This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&h) for each page to:
Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418
HERE
Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the
books of Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for
COMMENTARY ON GENESIS to the address above.
2Samuel
1 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:
This song is also recorded in Psalm 18. There are very few differences in the two records. It is interesting that God chose to record this song in this particular place in the bible, because soon we will be reading of David's death.
2 And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
3 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.
The LORD (Jehovah) is David's ROCK - or solid foundation. Notice also in verse 3 that he says Jehovah is "God of my rock." In other words it is God and God alone that authors any foundation for humanity!
4 I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
David declares he will call upon the Lord. And then he tells us why he will call (pray).
5 When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid;
6 The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;
7 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.
8 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth.
9 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet.
11 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind.
12 And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies.
13 Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled.
14 The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice.
15 And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them.
16 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.
17 He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters;
18 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.
19 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.
God has delivered and saved, and God shall always do the same; for He is always God and never changes.
20 He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
21 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
23 For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them.
24 I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity.
25 Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight.
26 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.
27 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury.
28 And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down.
God is a "Rewarder" of those who diligently serve Him (Hebrews 11:6). Though we do not work for rewards (we work out of love for God), He does reward us for those things which we do according to His Word.
29 For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.
30 For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall.
31 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.
32 For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God?
33 God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.
34 He maketh my feet like hinds' feet: and setteth me upon my high places.
35 He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
36 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great.
37 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip.
38 I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them.
39 And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet.
40 For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.
41 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.
42 They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.
43 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.
44 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.
45 Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.
46 Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places.
God's way is the RIGHT way - we should LEARN from Him.
47 The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.
48 It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me,
49 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.
50 Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.
51 He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore.
God LIVES! He "ever liveth" (Hebrews 7:25). God is ETERNAL. Let us PRAISE HIM! Let Him be EXALTED!
What a testimony! What a son to culminate a life-time of writing and singing songs for the Lord!
Please continue with us in daily Bible study.
CHAPTER 22
It seems that this song is recorded to tell us David's life testimony to God.
David speaks of God as being his protector ("fortress/high tower/refuge"). God is his "deliverer" and delivers him from violence. He also recognizes that it is God Who delivers him from sin, for he calls him "Saviour."
God is our protector - He protects us from the onslaught of sin. God is our "Deliverer" and delivers us from the clutches of sin. And He is our Saviour - for He saves us from the RESULT of sin (death).
5-6) In sorrow and fear - God delivers.
7) When we don't know what to do, God delivers us.
8-12) God displayed His majestic power in Mt. Sinai in the ways described here.
13-15)God displayed His power in battle with David.
16) God displayed His power at the Red Sea and at Jordan.
17-19)"Waters," in the Bible often refer to floods of accusations or floods of enemies (Revelation 12:15; Jeremiah 46:7-8). But God is seen as the MASTER Who sits above the "floods" and is in control (Psalm 29:10). Though the enemy my "prevent" or precede us, God will deliver.
God has put His Word before us to follow (verse 23), and it is our duty to try and live as holy as we can according to that Word (Leviticus 11:44, 1Peter 1:15).
God acts toward people as people act toward each other; particularly with His children. If we act holy, merciful, righteous, kind, pure - then God will act in those ways toward us. But take note of verse 28. God will also ackt in a way to "bring down" the haughty!
God is LIGHT - He is our "lamp." Looking to God we can follow the Light in the darkness of this world. He will make us able to jump over the obstacles in our way.
God's way is PERFECT, and He can make OUR way perfect.
God teaches us to be "quick" to run from trouble and be found in a "high place" (meaning AWAY from trouble).
But God also teaches us there is a time and place for WAR (see 37-43).
God teaches us "meekness" and that is what makes Christians great (verse 36).
God will deliver us from strife within our own families and friends. God will one day cause us to reign over "strangers" (Revelation 5:10, 20:6).
God is the Avenger of His people (verse 48), and He deliverse us from powerful enemies (verse 49).
Therefore, we should give thanksgiving and sing praises. We should even be glad to do this in plain veiw of those who do not believe.