2 Samuel 22:10-30

10 The heavens were bent, so that he might come down; and it was dark under his feet.

11 And he went through the air, seated on a storm-cloud: going quickly on the wings of the wind.

12 And he made the dark his tent round him, a mass of waters, thick clouds of the skies.

13 Before his shining light his dark clouds went past, raining ice and coals of fire.

14 The Lord made thunder in the heavens, and the voice of the Highest was sounding out.

15 And he sent out his arrows, driving them in all directions; by his flames of fire they were troubled.

16 Then the deep beds of the sea were seen, and the bases of the world were uncovered, because of the Lord's wrath, because of the breath of his mouth.

17 He sent from on high, he took me, pulling me out of great waters.

18 He made me free from my strong hater, from those who were against me, because they were stronger than I.

19 They came on me in the day of my trouble: but the Lord was my support.

20 He took me out into a wide place; he was my saviour because he had delight in me.

21 The Lord gives me the reward of my righteousness, because my hands are clean before him.

22 For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I have not been turned away in sin from my God.

23 For all his decisions were before me, and I did not put away his laws from me.

24 And I was upright before him, and I kept myself from sin.

25 Because of this the Lord has given me the reward of my righteousness, because my hands are clean in his eyes.

26 On him who has mercy you will have mercy; to the upright you will be upright;

27 He who is holy will see that you are holy; but to the man whose way is not straight you will be a hard judge.

28 For you are the saviour of those who are in trouble; but your eyes are on men of pride, to make them low.

29 For you are my light, O Lord; and the Lord will make the dark bright for me.

30 By your help I have made a way through the wall which was shutting me in: by the help of my God I have gone over a wall.

2 Samuel 22:10-30 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.