Scripture Daily

Context No. 3587 of 4322 · 2 Samuel

Context · Reflection

2 Samuel 22:33-51: in context

33God is my strong fortress. He makes my way perfect. 34He makes his feet like hinds’ feet, and sets me on my high places. 35He teaches my hands to war, so that my arms bend a bow of bronze. 36You have also given me the shield of your salvation. Your gentleness has made me great. 37You have enlarged my steps under me. My feet have not slipped. 38I have pursued my enemies and destroyed them. I didn’t turn again until they were consumed. 39I have consumed them, and struck them through, so that they can’t arise. Yes, they have fallen under my feet. 40For you have armed me with strength for the battle. You have subdued under me those who rose up against me. 41You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, that I might cut off those who hate me. 42They looked, but there was no one to save; even to the LORD, but he didn’t answer them. 43Then I beat them as small as the dust of the earth. I crushed them as the mire of the streets, and spread them abroad. 44You also have delivered me from the strivings of my people. You have kept me to be the head of the nations. A people whom I have not known will serve me. 45The foreigners will submit themselves to me. As soon as they hear of me, they will obey me. 46The foreigners will fade away, and will come trembling out of their close places. 47The LORD lives! Blessed be my rock! Exalted be God, the rock of my salvation, 48even the God who executes vengeance for me, who brings down peoples under me, 49who brings me away from my enemies. Yes, you lift me up above those who rise up against me. You deliver me from the violent man. 50Therefore I will give thanks to you, LORD, among the nations, and will sing praises to your name. 51He gives great deliverance to his king, and shows loving kindness to his anointed, to David and to his offspring, forever more.”

This is part of David's great song of thanksgiving for God's deliverance, and it overflows with credit given wholly to God. God is my strong fortress; you arm me with strength for the battle; you gave me the shield of your salvation. David attributes every victory not to his own prowess but to God, who fortifies him, arms him, enlarges his steps, and subdues his enemies.

And a tender line stands out amid all the martial imagery: your gentleness made me great. It was not only God's strength but his gentleness, his patient, kind dealing, that lifted David up and made him what he was. And the song rises to praise: the LORD lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation. David's response to deliverance is to give God all the glory and to bless him. When we finally come through, the faithful response is not to congratulate ourselves but to trace every good thing back to God and to bless him for it.

When I come through trials and battles, do I give God all the credit, blessing him as the source of every deliverance, remembering it was his strength and even his gentleness that carried me?

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