David Sings to the Lord
22:1 David sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord rescued him from the power of all his enemies, including Saul.
This was the sixth appendix to the life of David. This song is very similar to Psalm 18. This is the only Psalm to be recorded in a history book of the Bible.
The songs of Israel were different than many ancient and modern songs. Ancient and modern songs glorify self, Satan, and sin. The songs of Israel glorified God. All music was created by God to glorify God. Satan craves worship, so he demands that his followers worship him in song. Human beings are so depraved and evil, that they prefer the music of the satanic world system over music that glorifies God.
22:2 He said: “The Lord is my high ridge, my stronghold, my deliverer.
The Hebrew word for “Lord” is יְהוָ֛ה (Jehovah), meaning the covenant-keeping-promise-keeping God. The Hebrew word for “high ridge” is סָ֫לַע, meaning a high cliff. Many English versions translate סָ֫לַע as rock or foundation.
David began this song with three praises about יְהוָ֛ה (Jehovah). First, Jehovah was the high ridge. David could stand upon the high ridge of the mountains and see God’s creation across the horizon. He could see the advance of his enemies or the advance of his friends.
Second, Jehovah was the stronghold of God. Strongholds were fortified cities which protected warriors from advancing enemies. God protected David from his enemies, especially from Saul.
Third, Jehovah was the deliverer of David. The Hebrew word for “deliver” is פָּלַט (pela), meaning to help someone escape trouble or persecutions. Whenever David found himself in trouble in life, Jehovah would show up and rescue David.
22:3 My God is my rocky summit where I take shelter, my shield, the horn that saves me, my stronghold, my refuge, my savior. You save me from violence!
The Hebrew word for God is אֱלֹהֵ֥י (elohi), meaning the Triune Creator God. The Hebrew word for “rocky summit” is צוּר (tsur), meaning a strong rocky cliff.
David added seven more praises to God. He called God by his triune creator name of אֱלֹהֵ֥י (elohi). First, Elohim was David’s rocky cliff. He was a strong foundation in a high place. Jerusalem was a city built upon solid ground on a high mountain. It was a very safe place for a king to be during an attack. God was higher and a stronger foundation than this mountain.
Second, Elohim was the shield of David. King Saul attempted to kill David seven times, twice at point blank range with a spear, but he was not able to penetrate David’s supernatural shield.
Third, Elohim was the horn that saved David. Strong animals used their horns to attack and kill other predators. God used his divine horn against the enemies of David.
Fourth, Elohim was David’s stronghold, meaning his fortified city. Elohim placed Himself as a divine fortified city around David. No enemy could breach God’s walls.
Fifth, Elohim was a refuge of David. A city of refuge is where an innocent man ran for safety when he accidentally killed another person. He was protected from the avenger of death, who was pursuing him for blood revenge. Elohim was David’s divine city of refuge. The avenger of death, who was Satan, could not enter this city.
Sixth, Elohim was the savior of David. The Hebrew word for “savior” is יָשַׁע (yashua), meaning savior or deliver. יָשַׁע (yashua) is the Hebrew name for Jesus. Elohim was the Jesus of David.
Seventh, Elohim was the one who saved David from violence. David was to bring the messianic seed into the world, so Satan attempted to kill David. Elohim would save David from the violent nature of Satan.
22:4 I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I was delivered from my enemies.
Whenever David was in trouble, then he called to Jehovah. Jehovah always delivered David from his enemies. When David was a teenager, then the prophet Samuel anointed David as the next king of Israel. This meant that Goliath, Saul, or the Philistines could not kill David until he fulfilled this prophecy. David was immortal until this prophecy was fulfilled.
22:5 The waves of death engulfed me; the currents of chaos overwhelmed me.
Many times David was close to death, but Jehovah saved him.
22:6 The ropes of Sheol tightened around me; the snares of death trapped me.
David stepped into many traps of death, such as playing a stringed instrument while Saul was throwing a spear at him at point blank range. However, Jehovah was not yet ready for David to die.
22:7 In my distress I called to the Lord; I called to my God. From his heavenly temple he heard my voice; he listened to my cry for help.
When David was in trouble, he called for God. God answered his call from heaven. There is a literal temple in heaven. The tabernacle was patterned after the temple in heaven.
22:8 The earth heaved and shook; the foundations of the sky trembled. They heaved because he was angry.
Whenever David called for help, God moved the heavens and the earth in order to assist David.
22:9 Smoke ascended from his nose; fire devoured as it came from his mouth; he hurled down fiery coals.
