Lesson 244 - Senior
Memory Verse
"Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads, we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place" (Psalm 66:12).
Cross References
I The Lord a Citadel of Strength
1. This passage was written after David was given victory over his enemies, [2SM:22:1].
2. The Lord is a Rock, a Fortress, and David's deliverer, [2SM:22:2]; [PS:18:1-2].
3. The Lord is a Shield, a Horn, a Tower: David's trust, salvation, refuge, and Saviour, [2SM:22:3].
II A Very Present Help in Time of Trouble
1. David is in great distress, probably at the hands of Saul, [2SM:22:5-6]; [1SM:23:26-28]; [PS:27:1];[PS:18:4-5].
2. In his distress, David calls upon the Lord, [2SM:22:4];[2SM:22:7]; [LUK:22:41-44]; [PS:18:3];[PS:18:6].
III Mighty to Save and Strong to Deliver
1. Both Heaven and earth quake when God rises up, in vengeance, to scatter His enemies, [2SM:22:8-16]; [PS:93:1];[PS:18:7-15]; [ACT:4:23-31]; [ACT:16:25- 26]; [MAT:28:2-4].
2. A mighty deliverance is wrought in answer to prayer, [2SM:22:17-20]; [PS:31:7-8]; [PS:18:16-19].
IV The Rewards of Righteousness
1. David finds deliverance because of his upright life, [2SM:22:21-25]; [PS:4:3];[PS:18:20-24; [PS:34:17]; [HEB:1:9].
2. God's mercy is extended to the merciful, [2SM:22:26-28]; [MAT:6:12];[MAT:6:14]; [PS:18:25-27].
V The Invincibility of the Man of God
1. God gives strength for the battle, [2SM:22:29-40]; [PS:18:28-39]; [PHL:4:13].
2. He subdues our enemies under us, [2SM:22:41-46]; [PS:18:40-45]; [DEU:11:25]; [LUK:10:19].
3. The Psalmist gives a final tribute to the God of battles, [2SM:22:47-51]; [PS:18:46-50].
Notes
This is generally thought of as a Messianic Psalm, or a Psalm that speaks of Christ and tells us something about Him, His official duties, or His coming to earth. David was extolling the Lord for delivering him out of his troubles and giving him victory over his enemies; and at the same time, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he gave us a beautiful prophecy concerning the Messiah. There are many parallels between David's experiences and the life of Christ.
Under the hand of Saul, David went through a period of humiliation and suffering. Jesus also went through a period of humiliation and suffering here on this earth. Jesus gave His back to the smiters and His cheek to them that plucked off the hair. He was led "as a lamb to the slaughter," but He arose, triumphant over death, hell, and the grave.
David did not walk uprightly through his entire career as Jesus did; but in this chapter, which seems to be chiefly concerned with his dealings with Saul, we see that David was without blame and showed much mercy to Saul.
A Rock and Refuge
In the beginning of this song, David gave his personal testimony. He wrote of what the Lord was to him. He expressed the thought, "The LORD is my rock, and my fortress." As David crawled over those craggy cliffs while fleeing from Saul, he realised what a fortress they were, many times, to him. The Lord was just such a Fortress to his soul. He was often practically surrounded and almost taken, spiritually speaking, but when the enemy of his soul came on one side David would be led by God to escape by the other side. Therefore the Lord was continually his refuge.
Horn of Salvation
"He is my shield, and the horn of my salvation." A horn is used in Scripture to denote power. It is the natural, God-given weapon of an ox and is that animal's protection and power. That is true of many other animals. For that reason the heads of governments are often spoken of in Scripture as horns. "The horn of my salvation" means a salvation that is possessed of qualities that are both powerful and efficient.
There is not a weak point in this great salvation, which the Lord has provided for us. Through it we are set free from the power and dominion of sin. It takes a strong deliverer to rescue any soul from the snares of Satan and from the base and evil habits that sin has fastened on that life. But the salvation purchased for us by Jesus Christ is adequate. It is complete. It includes everything we need for our eventual glorification.
Waves of Death
"The waves of death compassed me." Possibly many times when he was fleeing from Saul, David spent sleepless nights on the mountainside or in the dens or caves. No doubt he wondered whether he would ever see the light of day again.
The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews mentions David among the prophets of old who "wandered about in sheep-skins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;... in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth."
