There is a most marked similarity between the Song of David in (2 Sam. 22 and Psa. 18), indeed so close a resemblance that many have regarded them as being one and the same, attempting to account for their verbal variations on the supposition that the latter is a revised edition of the former.

Spurgeon said of these passages: "We have another form of the eighteenth Psalm with slight variations in (2 Sam. 22). This suggest the idea that it was sung by him on different occasions when he reviewed his own remarkable history, and observed the gracious hand of God in it all."

This particular Psalm, as so many others, has more than one application. We see the historical fact of the writing of David, but we also see a passage of scripture that has a tremendous prophetic significance.

OUTLINE OF THE CHAPTER:

I. DAVID EXTOLS THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD - (1-4)

II. DAVID MAGNIFIES THE LORD FOR HIS DELIVERING MERCIES - (5-20)

III. DAVID REJOICES IN HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, YET, WE SEE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF A GREATER, CHRIST - (21-28)

IV. DAVID PROPHETICALLY ANTICIPATES THE GLORIOUS TRIUMPHS OF THE MESSIAH - (29-45)

V. DAVID CLOSES WITH MORE WORDS OF PRAISE - (46-51)

I. DAVID EXTOLS THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD - (1-4)

As we have traced the life of David through the two books of Samuel, we have seen him in some sore straights: again and again it looked as though his foes must surely prevail against him; yea on one occasion, he himself declared, "I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul" (1 Sam. 27:1). Yet he did not. For one infinitely mightier than Saul was watching over him. The Lord was David's "rock" as his strength, support and foundation. See (Deut. 32:4; 18,32; 1 Cor. 10:4). As our "fortress" God gives His people shelter from their assailants supplying protection and security. As our "deliverer" God saves us from ourselves, and redeems us from the damning power of sin.

The phraseology of (vs. 3) reminds us of "the whole armour of God" of (Eph. 6)... my Saviour, (Isa. 43:11). The salvation of (vs. 4) is a physical salvation or deliverance from his enemies.

David is a tremendous example of a man of faith. Faith is invincible, because it lays hold of One, who is omnipotent. Faith Is the hand which grasps the Almighty, and is anything too hard for Him? See (1 Sam. 17:45; Mk. 9:23; Matt. 9: 29; Dan. 3:17; 6:23). The "armour of God" does him no service except he put it on. It is faith which girds on this armour; it is faith which finds all its resource in the Lord.

 

II. DAVID MAGNIFIES THE LORD FOR HIS DELIVERING MERCIES - (5-20)

This section contains three main thoughts. First, we see the physical dangers that David was exposed to from his human enemies. Second, the distress of soul and personal anguish experienced from his spiritual enemies. Third, the sufferings through which the Lord Jesus passed while acting as the substitute for the sin of men, and the great deliverance wrought at the resurrection of Christ.

First, he employed the figure of an angry sea (vs. 5). Next, he likened himself to one who was marooned on some piece of low lying ground with the floods rising higher and higher; then, as one taken captive and bound. Finally, as a bird that had been caught in the fowler's snare, unable to fly away.

Here was the Spirit of Christ speaking prophetically through the Psalmist, expressing the fierce conflict through which our Redeemer past (Matt. 26:38). What begins as David praising the Lord for his own personal deliverance, becomes a prophetical picture of Christ's agony and death at the First Coming, and finally Christ's Second Coming; look at (vss. 10 "came down"; 14) "thundered from heaven." Note the picture of the rapture (here it appears as a post-tribulation rapture) in verses 16 and 17, "he sent from above and took me ... He delivered me from my strong enemy ... He brought me forth also into a large place."

 

III. DAVID REJOICES IN HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, YET WE SEE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF A GREATER CHRIST - (21-28)

What follows would appear to be at first a list of self-righteous statements on the part of David. But as we look closer we see much more. First of all, it appears that David is rejoicing in the fact that the Lord has rewarded him according to his works. David attempted to live a godly life. For his errors he paid a heavy price, yet, for those things he did righteously, God rewarded him as he said he would. This is what David is rejoicing in. By the way, we might note that Paul said, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course..." (1 Tim. 4:7). Paul's statements are made with the intention of encouraging Timothy to do the same, not to "toot his own horn." I believe this is David's attitude.

We could go a bit deeper and see a prophetic picture of the righteousness of Jesus Christ, the God-man who lived a perfect life and could in every way have the credit of (vss. 21-28) applied to him. Doctrinally, for us as Christians we are well aware of our righteousness (Isa. 64:6) as opposed to the righteousness of Christ (2 Cor. 5:21).

If on the one hand there is a large class of Satan deceived professors who are found trumpeting forth their own achievements (which some do, although as we have said, this is not the context of our text) and of advertising their fancied victories over sin, there is on the other hand a considerable portion of the Lord's people, who are so occupied with their downfalls and defeats, that they are sadly remiss in recounting the Lord's triumphs in them and by them. Either of these approaches conveys to others an erroneous conception of Christianity. It is a false humility which shuts our eyes to the workings of divine grace and it is the presence and exercise of a true humility that takes notice of our successes and conquests so long as it is careful to lay all the trophies of them at the Lord's feet, and ascribe to Him alone the honor and glory for the same.

 

IV. DAVID PROPHETICALLY ANTICIPATES THE GLORIOUS TRIUMPHS OF THE MESSIAH - (29-45)

"...Thou art my lamp (Psa. 119:105)...his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried (Psa. 12:6,7; Prov. 30:5,6)...who is a rock, save our God? (vs. 32; 1 Cor. 10:4) ... God is my strength and power" (Eph. 6:10-13).

"He maketh my feet like hinds feet" (vs. 34), the feet of certain animals are specially designed and adapted to treacherous ground. A threefold line of thought is suggested. First, God fits the believer for the position which He has appointed him to occupy, no matter how honourable and hazardous. Second, God furnishes him with alacrity and agility when the King's business requireth haste, for speed as well as sureness of foot characterizes the hind. Third, God protects and secures him in the most dangerous of places: "He will keep the feet of His saints (1 Sam. 2:9).

"He teacheth my hands to war" (Ex. 15:3; 2 Cor. 10:4; 2 Tim. 2:4), "The shield of thy salvation (Eph. 6:16), (vs. 37) (Prov. 4:12), "For thou hast girded me with strength to battle", the Second Advent, (Rev. 19) "...The necks of mine enemies" (Genesis 49:8; Josh. 10:24) ... I did stamp them as the mire of the street" (vs. 43); see (Isa. 63:2-61). Verses (44-45) picture and prophecy the Second Coming and the Millennium.

 

V. DAVID CLOSES WITH MORE WORDS OF PRAISE - (46-51)

"Therefore I will give thanks unto Thee, 0 Lord, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto Thy name" (vs. 50). What an example David sets for us here of a godly man making his boast of God in the presence of ungodly men. There is a happy medium between an unseemly parading of our piety before unbelievers and a cowardly silence in their presence. We must not allow the despisers of God to shut our mouths and stifle our praises; especially it is our duty to bow our heads and give thanks to the Lord at any time it would be needful or appropriate, even amidst the heathen.