2 Samuel 22:18-28

18 He rescued me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me.

19 They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress, but the LORD supported me.

20 He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me.

21 The LORD rewarded me for doing right; he restored me because of my innocence.

22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD ; I have not turned from my God to follow evil.

23 I have followed all his regulations; I have never abandoned his decrees.

24 I am blameless before God; I have kept myself from sin.

25 The LORD rewarded me for doing right. He has seen my innocence.

26 “To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity.

27 To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.

28 You rescue the humble, but your eyes watch the proud and humiliate them.

2 Samuel 22:18-28 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 22

This chapter contains a song or psalm, the same with the eighteenth psalm, and which, according to Jarchi, was composed by David in his old age, and, as Kimchi says, at the end or close of his days; but Abarbinel is of opinion that it was written in his youthful time, in the midst of his troubles, and was sung by him as often as he had a deliverance from any; and which may account for the several variations in it from the eighteenth psalm, which, the same writer observes, are seventy four; and are not to be ascribed to the difference of copies, or neglect of copiers: and very probably, towards the close of his days, he revised it, and made it fit for general use, and sent it with the rest of his psalms to the chief musician; but the particular consideration of it, and of the differences in it from Ps 18:1-50 are referred to the exposition of that book in its course.