2 Samuel 22 - John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

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 Psalms 18:1 are referred to the exposition of that book in its course.

And David spake unto the Lord the words of this song in the day [that] the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul. Psalms 18:1.

And he said, The Lord [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer. Psalms 18:2.

The God of my rock; in him will I trust: [he is] my shield,

and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour;

thou savest me from violence. Psalms 18:2.

I will call on the Lord, [who is] worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. Psalms 18:3.

When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. Psalms 18:4.

The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me. Psalms 18:5.

In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried to my God:

and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry [did enter] into his ears. Psalms 18:6.

Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth. Psalms 18:7.

There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. Psalms 18:8.

He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness [was] under his feet. Psalms 18:9.

And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind. Psalms 18:10.

And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters,

[and] thick clouds of the skies. Psalms 18:11.

Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled. Psalms 18:12.

The Lord thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice. Psalms 18:13.

And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them. Psalms 18:14.

And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the Lord, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils. Psalms 18:15.

He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters. Psalms 18:16.

He delivered me from my strong enemy, [and] from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me. Psalms 18:17.

They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay. Psalms 18:18.

He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me,

because he delighted in me. Psalms 18:19.

The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

Psalms 18:20.

For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God. Psalms 18:21.

For all his judgments [were] before me: and [as for] his statutes, I did not depart from them. Psalms 18:22.

I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity. Psalms 18:23.

Therefore the Lord hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight.

Psalms 18:24.

With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful, [and] with the upright man thou wilt show thyself upright.

Psalms 18:25.

With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt show thyself unsavoury. Psalms 18:26.

And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes [are] upon the haughty, [that] thou mayest bring [them] down.

Psalms 18:27.

For thou [art] my lamp, O Lord: and the Lord will lighten my darkness. Psalms 18:28.

For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall. Psalms 18:29.

[As for] God, his way [is] perfect; the word of the Lord [is] tried: he [is] a buckler to all them that trust in him.

Psalms 18:30.

For who [is] God, save the Lord? and who [is] a rock, save our God?] Psalms 18:31.

God [is] my strength [and] power: and he maketh my way perfect. Psalms 18:32.

He maketh my feet like hinds' [feet]: and setteth me upon my high places. Psalms 18:33.

He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. Psalms 18:34.

Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great. Psalms 18:35.

Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip. Psalms 18:36.

I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them. Psalms 18:37.

And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet.

Psalms 18:38.

For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.

Psalms 18:39.

Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me. Psalms 18:40.

They looked, but [there was] none to save; [even] unto the Lord, but he answered them not. Psalms 18:41.

Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, [and] did spread them abroad.

Psalms 18:42.

Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people,

thou hast kept me [to be] head of the heathen: a people [which] I knew not shall serve me. Psalms 18:43.

Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me. Psalms 18:44.

Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places. Psalms 18:45.

The Lord liveth; and blessed [be] my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation. Psalms 18:46.

It [is] God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me. Psalms 18:47.

And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man. Psalms 18:48.

Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.

Psalms 18:49.

[He is] the tower of salvation for his king: and showeth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore.

Psalms 18:50.