2 Samuel 22:2-4 My Savior!

 ”And he said: “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, My stronghold and my refuge; My Savior, You save me from violence. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.“

‭‭II Samuel‬ ‭22‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. My rock and my fortress and my deliverer: David piled title upon title in praising God. God’s work for David was so big and comprehensive that it couldn’t be contained in one title.

i. “In the opening sentence, which we have emphasized, the sense of truth is reinforced by the final words, ‘even mine.’ By them the singer revealed the fact that all he celebrated in song was more than theory, it was experience.” (Morgan)

ii. David experienced the LORD’s deliverance:

· God delivered David from Goliath.

· God delivered David from Saul.

· God delivered David from backsliding.

· God delivered David from Israel’s enemies.

· God delivered David from Absalom.

· God delivered David from David’s own sinful passions.

b. In whom I will trust: When we see God for who He is, it is easy to trust Him. When we know He is our rock and fortress and deliverer and shield and stronghold and Savior, it is natural to then trust Him completely.

i. Faith does not completely depend on knowledge, but the right knowledge of God gives great strength to faith.

c. My Savior, You save me: Each title was meaningful to David because God fulfilled the meaning of each title in David’s experience. This isn’t a list of the names of God one might find in a systematic theology; this is the knowledge of God combined with the right experience of God. (Guzik)

d. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: “It is well to pray to God as to one who deserves to be praised, for then we plead in a happy and confident manner. If I feel that I can and do bless the Lord for all his past goodness, I am bold to ask great things of him.” (Spurgeon)

My Savior!

He is my rock and fortress, deliverer and shield and stronghold! 

I trust Him completely and have faith that my soul is secure in His hands.

Jesus is my Savior, is He yours?

Blessings 

2 Samuel 22:1 Gracious Hand of God!

 ”Then David spoke to the Lord the words of this song, on the day when the Lord had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul.“

‭‭II Samuel‬ ‭22‬:‭1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Then David spoke to the LORD the words of this song: For many reasons, most commentators assume that this was a psalm David wrote and sung many years before and was inserted at the end of 2 Samuel, out of its chronological place. This is a possible explanation, but not a necessary one.

i. “The psalm appears almost as David’s final words. Hence, it is a summary thanksgiving for God’s many deliverances of him through his long life of service.” (Boice)

b. The words of this song: With minor variations, this psalm is the same as Psalm 18. It is likely that David composed this song as a younger man – perhaps when Saul died, and he first took the throne, as described in 2 Samuel 8:14, when David had subdued all his enemies, and the LORD preserved David wherever he went. Yet in his old age, David could look back with great gratitude and sing this song again, looking at his whole life.

i. This psalm is a great summary of David’s whole character and attitude through life. “Such convictions - of the absolute sovereignty of Jehovah, of His omnipotent power to deliver, of the necessity for obedience to His law, and of assurance that in the case of such obedience He ever acts for His people - constituted the underlying strength of David’s character.” (Morgan)

ii. “We have another form of this Psalm with significant variations…and this suggests the idea that it was sung by David at different times when he reviewed his own remarkable history, and observed the gracious hand of God in it all.” (Spurgeon)

(Guzik)

Gracious Hand of God!

When I review my life history I observe the gracious hand of God in it all.

Even during the hard times He was training me in the way I should go and when I fell into sin He washed me clean with the blood of Jesus and welcomed me home like the prodigal son.

Do you recognize the gracious hand of God in your life?

Blessings 

2 Samuel 21:18-22 Divine Enterprises!

 ”Now it happened afterward that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob. Then Sibbechai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was one of the sons of the giant. Again there was war at Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. Yet again there was war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number; and he also was born to the giant. So when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him. These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.“ II Samuel‬ ‭21‬:‭18‬-‭22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Now it happened afterward: This description of victory over Philistine giants showed that Israel could slay giants without David.

i. Sibbechai…. Elhanan…. Jonathan: These men accomplished heroic deeds when David was finished with fighting giants. God will continue to raise up leaders when the leaders of the previous generation pass from the scene.

ii. David’s legacy lay not only in what he accomplished but also in what he left behind – a people prepared for victory. David’s triumphs were meaningful not only for himself but for others who learned victory through his teaching and example.

b. Who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot: Some Bible commentators like Adam Clarke can’t resist reminding us that this is a known phenomenon. “This is not a solitary instance: Tavernier informs us that the eldest son of the emperor of Java, who reigned in 1649, had six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each foot…. I once saw a young girl, in the county of Londonderry, in Ireland, who had six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each foot, but her stature had nothing gigantic in it.”

c. Fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants: Part of the idea is that David conquers enemies in the present, so it will be better for Solomon in the future. Our present victory is not only good for us now, but it also passes something important on to the next generation.

i. The defeat of these four giants is rightly credited to the hand of David and the hand of his servants. David had a role in this through his example, his guidance, and his influence.

ii. “Let those who after long service find themselves waning in strength, be content to abide with the people of God, still shining for them as a lamp, and thus enabling them to carry on the same Divine enterprises. Such action in the last days of life is also great and high service.” (Morgan)

(Guzik)

Divine Enterprises!

We have a couple that are greeters at our church, the wife a double amputee in a wheelchair and the husband recently had heart stints uses a walker.

I’d call that divine enterprises with great and high service!

Are you a lamp for Jesus?

Blessings

2 Samuel 21:1b Murders

 So they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God heeded the prayer for the land.“ ‭‭II Samuel‬ ‭21‬:‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. They performed all that the king commanded: David directed all of this and he did it partly on the principle stated in Numbers 35:33: So you shall not pollute the land where you are; for blood defiles the land, and no atonement can be made for the land, for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of him who shed it. The idea is that blood from unpunished murders defiles a land and God will one day require that blood from the nation.

b. After that God heeded the prayer for the land: It wasn’t as if from the time Saul massacred the Gibeonites until David’s day that God did not answer any of Israel’s prayers. Yet there came a time when God wanted to deal with this sin, and at that time He would not answer their prayers until they dealt with it.

i. There are many reasons for unanswered prayer. When we see that our prayers are not answered we should seek God to address the problem. (Guzik)

Murders

“The idea is that blood from unpunished murders defiles a land and God will one day require that blood from the nation.”

This should send a chill down our spine!

We need to pray for a revival and seek God to address the problem!

Will you join me in prayer?

Blessings 

2 Samuel 21:10-14a Burial

 ”Now Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it for herself on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until the late rains poured on them from heaven. And she did not allow the birds of the air to rest on them by day nor the beasts of the field by night. And David was told what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done. Then David went and took the bones of Saul, and the bones of Jonathan his son, from the men of Jabesh Gilead who had stolen them from the street of Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hung them up, after the Philistines had struck down Saul in Gilboa. So he brought up the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from there; and they gathered the bones of those who had been hanged. They buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the tomb of Kish his father.

‭‭II Samuel‬ ‭21‬:‭10‬-‭14‬a ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Spread it for herself on the rock…until the late rains poured on them from heaven: Rizpah – the mother of two of the seven delivered for execution – held a vigil over the bodies until the late rains came. The coming of rain showed that the famine was over, that justice was satisfied, and that Israel was delivered.

i. This means that the bodies of these men were deliberately left unburied. This was to emphasize the fact that these men were executed as an act of judgment.

b. They gathered the bones: David gave these seven a public burial, together with the remains of Saul and Jonathan. (Guzik)

Burial 

As we age we realize that time is short and we aren’t invincible. The wise makes plans for the inevitable, the day of our demise. 

I’m reminded of what Billy Graham said and look forward to going home!

“The moment we take our last breath on earth, we take our first in heaven.”

We’ve made plans for our burial, have you?

Blessings 

2 Samuel 21:3-6 Principle

 ”Therefore David said to the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? And with what shall I make atonement, that you may bless the inheritance of the Lord?” And the Gibeonites said to him, “We will have no silver or gold from Saul or from his house, nor shall you kill any man in Israel for us.” So he said, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.” Then they answered the king, “As for the man who consumed us and plotted against us, that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the territories of Israel, let seven men of his descendants be delivered to us, and we will hang them before the Lord in Gibeah of Saul, whom the Lord chose.” And the king said, “I will give them.”“ ‭‭II Samuel‬ ‭21‬:‭3‬-‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. What shall I do for you? In resolving this matter with the Gibeonites, David did not dictate terms to them. He came to them as a servant, not as a king.

b. That you may bless the inheritance of the LORD: David felt that if the Gibeonites could bless Israel then the reconciliation would be complete, and God’s chastening of Israel would end.

c. We will have no silver or gold from Saul or from his house, nor shall you kill any man in Israel for us: The Gibeonites made it clear that they didn’t want money or direct retribution. Though Saul made a wholesale slaughter of the Gibeonites, they didn’t ask for the same among the people of Israel.

