CRITICAL AND EXPOSITORY NOTES
2 Samuel 22:29. “Lamp.” “While light is always the symbol of good fortune and well-being (Job 18:5), the burning lamp denotes the source of lasting happiness and joyful strength.” (Job 18:6; Psalms 132:17; compare Isaiah 42:3; Isaiah 43:17). (Erdmann.)
2 Samuel 22:30. “By thee.” Literally, in thee. “By the first noun David means the hostile bands he has encountered; by the second, the fortified places he has conquered.” (Erdmann.)
2 Samuel 22:31. “Perfect,” i.e., blameless, free from all taint of injustice. “Tried.” As metals are by fire, and thus proved to be genuine. “Buckler,” i.e., shield.
2 Samuel 22:32. “A Rock.” “He adopts the language of Moses in his song in Deuteronomy 32:4; Deuteronomy 32:15; Deuteronomy 32:18; Deuteronomy 32:30-31, in all of which places the word tsur, rock, is applied to God; and that is the first passage in the Bible, and the only chapter in the Pentateuch, where that figure is used, and it is next adopted in 1 Samuel 2:2. In the present chapter the figure is used four times, in 2 Samuel 22:3; 2 Samuel 22:32; 2 Samuel 22:47 twice, and in 2 Samuel 23:3. These are the only places up to this point in the Hebrew Bible where the word tsur is thus used, and they serve to mark the connection between the hymns of Moses, of Hannah, and of David.” (Wordsworth.)
2 Samuel 22:33. “My strength.” Better, fortress. “Maketh my way,” etc. Erdmann and Keil read, “He leads the perfect, or innocent, on his way.” Alexander explains it, “Who gives my conduct the perfection which belongs to it.”
2 Samuel 22:34. “Hinds.” The female gazelle, noted for her agility and swiftness. Probably alluding to David’s speed in pursuit of his enemies. “A figurative element lies in what is here said of fleeteness,” which becomes quite obvious when we take it along with the last clause. David points to the quick and unrestrained course of his conquests just as in 2 Samuel 22:29. (Jamieson.) “High places.” Either the strongholds taken from the enemy (Hengstenberg), or those of his own land which he held securely, and from which he ruled as king. (Keil.)
2 Samuel 22:35. “Steel.” Rather, brass or bronze. Both skill and strength are the gifts recorded in this verse.
2 Samuel 22:36. “Gentleness.” Keil and Erdmann read “hearing,” i.e., favourable acceptance of a request. Alexander translates “condescension,” Hengstenberg “lowliness.”
2 Samuel 22:37. “Enlarged my steps,” i.e., given me ample room to walk without hindrance. “Feet.” Rather, ankles. The whole verse expresses safe guidance.
2 Samuel 22:38-39. A picture of a victory where the enemy is entirely vanquished.
2 Samuel 22:40. “Thou hast girded.” “As warriors bind up all their garments and fortify their loins, that they may be more fitted for strenuous effort.” (Jamieson.) “Subdued,” etc. literally, “didst make to bow the knee.”
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— 2 Samuel 22:29-40
DAVID’S SONG.—PART III
I. God can disperse the darkness of man’s ignorance and cheer the night of his sorrow. There are but few thoughtful human creatures who do not feel themselves in need of some clue to guide them in their walk through life and of some hand stronger than man’s to lift them up when earth’s sorrows seem to weigh them to the ground; of something, in short, of a spiritual kind which shall be to their inner sense what the light is to their bodily vision. The godly in all ages have testified that their God can and does supply this want—that what the sun is to the physical nature of man the Creator of the sun is able and willing to be to the souls of His creatures. He reveals Himself as the Light of men and the Sun of Righteousness, and those who have put Him to the test declare that enough spiritual enlightenment and joy and strength are found in Him to satisfy all their needs. Light is a revealing power—It reveals us to ourselves. Without the light of day we could not know what we do of our own bodily structure and appearance. Light reveals itself to us while it reveals us to ourselves. There is this twofold revelation ever in operation wherever a ray of light falls. Those who walk in the light of God feel that as He reveals Himself to them. He reveals them unto themselves, and that knowledge of Him goes hand-in-hand with right conceptions of their own nature, and needs, and destiny. Light is a gladdening influence. Apart from all its life-giving power, the rays of the sun help to revive the sad at heart, and even the rays of a lamp or candle are cheering after long-continued darkness. So God can and does give a gladness of soul to His children which uplifts them in the dark and cloudy day of adversity, and causes them to joy in Him when all earthly sources of comfort are dried up. It was in God as this fountain of enlightenment and joy that David had found the moral strength to war life’s warfare and the courage to return to the conflict after defeat and almost despair.
