2 Samuel 22:25-35

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.

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.

2 Samuel 22:25-35 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.