Since all Scripture should be taken literally, then God often used supernaturally means to assist David. When David was in trouble, then God saved David in three ways. First, literal smoke came out of God's literal nose. Second, literal fire came out of God's literal mouth. Third, God hurled down literal fiery coals upon the enemies of David. When David and his army saw these miracles from God, then they knew that God was on their side. When the enemies of David saw these miracles, then they knew that Jehovah was the one true God. These types of miracles were often used in David's dispensation.
There are some who will argue that since God is invisible and omnipresent, then he does not possess a literal nose, a literal mouth, literal hands, or a literal body. Therefore, these descriptions must be metaphors. However, God is omnipotent. He could have created for himself a literal nose, a literal mouth, literal hands, or a literal body so that he could perform these miracles. He could have performed these supernatural acts of omnipotence in front of a cloud of witnesses. The cloud of witnesses could have been the angels, the demons, David's human army, David's human enemies, and Saran himself.
22:10 He made the sky sink as he descended; a thick cloud was under his feet.
When David called for help, then God came down to earth and helped him.
22:11 He mounted a winged angel and flew; he glided on the wings of the wind.
When David called for help, God would mount a winged angel, fly down to heaven, glide on the wind, and help David. The cherubim are always associated with the presence of God as sovereign Creator.
The Hebrew word for “wind” is ר֫וּחַ (ruach), meaning spirit. Jehovah traveled on the wings of the Holy Spirit.
22:12 He shrouded himself in darkness, in thick rain clouds.
When David called for help, then God would send down thick darkness or thick thunderstorms in order to help David.
22:13 From the brightness in front of him came coals of fire.
When David called for help, then the Shechinah Glory would come down from heaven like coals of fire.
22:14 The Lord thundered from the sky; the sovereign One shouted loudly.
When David called for help, Jehovah came down from heaven like thunder from the sky. Jehovah shouted loudly, just as a lion roars before it devours its prey.
22:15 He shot arrows and scattered them, lightning and routed them.
Whenever David called for help, then God answered his call by shooting fire arrows from heaven against the enemies of David.
22:16 The depths of the sea were exposed; the inner regions of the world were uncovered by the Lord’s battle cry, by the powerful breath from his nose.
When David called for help, then God made a battle cry which moved the sea. God blew a breath from His nose and the underworld moved in order to assist David.
The Hebrew word for “depth” is אֲפִיק (apik), meaning the brooks, channels, ravines, streams, or rivers that are found in the depths of the ocean. Modern science has discovered that there are “channels in the seas.” Ancient mariners knew much about the surface of the sea and its coasts, but nothing about its interior. This is one of many Biblical scientific facts which preceded its discovery by thousands of years.
22:17 He reached down from above and grabbed me; he pulled me from the surging water.
When David called for help, then God reached down from heaven and pulled David out of the sinking water.
22:18 He rescued me from my strong enemy, from those who hate me, for they were too strong for me.
When David called for help, then God saved David from his strong enemies who hated him.
22:19 They confronted me in my day of calamity, but the Lord helped me.
The enemies came against David, but God helped David to fight them.
22:20 He brought me out into a wide open place; he delivered me because he was pleased with me.
When David called for help, then God moved David to a safe place. God saved David, because God loved David.
22:21 The Lord repaid me for my godly deeds; he rewarded my blameless behavior.
Jehovah did good things for David when he was obedient to the Mosaic Law.
22:22 For I have obeyed the Lord’s commands; I have not rebelled against my God.
David obeyed the Mosaic Law. He did not rebel against God’s directions, as Saul and David’s enemies often did.
22:23 For I am aware of all his regulations, and I do not reject his rules.
David was aware of the regulations of the Mosaic Law. He kept them to the best of his abilities.
22:24 I was blameless before him; I kept myself from sinning.
David was blameless before Jehovah, because he believed that the sacrificial lambs that were offered pointed to the Messiah.
22:25 The Lord rewarded me for my godly deeds; he took notice of my blameless behavior.
Jehovah rewarded David for his good behavior.
22:26 You prove to be loyal to one who is faithful; you prove to be trustworthy to one who is innocent.
Jehovah is faithful to those who are loyal to God.
22:27 You prove to be reliable to one who is blameless, but you prove to be deceptive to one who is perverse.
The Mosaic Law was unconditional. If an individual obeyed the Law, then he was blessed. If he did not obey the Law, then he was cursed.
22:28 You deliver oppressed people, but you watch the proud and bring them down.
Jehovah delivers Israel when she is oppressed. He brings down those who are too proud.
22:29 Indeed, you are my lamp, Lord. The Lord illumines the darkness around me.
David could not see into the darkness of the satanic world system. Jehovah was the lamp who illuminated the darkness around David.
22:30 Indeed,with your help I can charge against an army; by my God’s power I can jump over a wall.