II. God’s ways with men, and His word to them, will stand the utmost test which can be applied to them. Only those who will not trust God find flaws in His dealings, and charge Him with non-fulfilment of His promises. Those who put themselves under His guidance by opening their hearts to receive His word, enter upon such an experience of His wisdom and love, that the more they know, and the longer they live, the more settled is their conviction that the Judge of all the earth always has and ever must do right to every one of His creatures, and thus the more exultant is their song of hope for the future. David’s testimony here is one with all who have exercised the same trust in God, and obeyed Him in the same spirit. The details and the form of expression change from age to age, but the principle and the spirit must ever be one. To David, God is the “Rock” whose “way is perfect,” and whose “word is tried,” to those around the sea of glass He is the “Holy and True One, just and true in His ways.” (Revelation 6:10; Revelation 15:3.) But none can arrive at this assurance without putting Him to the test. The sun would be what it is if no man upon the face of the earth opened his eyes to receive its light—the ocean would be as able to float the navies of the world if no vessel ever ventured upon its waters. To know the glory of either, and their adaptation to his needs, man must put them to the test. And as he must do with the creatures of God, so must He do in relation to God Himself.
III. The perfection of God’s nature is manifested for the perfecting and uplifting of His creatures. The elevation of God above sinful men, and His separation from them by reason of the great moral gulf between them and Him, is always dwelt upon, both by God Himself and by His inspired messengers, as a ground of hope and a reason for joy. True the High and Lofty One stands alone in His purity and glory, as the snowy mountain peak, unsullied by the impurities of the lower earth, is isolated from it by its height and grandeur; but as from it pour down abundant streams to give life to the dwellers below, so from Him flow rivers of grace to revive and glorify His needy children. The arm of His power is not outstretched with the desire to subdue by omnipotent force, but to upraise by gentleness; His Almighty strength is not displayed for the purpose of filling men with terror, but to encourage them to flee to Him for shelter, and to draw from Him the help they must have if they are to triumph over the powers of evil. All who rightly apprehend God do as David does here, see in His perfection and might matter for triumphant praise because they feel that they have been used to raise them in the past, and are assured that by them they will at last be more than conquerors.
OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS
2 Samuel 22:29. Even the children of the day sometimes need candle-light. In the darkest hour light will arise; a candle shall be lit, it will be a comfort such as we may fittingly use without dishonesty—it will be our own candle. Yet God Himself will find the holy fire with which the candle shall burn. Our evidences are our own, but their comfortable light is from above. Candles which are lit by God the devil cannot blow out. All candles are not shining, and so there are some graces which yield no present comfort, but it is well to have candles which may by-and-bye be lit, and it is well to possess grace which may yet afford us cheering evidences.—Spurgeon.
2 Samuel 22:30. God’s warriors may expect to have a taste of every form of fighting, and must by the power of faith determine to quit themselves like men, but it behoves them to be very careful to lay all their laurels at Jehovah’s feet, each one of them saying “by my God have I wrought this valiant deed.”—Spurgeon.
