes are upon them, marking them out, as it were, to be brought down; for
he resists the proud. 2. For himself. He foresaw that his conquests and kingdom would be yet further enlarged,
2Sam 22:45,
2Sam 22:46. Even the
sons of the stranger, that would hear the report of his victories and the tokens of God's presence with him, would be possessed with a fear of him, would be forced to submit to him, though feignedly, and would be obedient to him. The successes which he had had he looked upon as earnests of more and means of more. Who durst oppose him by whom so many had been overcome? Thus the Son of David
goes on conquering and to conquer, Revel 6:2. His gospel, which has been victorious, shall be so more and more.
3. For his seed: He
showeth mercy to his Messiah (
2Sam 22:51), not only to David himself, but to that seed of his for evermore. David was himself anointed of God, not a usurper, but duly called to the government and qualified for it; therefore he doubted not but God would show mercy to him, that mercy which he had promised not to take from him nor from his posterity (
2Sam 7:15,
2Sam 7:16); on that promise he depends, with an eye to Christ, who alone is his
seed for evermore, whose throne and kingdom still continue, and will to the end, whereas the seed and lineage of David are long since extinct. See
Pss 89:28,
Pss 89:29. Thus all his joys and all his hopes terminate, as ours should, in the great Redeemer.
