August 5, 2002
LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for Aug. 18
God's loving provision produces a singing faith
___2 Samuel 22:1-4,5-7,26-29
___By Roy Cotton
___BGCT DFW/Metroplex Church Starting Center Consultant
___Every believer ought to have a singing faith. One does not necessarily have to have a singing voice to have a faith that lifts up praise to God for his mighty works and especially for the gift of his salvation in Christ Jesus. There should be a song of praise on our lips and in our hearts every day.
___Praise is not something we do just for the things God does for us, but just because of who he is. Yes, praise him just because he is God. He alone is worthy of all praise.
___David, the most revered king of Israel, gives us an example in 2 Samuel 22. This chapter is a virtual duplicate of Psalm 18. The word "virtual" is appropriate, since there are slight differences between the present song in chapter 22 and the referenced psalm.
___The main distinction is the fact that 2 Samuel reveals the personal core values of David's private devotion to the Lord who delivered him from all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. In Psalm 18, David provides instructions "to the chief musician" or "for the director of music." The psalm is intended as a hymn for public and corporate worship.
___Both of these contain the longest individual poem attributed to David. There are 365 words in Hebrew in 2 Samuel 22, whereas the psalm comprises 376 words in the Hebraic language.
___The great Savior
___The chapter begins with an introduction on the identity and purpose of the song. "David sang to the Lord" (v. 1). The Bible does not use this introduction to describe David the singer or musician, but David the worshipper. Because the Lord had been a great deliverer "from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul," David sang (v. 1). What a difference our worship service would be if believers "sang to the Lord."
___David the singer-composer begins this great song of thanksgiving. The Lord is a great deliverer and protector for his people, but David makes it personal. He utilizes the richness of metaphors to describe eight qualities of the Lord. Using the personal pronoun to designate possession, David says the Lord is "my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my shield and the horn of my salvation" (vv. 2-3). He continues with more metaphorical descriptions of our great God: "He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior" (v. 3).
___Consider the pilgrimage of David from shepherd boy to commander of the armies of Israel and later as a fugitive on the run from a deranged king whose jealousy had gotten out of hand. David was indeed a brave and skilled soldier, but he never attributed his success to bravery and skill alone. He recognized that the only reason he lived to be king of Israel was because of the greatness of his God who was his rock, fortress, deliverer, shield, stronghold, refuge and savior. God had not only preserved him with physical and political protection but he had saved his life. He is a great Savior. David was thankful with all his heart.
___The responsive Savior
___God is not only a great Savior, but he is a responsive Savior. He is attentive to the cries of his children. David acknowledged his frailty and dependence on God. God was present through all the difficulties and life-threatening challenges of his life. David uses vivid metaphors to detail the impending dangers through which his great God had brought him.
___"The waves of death swirled about me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me" (v. 5). The Israelites were acquainted with two great bodies of water: the Mediterranean and Red seas. They had a sense of the mystery and wonder surrounding the reality of imminent danger out on the torrents of the high seas. These torrents were more than the cataclysmic waters of the seas, but actually the currents of destruction inflicted by his enemies.
___"The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me" (v. 6). The image of the cords that coiled around David indicated the ropes of the grave had him in its deadly grip. The snares of death would have overtaken him.
___In his "distress," David knew what to do. He "called to the Lord" (v. 7). But these were desperate situations. He did not simply call to the Lord; he "called out to my God" (v. 7). He had no one else on whom to call. He called on his personal God, "my God." God is a Savior who responds. He is completely trustworthy. Is he your personal Savior?
___The reliable Savior
___David addresses God in verses 26-29. He observes six ways God treats people in relation to their character and lifestyle. God is pleased with people who are faithful, blameless, pure and humble. He does not show favor to those who are crooked and haughty. David was faithful to God and trusted God's timing.
___The lesson closes with an exaltation of praise for who God is and what he has done. "You are my lamp, O Lord, the Lord turns my darkness into light" (v. 29). God, who was David's lamp, is my light in darkness. "I can't let a day go by without praising him."
___Questions for discussion
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