d. Let seven men of his descendants be delivered to us: In those ancient times, the request of the Gibeonites was considered reasonable. Instead of money or an “eye for an eye” they only asked for justice against Saul through his descendants. David agreed to this (I will give them).

i. “Which God had now a purpose to root out, that they might not be further troublesome to David - who had lately suffered so much - in the quiet enjoyment of the kingdom.” (Trapp)

e. I will give them: David knew this was the right thing to do. Some believe he knew it was right because David knew that Saul’s descendants helped in or benefited directly from that massacre.

i. Obviously, we are not told everything about this incident; we must trust the principle stated by Abraham: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? (Genesis 18:25) (Guzik)

Principle 

There are times when we study the Bible that we wonder why certain things happened the way they did, but we are not God. Take the Book of Job for example, how would we react if God used us as the example instead of Job? 

”Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”“ Job‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

If only we had the faith of Job or Abraham!

Do you trust the principle stated by Abraham?

Blessings 

2 Samuel 21:2 Intentions and Actions!

 ”So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. Now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; the children of Israel had sworn protection to them, but Saul had sought to kill them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah.“ ‭‭II Samuel‬ ‭21‬:‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. The king called the Gibeonites: David knew he had to do something about this and so he initiated a resolution with the Gibeonites.

b. Saul had sought to kill them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah: We normally think of such zeal as something good. Yet Saul’s misguided zeal was a sin and brought calamity on Israel.

i. This is a good example of good intentions not excusing bad actions. We often excuse bad actions in ourselves and in others because of what we think are good intentions. But God examines both our intentions and our actions. (Guzik)

Intentions and Actions!

Intentions and actions go hand and hand! 

“While intentions are vital, the Bible also stresses the importance of actions.” (Bible Hub)

James 2:17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

If you say you have faith but don’t have love then according to Paul you are a clanging symbol.

”And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’“

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭39‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Do your neighbors know you are a Christian?

Blessings 

intentions_vs._actions.htm

2 Samuel 21:1 Promises

 ”Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David inquired of the Lord. And the Lord answered, “It is because of Saul and his bloodthirsty house, because he killed the Gibeonites.”“

‭‭II Samuel‬ ‭21‬:‭1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. And David inquired of the LORD: David wisely sought God in the face of chronic problems. David was concerned after the first year of famine, and even more after the second – but two years of famine didn’t make him look to a spiritual cause. Yet after three years of famine, David inquired of the LORD.

i. David didn’t see a spiritual reason for everyproblem, but he did not shut his eyes to the hand of God in circumstances.

ii. “The first and second year he might look upon it as a punishment laid upon them for the common sins of the land: but when he saw it continuing a third year also, he thought there was something in it more than ordinary, and therefore, although he well knew the natural cause to be drought, yet he inquired after the supernatural, as wise men should do.” (Trapp)

b. It is because of Saul and his bloodthirsty house, because he killed the Gibeonites: This massacre isn’t recorded in 1 Samuel, but David didn’t question that it happened. Apparently at some time during his reign Saul attacked and killed many of the Gibeonites.

i. “The whole people suffered for Saul’s sin; either because they approved it, or at least bewailed it not; neither did what they could to hinder it; whereby they became accessory.” (Trapp)

c. He killed the Gibeonites: When David heard it was because of an attack against the Gibeonites, a chill probably ran up his back. He knew that it was especially wrong for Saul to attack and kill this tribe of people.

i. In the days of Joshua – more than 400 years before David’s time – Israel swore not to harm the Gibeonites, a neighboring tribe (Joshua 9). God expected Israel to keep its promise, even though the Gibeonites tricked Israel into making the agreement. Saul’s crime was not only in killing the Gibeonites but also in breaking this ancient and important oath.

ii. This emphasizes many important principles:

· God expects us to keep our promises.

· God expects nations to keep their promises.

· God does not excuse the obligations to keep our promises because of the passage of time.

· God’s correction may come a long time after the offense.

iii. If God has such a high expectation that men keep their covenants, we can have great confidence that He will keep His covenant with us. There is an emerald rainbow around the throne of God to proclaim His remembrance of His everlasting covenant with His people (Revelation 4:3). (Guzik)

Promises!

I highlighted the four important principles of promises-covenants above. Please chew on them awhile and pray:

Dear Lord is there a promise that I have made, that I failed to keep? If so please reveal it to me in my heart ❤️ so I can make things right. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.

Blessings