2 Samuel 22:31. This is the language of one who, in his own history, combines, in a very high degree, the character of the saint, the poet, the hero and the prince. The testimony of such a man is worth having on any subject, especially on the greatest of all subjects—GOD. The authors’ testimony may apply—I. To the way which God prescribes. He prescribes a way—a course of action—for all the creatures He has made.… The stars, the ocean, insects, brutes, and souls of every kind, from the least to the greatest, have each their “way” marked out, and the highest science attests that the way is “perfect.” But the course or the way which is prescribed for man is what the writer refers to. First. The way which is prescribed for our moral conduct is perfect. Who can improve the decalogue? How perfect in justice and in compass is the golden rule, “Whatsoever ye would?” etc. Secondly. The way that is prescribed for our spiritual restoration is perfect. What is the way? Here it is: “What the law could not do,” etc. “God so loved the world,” etc. Faith in Christ is the prescribed way. This way is “perfect” in its wisdom; it is in every way adapted. “Perfect” in its justice—it honours the righteousness of God. “Perfect” in its sufficiency—it is adequate to the needs of each man and all. II. To the way which God pursues. God has a method of action. He acts, not by caprice or impulse, but by an eternal settled plan. It is but a little of that plan we can see; but so far as our knowledge of the order of nature, the history of providence, and the provisions of redemption extends, we join in the testimony of the text and say: “His way is perfect. First His method of procedure is perfect in conception. We have not the full draft of this plan. An infinitesimal section only comes under our eye. The Architect of the great building presents you with a whole plan, and you may understand it and see the superstructure on paper. Thus God has not acted, and if He had given us the whole plan we could not have scanned the millionth part. What we see, however, we feel to be perfect. Secondly His method of procedure is perfect in execution. What His infinite benevolence prompted and His infinite wisdom conceived, His Almightiness carried out with perfection. A conviction of the perfection of God’s way
(1) is essential to our well-being. Without this we cannot supremely love and trust Him.
(2) Is the most attainable of beliefs. Our reason, conscience, Bible, observation, experience, all concur in urging this on the soul—this, the grandest of all conclusions.
(3) Must flash on every sinner’s nature sooner or later. If not here in the day of grace, yonder in the period of retribution.—Dr. David Thomas.
2 Samuel 22:34. When our thoughts are nimble and our spirits rapid, let us not forget that our best beloved’s hand has given us the choice favour.… We, too, have had our high places of honour, service, temptation and danger, but hitherto we have been kept from falling.—Spurgeon.
2 Samuel 22:36. Gentleness in a deity—what other religion ever took up such a thought? When the coarse mind of sin makes up gods and a religion by its own natural light, the gods, it will be seen, reveal both the coarseness and the sin together, as they properly should. They are made great as being great in force, and terrible resentments.… Just opposite to all these, the God of Revelation, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, contrives to be a gentle being; even hiding His power and withholding the stress of His will, that He may put confidence and courage in the feelings of His children.… What, then, do we mean by gentleness? To call it sweetness of temper, kindness, patience, flexibility, indecisiveness does not really distinguish it. When you speak, for example, of dealing gently with an enemy, you mean that instead of trying to force a point straight through with him you will give him time, and ply him indirectly with such methods and modes of forbearance as will put him on different thoughts and finally turn him to a better mind. Here, then, lies the true conception of God’s gentleness.… It means that He does not set Himself, as a Ruler, to drive His purpose straight through, but that, consciously wise and right, … He is only too great to fly at His adversary, and force him to the wall if he does not instantly surrender; that, instead of coming down upon him thus, in the manner of direct onset, to carry his immediate submission by storm, He lays gentle siege to him, waiting for his willing assent and choice.… That we may have it in true estimation, observe how far off it is from the practice and even the capacity generally of mankind. We can do almost anything more readily than consent to any sort of indirection, when we are resisted in the exercise of authority or encounter another at some point of violated right.… To redress the injury by gentleness, to humble an adversary by the circuitous approach of forbearance and a siege of true suggestion—that is not the manner of men, but only of God.