2 Samuel 22:1-16: a reflection

1David spoke to the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul, 2and he said: “The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, even mine; 3God is my rock in whom I take refuge; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge. My savior, you save me from violence. 4I call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies. 5For the waves of death surrounded me. The floods of ungodliness made me afraid. 6The cords of Sheol were around me. The snares of death caught me. 7In my distress, I called on the LORD. Yes, I called to my God. He heard my voice out of his temple. My cry came into his ears. 8Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations of heaven quaked and were shaken, because he was angry. 9Smoke went up out of his nostrils. Consuming fire came out of his mouth. Coals were kindled by it. 10He bowed the heavens also, and came down. Thick darkness was under his feet. 11He rode on a cherub, and flew. Yes, he was seen on the wings of the wind. 12He made darkness a shelter around himself, gathering of waters, and thick clouds of the skies. 13At the brightness before him, coals of fire were kindled. 14The LORD thundered from heaven. The Most High uttered his voice. 15He sent out arrows and scattered them, lightning and confused them. 16Then the channels of the sea appeared. The foundations of the world were laid bare by the LORD’s rebuke, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.

David sings this song after God delivered him from all his enemies, and it opens with a pile of images for who God is to him: The LORD is my rock, my fortress, my deliverer; my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield, my stronghold, my refuge, my savior. And then he describes how God came to his rescue: In my distress I called on the LORD; he heard my voice. And God did not merely send help from afar; he bowed the heavens and came down, riding on the wind, to deliver him.

Notice the picture of God's rescue. When David cried out in distress, God heard, and then acted, and the language is dramatic: God bowed the heavens and came down, thundered from heaven, sent out his arrows, laid bare the foundations of the earth, all to rescue his servant. This is no distant, indifferent God, but one who moves heaven and earth to come to the aid of the one who cries to him. God heard David's cry, and came down to rescue him.

That is a picture of the God to whom we cry in distress. He is not a remote refuge, waiting passively; he is a God who hears the cry of his own and acts, who is willing, as it were, to move heaven and earth to deliver those who call on him. When you are in distress, do not imagine that God is distant or unmoved. Cry out to him, as David did; he hears the cry of his people, and he acts on their behalf. The God who bowed the heavens and came down to rescue David is the same God who hears your cry; call on him in your distress, and trust that he hears and comes to the aid of those who are his. He is your rock, your fortress, your deliverer; cry to him, and he will hear.

Lord, David sang of you as his rock, his fortress, his deliverer, his refuge; and he told how, when he cried out in distress, you heard his voice, and bowed the heavens and came down to rescue him. Thank you that you are that kind of God. You are not a remote refuge, waiting passively; you are a God who hears the cry of your own and acts, who is willing to move heaven and earth to deliver those who call on you. When I am in distress, keep me from imagining that you are distant or unmoved. Help me cry out to you, as David did; you hear the cry of your people, and you act on their behalf. You who bowed the heavens and came down to rescue David are the same God who hears my cry; help me call on you in my distress, and trust that you hear and come to the aid of those who are yours. You are my rock, my fortress, my deliverer; I cry to you, and you will hear.