Focal passages: 2 Samuel 22:26-36, 50-51
David’s song of praise in this passage echoes Hannah’s song (1 Samuel 2:1-10). It frames all God’s work in and through Israel with thankfulness. The Davidic dynasty is only a chapter in the larger story of God redeeming sinful people to Himself, reuniting them to His family and restoring them for a new creation.
Only God could have chosen a single people, Israel, out of all the nations so that they would become a light to all the nations. There is no other way they could have overcome their oppressors in Egypt, conquered their enemies in Canaan and established their kingdom without God’s powerful and gracious hand.
Every promise is fulfilled in this psalm, and the reason given is God’s character. In particular, verses 26-29 describe His holiness. He is just in His dealings with all people, acting true according to His character.
David even meditates on the sweetness of God’s character, calling Him a guiding light, when we know God’s holiness can also be fiercely intimidating.
The Lord proved His character to David through consistent action; the Lord, and no other, is the one true God and the Rock (2 Samuel 22:32). Every muscle and instrument for war was supported by His divine enabling to make David strong to fight the Lord’s battles. By expressing his reliance upon God, David was saying that everything he accomplished in life was owing to God’s working through him.
Believers today can read this psalm as more than a historical work, because it’s not just about the past but the future, too. The Lord who lives has chosen a King and Messiah to win great victories and to reign forever.
All the blessings experienced by David would be multiplied when his offspring, or seed (Galatians 3:16), is revealed in Jesus Christ. We should thank God for providing for our salvation through His Son, Jesus.