2 Samuel 22:29-39

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.

31 "The ways of God are without fault; the Lord's words are pure. He is a shield to those who trust him.

32 Who is God? Only the Lord. Who is the Rock? Only our God.

33 God is my protection. He makes my way free from fault.

34 He makes me like a deer that does not stumble; he helps me stand on the steep mountains.

35 He trains my hands for battle so my arms can bend a bronze bow.

36 You protect me with your saving shield. You have stooped to make me great.

37 You give me a better way to live, so I live as you want me to.

38 I chased my enemies and destroyed them. I did not quit till they were destroyed.

39 I destroyed and crushed them so they couldn't rise up again. They fell beneath my feet.

2 Samuel 22:29-39 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.