… How openly He takes this attitude in the Scriptures. When our first father breaks through law by his act of sin, He does not strike him down by His thunders, but He holds them back, comes to Him even by a word of promise, and sends him forth into a world unparadised by guilt, to work, and suffer, and learn, and, when he will, to turn and live.… What we call the Gospel is only a translation, so to speak, of the gentleness of God—a matter in the world of fact, answering to a higher matter, antecedent, in the magnanimity of God. I do not say that it is a mere effusion of Divine sentiment, apart from all counsel and government.… It is at once the crown of God’s purposes and of His governmental order. And.… that wondrous indirection of grace, the incarnate life and cross of Jesus, is the very plan to carry the precept of law by precepts higher than force, by feeling and character, and sacrifice.… So, too, the Holy Spirit.… working efficiently, and, in a certain sense in the man, or subject, circles round the will, doing it respect by laying no force upon it, and only raising appeals to it from what He puts in the mind, the conscience, the memory, the sense of want, the fears excited, the aspirations kindled.… Holding this view … we ought to find that God’s whole management of us and the world corresponds. Is it so?.… Where is the gentleness of God in the unpitying, inexorable, fated powers of the world?.… Just here … Able to use force, He can use character, and time, and kindness. Real gentleness supposes counsel, order, end, and a determinate will. Not even a weak woman can be properly called gentle See how it goes with us in God’s management of our experience. Doing everything to work on our feeling, temperament, thought, will, and so on our eternal character He still does nothing by direct impulsion. It is with us here in everything as it was with Jonah when the Lord sent him to Nineveh.… Jonah steers straight the other way, and there puts to sea, sailing off upon it, and then under it, and through the belly of hell, and comes to land nobody knows where. After much perambulation he gets to Nineveh, and gives his message doggedly, finally to be tamed by a turn of hot weather and the withering of a gourd.… The subject culminates in the end God has in view, which is to make us great. He certainly has a different opinion of greatness from that which is commonly held by men—a much higher respect for the capabilities of our human nature, and much higher designs concerning it.… We do not understand Him, in fact, till we conceive it as a truth that He wants to make us great in will in the breadth and freedom of our intellect, great in courage, enthusiasm, self-respect, firmness, superiority to things and matters of condition, great in sacrifice and beneficence, great in sonship with Himself, great in being raised to such common counsel and such intimate unity with Him in His ends—that we do, in fact, reign with Him.… His object is to gain our will in such a manner as to save it, and make it finally a thousand-fold stouter in good, … and to recover our intellect by bidding us to set it for seeing by a wholly right intent and a willingness even to die for the truth, … and so He manages to save all the attributes of force and magnanimity within us while reducing us to love and obedience.
Easy enough were it for Him to lay His force upon us, and dash our obstinacy to the ground. He might not thrust us into love, He could not into courage and confidence, but He might instantly crush out all wilfulness for ever.… But He wants no slaves about His throne, and … therefore refuses to subdue us unless by some such method that we may seem, in a certain other sense, to subdue ourselves.—Bushnell.
2 Samuel 22:37. It is no small mercy to be brought into full Christian liberty and enlargement, but it is a still greater favour to be enabled to walk worthily in such liberty, not being permitted to slip with our feet. To stand upon the rock of affliction is the result of gracious upholding, but that aid is quite as much needed in the luxurious plains of prosperity.—Spurgeon.
2 Samuel 22:42. As nature prompteth men in an extremity to look up for help; but because it is but the prayer of flesh for ease, and not of the spirit for grace, and a good use of calamities, and not but in extreme despair of help elsewhere, therefore God hears them not. “They looked,” etc., q.d. If they could have made any other shift, God should never have heard of them. Trapp.
2 Samuel 22:45. In many cases the gospel is speedily received by hearts apparently unprepared for it. Those who have never heard the gospel before have been charmed by its first message, and yielded obedience to it; while others, alas, who are accustomed to its joyful sound, are rather hardened than softened by its teachings. The grace of God sometimes runs as fire among stubble, and a nation is born in a day. “Love at first sight” is no uncommon thing when Jesus is the wooer. He can write Cæsar’s message without boasting, Veni, vidi, vici; His gospel is sometimes no sooner heard than believed.—Spurgeon.