2 Samuel 22:31-51

31 As for God, his way is all good: the word of the Lord is tested; he is a safe cover for all those who put their faith in him.

32 For who is God but the Lord? and who is a Rock but our God?

33 God puts a strong band about me, guiding me in a straight way.

34 He makes my feet like roes' feet, and puts me on high places.

35 He makes my hands expert in war, so that a bow of brass is bent by my arms.

36 You have given me the breastplate of your salvation, and your mercy has made me great.

37 You have made my steps wide under me, so that my feet make no slip.

38 I go after my haters and overtake them; not turning back till they are all overcome.

39 I have sent destruction on them and given them wounds, so that they are not able to get up: they are stretched under my feet.

40 For I have been armed by you with strength for the fight: you have made low under me those who came out against me.

41 By you their backs are turned in flight, so that my haters are cut off.

42 They were crying out, but there was no one to come to their help: even to the Lord, but he gave them no answer.

43 Then they were crushed as small as the dust of the earth, stamped down under my feet like the waste of the streets.

44 You have made me free from the fightings of my people; you have made me the head of the nations: a people of whom I had no knowledge will be my servants.

45 Men of other countries will, with false hearts, put themselves under my authority: from the time when my name comes to their ears, they will be ruled by me.

46 They will be wasted away, they will come out of their secret places shaking with fear.

47 The Lord is living; praise be to my Rock, and let the God of my salvation be honoured:

48 It is God who sends punishment on my haters, and puts peoples under my rule.

49 He makes me free from my haters: I am lifted up over those who come up against me: you have made me free from the violent man.

50 Because of this I will give you praise, O Lord, among the nations, and will make a song of praise to your name.

51 Great salvation does he give to his king; he has mercy on the king of his selection, David, and on his seed for ever.

2 Samuel 22:31-51 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.