2 Samuel 22

David could have rejected God’s grace, of course; but in so doing he would have forfeited God’s righteousness. And David realized that righteousness, righteous conduct, was essential if one was to experience God’s deliverance. God does not deliver those who persist in sin and reject His grace.

So, with David, we can see that there are two essential factors in our deliverance, our salvation:first, the faith fulness—the grace—of God Himself, which David describes in verses 26–37; and second, our response—our FAITH and righteous conduct⁷⁴ (see Philippians 2:12–13). Thus David was correct in saying: “The LORD has rewarded (delivered) me according to my righteousness” (verse 25).

26–30 In these verses David praises God for His faithfulness. God always acts first in His dealings with humans; but as we respond, God then responds to us in like manner. He is faithful to those who reach out to Him in faith (verse 26). To the extent our lives are blameless and pure, God will appear blameless and pure in His dealings with us. But to the crooked, God will appear shrewd; and He will bring the haughty low (verses 27–28). Thus God’s response to the godly is positive and affirming, but His response to the ungodly is negative. David is here putting himself in the place of the “faithful,” “blameless” and “pure”; and he is calling his enemies “crooked” and “haughty.” And David has every expectation that God will deliver him and at the same time bring his enemies low (see Proverbs 3:34; 1 Peter 5:5–6).

31–46 In these verses David continues to praise God for the marvelous way in which He delivered David from his enemies and enabled him to emerge victorious. Notice that David’s language is vivid and sometimes overstated—a common feature of poetry.⁷⁵

David writes: God’s way is perfect (verse 31) and He makes my way perfect (verse 33). God’s goal for each of us is that we be like Him—that we be perfect as He is perfect (Matthew 5:48), that we be holy as He is holy (Leviticus 11:44–45; 1 Peter 1:16). Paul writes that God has predestined us to be conformed to the likeness of his Son (Romans 8:29). This is the highest goal any human can aspire to (see Philippians 3:12–14).

47–51 The LORD lives! David’s Lord is not a lifeless, helpless idol; He is the living God (Deuteronomy 5:26; 1 Samuel 17:26). The Lord is a Rock—a God of mighty power; at the same time, the Lord is a Savior—a God of redeeming grace (verse 47). There is no God like Him! Therefore, says David, I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations (verse 50). The Apostle Paul quoted this verse in Romans 15:9 to show that David’s God was not only a God of the Israelites but also of the nations—the Gentiles. David’s God was so great that all the world needed to know about Him.

In verse 51, David indicates that he has written this song in his capacity as God’s anointed king of Israel. He acknowledges that God has promised to show unfailing kindness not only to himself but also to his descendants forever. God had made this covenant promise to David through the prophet Nathan (see 2 Samuel 7:12–16). It was fulfilled initially through David’s son Solomon, but it has now been fulfilled for all time through David’s greater Son Jesus Christ (Luke 1:31–33).

This song of David reveals many wonderful truths that are crucial for Christians today. It teaches us that it’s not enough to simply expect God’s blessings; we must step out in obedient faith and appropriate those blessings (Acts 5:32). The song teaches us that we do not “earn” salvation by our good works—because we have already been saved through faith (Ephesians 2:8)—just as David belonged to the Lord through faith. But as for blessings and rewards, those are granted to us according to our obedience, according to “our” righteousness (verses 21,25).

Finally, this song looks forward to the descendants of David, and in particular to that ultimate descendant, Jesus Christ, who would establish David’s kingdom forever and at whose name every knee should bow (Philippians 2:9–11).