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. See Gill on Psalm 18:15 . read more
EXPOSITION Of the date when David wrote this psalm there can be little doubt. It was at the close of his first great series of victories, after Toi, the Hittite King of Hamath, had sent to him an embassy of congratulation ( 2 Samuel 8:9 , 2 Samuel 8:10 ), referred to very triumphantly in verses 45, 46. But there is no trace in it of the sorrow and shame that clouded over his latter days; and no man whose conscience was stained with sins so dark as those of adultery and murder could... read more
( Psalms 18:1-50 .).—( JERUSALEM .) David's song of praise. "And David spake unto Jehovah the words of this song," etc. ( 2 Samuel 22:1 ). It is a song of: 1 . The anointed ( messiah ) of the Lord, his king ( 2 Samuel 22:51 ), his servant ( Psalms 18:1-50 ; inscription). Like Moses and Joshua, David held a peculiar and exalted position in the kingdom of God under the Old Testament. He was "a man [unlike Saul] of God's own choosing" ( 1 Samuel 13:14 ; 1 Samuel... read more
God's answer to the cry of distress. The facts are: 1 . David represents death, the grave, and ungodly men, under various figures, as causing him deep distress. 2 . He states that, on crying unto God out of the greatness of his distress, his voice entered even into his ears. 3 . He thus indicates, in strong figurative language, the tokens of God's attention to his cry. I. PROVIDENCE PERMITS MEN TO COME INTO GREAT EXTREMITIES . David's life was especially... read more
"Jehovah thundered from heaven, And the Most High uttered his voice. And he sent forth arrows, and scattered them [the evil doers]; Lightning, and terrified them. And the sea beds became visible, The foundations of the world were laid bare, At the rebuke of Jehovah, By the breath of the wind of his nostril." Terrified . The verb signifies" to strike with sodden terror and alarm" (see Exodus 14:24 ; Joshua 10:10 ). It describes here the panic caused by the lightning, and... read more
Two psalms (22:1-23:7)The first of these two psalms was written by David to celebrate his victories over his enemies. Later it was put to music for use in the temple services and appears in the book of Psalms as Psalms 18:0.David began the psalm by praising God who constantly answered his prayers and saved him from death (22:1-7). God displayed his mighty power in earthquakes, wind, rain, lightning, thunder and darkness (8-16), and sometimes he used these forces to save David from his enemies... read more
channels. Hebrew. aphikim, a watercourse, con-strained by rocks or pipes or rocky channels. First occurrence. See Job 6:15 ; Job 12:21 ; Job 40:18 ; Job 41:15 .Psalms 18:15 ; Psalms 18:42 .; 2Sa 126:4 .Song of Solomon 5:12 .Isaiah 8:7 . Ezekiel 6:3 ; Ezekiel 31:12 ; Ezekiel 32:6 ; Ezekiel 34:13 ; Ezekiel 35:8 ; Ezekiel 36:4 , Ezekiel 36:6 . Joel 1:20 Joel 3:18 . See notes on these eighteen passages for the various renderings. discovered = laid bare. blast = nesheimah. App-16 . breath .... read more
2 Samuel 22:1. And David spake unto the Lord—this song— As this fine poem of David's occurs in the book of Psalms, we shall not make any remark upon it till we come to its proper place. See Psalms 18:0. read more
C. David’s Praise of Yahweh ch. 22"It has long been recognized that 2 Samuel 22 is not only one of the oldest major poems in the OT but also that, because Psalms 18 parallels it almost verbatim, it is a key passage for the theory and practice of OT textual criticism." [Note: Youngblood, p. 1064.] This psalm records David’s own expression of the theological message the writer of Samuel expounded historically. Yahweh is King, and He blesses those who submit to His authority in many ways. 2 Samuel... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 22:2-51
Let us observe, in this song of praise, I. How David adores God, and gives him the glory of his infinite perfections. There is none like him, nor any to be compared with him (2 Sam. 22:32): Who is God, save the Lord? All others that are adored as deities are counterfeits and pretenders. None is to be relied on but he. Who is a rock, save our God? They are dead, but the Lord liveth, 2 Sam. 22:47. They disappoint their worshippers when they most need them. But as for God his way is perfect, 2... read more