"The floods of ungodly men made me afraid." The troops from Saul's army, or the Philistines, rushing forward like the waves of the sea, may monetarily made David afraid. But God heard his cry and delivered him from all his fears, and from all his dangers.
The Raging of the Elements
The description David gives here of the ways God answered his cries for help greatly adds to the account given to us in the historical writings.
But these descriptions not only show his own victories but are a Messianic prophecy as well, applicable to the Saviour at His crucifixion and resurrection.
The Lord is described here as a warrior, coming down from Heaven, riding on a cherub which was carried along by the wings of the wind, driven by the tempest. His pavilion was the dark clouds that surrounded Him. His weapons were thunderbolts, lightnings, fiery hail, deluging rains, and stormy winds. The smoke that went up out of His nostrils, and the fire out of His mouth, were descriptive of the Lord's wrath. The earth shook and trembled. An earthquake moved the foundations of the hills; and the rocks rent; channels of water opened up. We can see that when God speaks in this manner men flee from His presence.
How similar is this to what took place at the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus! Of these earth-shaking incidents it is recorded by the Gospel writer that "there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: and for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men" [MAT:28:2-4]); and "from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.... And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection" [MAT:27:45];[MAT:27:51]-53). How similar also is this language with that used to describe the coming of Christ in His revelation! (Read [REV:19:11-16].)
We remember that an earthquake, at midnight, opened the prison doors for Paul and Silas. This same God who delivered David, Paul and Silas, and countless other saints and warriors of God, will deliver each one of us. His power is the same today. His mercy reaches us all. But His full glory is still to be revealed to this world.
The Reward of Righteousness
"The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness." David always dealt uprightly with Saul. Never once did David lift up his hand against Saul, to hurt him. Neither would David permit any of his men, at any time, to harm Saul. It was that uprightness of heart that gave David confidence when in trouble.
When a person keeps his vows to God and walks before Him with clean hands and a pure heart, then in time of trouble he can come to God with confidence and claim the divine promises. He will have no clogged faith channels to clear out. He will have free communion between his soul and Heaven.
We are told that when Isaiah brought word to King Hezekiah to set his house in order because he was going to die, he could call upon the Lord with confidence, to increase his days. Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed, telling the Lord that he had walked before Him in truth and with a perfect heart, and had done that which was good in His sight. How quickly he received an answer from Heaven! Isaiah had not yet gone from the house when the Lord told him to go and tell Hezekiah that He had heard his prayer. "The righteous LORD loveth righteousness" [PS:11:7]).
On the other hand, if a man walks carelessly, fails to pay his vows, ceases to renew his consecrations, regards iniquity in his heart, or does evil of any kind, when trouble comes he has to renew those vows and consecrations and clear the faith channels of the obstructions that are there, before he can have confidence toward God. An upright life is a mighty and effective bulwark against the soul's enemies. (Read I [JHN:3:18-22].)
Gentleness and Mercy
David wrote here about mercy and the duty of being merciful. David showed mercy to Saul on several occasions. In the Beatitudes said, "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy." The Lord recognises and rewards the one who is merciful in his dealings with his fellow men. The Lord forgives us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
"Thy gentleness hath made me Great, The Lord taught David, through all his trouble-filled days, to bear and to forbear, to behave with courage in adversity, and to be humble even when he was in prosperity.
David's human characteristics were courage and strength. But, from the hand of God, he also received outstanding prosperity; and while he walked with God no enemy was able to prevail against him. David attributed his deliverances and all his spiritual and temporal success to God. The main theme of this beautiful song is the giving of praise to God for success and victories.
"Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore" [PS:18:50]). Here Christ, the true King, and David, the anointed one, and we, the spiritual seed, are spoken of. How broad, how high, how all-inclusive and far-reaching is the mercy and delivering love of our God!
David was a king of God's own appointment. He was a warrior. But he knew that it was by the hand of his God that he was enabled to "run through a troop," and to leap over a wall. Nevertheless, he realised -- and so must we, also -- that there are no victories without a battle and no crown without a cross. He "fought a good fight," and so must we, also, if we are to inherit eternal life.
Questions
1. What kind of Psalm is this generally considered to be?
2. For what was David giving God the praise?
3. Describe how God answered his cries.
4. Was David's life always upright?
5. What gives a person confidence toward God?
6. What is the Lord's attitude toward the merciful?
7. By whom was David appointed king?
8. To whom does the "seed" refer in the last verse?