2 Samuel 22:26-36

26 "With the loyal thou dost show thyself loyal; with the blameless man thou dost show thyself blameless;

27 with the pure thou dost show thyself pure, and with the crooked thou dost show thyself perverse.

28 Thou dost deliver a humble people, but thy eyes are upon the haughty to bring them down.

29 Yea, thou art my lamp, O LORD, and my God lightens my darkness.

30 Yea, by thee I can crush a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall.

31 This God--his way is perfect; the promise of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

32 "For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?

33 This God is my strong refuge, and has made my way safe.

34 He made my feet like hinds' feet, and set me secure on the heights.

35 He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

36 Thou hast given me the shield of thy salvation, and thy help made me great.

2 Samuel 22:26-36 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.