2 Samuel 22:20-30

20 He took me to a safe place. Because he delights in me, he saved me.

21 "The Lord spared me because I did what was right. Because I have not done evil, he has rewarded me.

22 I have followed the ways of the Lord; I have not done evil by turning from my God.

23 I remember all his laws and have not broken his rules.

24 I am innocent before him; I have kept myself from doing evil.

25 The Lord rewarded me because I did what was right, because I did what the Lord said was right.

26 "Lord, you are loyal to those who are loyal, and you are good to those who are good.

27 You are pure to those who are pure, but you are against those who are evil.

28 You save the humble, but you bring down those who are proud.

29 Lord, you give light to my lamp. The Lord brightens the darkness around me.

30 With your help I can attack an army. With God's help I can jump over a wall.

2 Samuel 22:20-30 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.