With the help of God, David can charge an army or jump over a wall.
22:31 The one true God acts in a faithful manner; the Lord’s promise is reliable; he is a shield to all who take shelter in him.
Jehovah is the one true God. All other gods are false. God is truth, meaning that He always acts in a faithful manner. If Jehovah makes a promise, then unlike man, He will keep it. Jehovah is a shield to all who take shelter in Him. Those who take shelter in God are those who understand and apply bible doctrine.
22:32 Indeed, who is God besides the Lord? Who is a protector besides our God?
Jehovah is the only God. No one can protect Israel, except for Jehovah.
22:33 The one true God is my mighty refuge; he removes the obstacles in my way.
Jehovah is the one true God. He is David’s city of refuge. If David is running to the city of refuge, then God will remove the obstacles so that David can find quick refuge in the city.
22:34 He gives me the agility of a deer; he enables me to negotiate the rugged terrain.
Jehovah gives David the agility he needs to escape Saul and his other enemies. Jehovah helps David travel quickly over the rugged terrain.
22:35 He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend even the strongest bow.
Jehovah trains David for battle. Jehovah gave David strong arms so that he could bend the strongest bow. A strong and skilled archer would be equal to a deadly sniper of today.
22:36 You give me your protective shield; your willingness to help enables me to prevail.
Jehovah is the protective shield of David. It was God’s will for David to prevail against Saul and his enemies and become king.
22:37 You widen my path; my feet do not slip.
When Saul was chasing David, Jehovah gave David a wide path. Jehovah gave David a dry path so that his feet would not slip in the mud.
22:38 I chase my enemies and destroy them; I do not turn back until I wipe them out.
David chases his enemies until they are all destroyed. He does not allow any of them to survive and come back and hunt him down.
22:39 I wipe them out and beat them to death; they cannot get up; they fall at my feet.
David exterminated the enemy. He did not allow any of them to survive. When the enemies of David were struck down in battle, then David made sure that they were dead. God is not political in war. He fought to protect David and the messianic seed. He fought to win.
When the armies of the satanic world system came against David, then they were violating the Abrahamic Covenant. They were trying to eliminate the carrier of the messianic seed. They were attempting to kill God's anointed King. They would receive a kind-for-kind verse judgements from God. Since the enemies of God attempted to eliminate the chosen people from the earth, then it was the enemies of God who would be exterminated.
22:40 You give me strength for battle; you make my foes kneel before me.
Jehovah gave David strength for battle. Jehovah made David’s enemies kneel before David.
22:41 You make my enemies retreat; I destroy those who hate me.
Jehovah scared the enemies of David so that they would run away from him. David destroyed all of the enemies who hated him.
22:42 They cry out, but there is no one to help them; they cry out to the Lord, but he does not answer them.
The enemies of David cried out to their gods, but their gods did not exist and could not help them. Some of the enemies of David cried out to Jehovah, but Jehovah did not answer them. Jehovah was not a polytheistic god of their demonic pantheons. He was the one true God.
22:43 I grind them as fine as the dust of the ground; I crush them and stomp on them like clay in the streets.
David crushed his enemies and then stomped on them. What David is describing is what Jesus will do to the enemies at His second coming. The enemies of God must be purged out of the world, or evil will continue.Good and evil cannot exist at the same time.
22:44 You rescue me from a hostile army; you preserve me as a leader of nations; people over whom I had no authority are now my subjects.
Jehovah rescues David from hostile armies. Jehovah keeps David in power, although his enemies tried to remove him from power. People who once opposed David now became his subjects.
22:45 Foreigners are powerless before me; when they hear of my exploits, they submit to me.
Foreign enemies had no chance against David. When they heard of David’s exploits, then they became submissive to David.
22:46 Foreigners lose their courage; they shake with fear as they leave their strongholds.
When foreign armies left their strongholds to fight David, then they began to fear for their lives.
22:47 The Lord is alive! My protector is praiseworthy! The God who delivers me is exalted as king!
Jehovah is the only living God. All of the idols of the other nations were lifeless. David praised Jehovah as his protector. Jehovah was the exalted king of the universe.
22:48 The one true God completely vindicates me; he makes nations submit to me.
Jehovah was the one true God. He took care of David. He forced nations to submit to David.
22:49 He delivers me from my enemies; you snatch me away from those who attack me; you rescue me from violent men.
Jehovah delivered David from all of his enemies. Jehovah snatched David away from those who attacked him. Jehovah rescued David from violent men who desired to kill David.
22:50 So I will give you thanks, O Lord, before the nations! I will sing praises to you.
David will give thanks to Jehovah before all nations. David will sing praises to Jehovah. These praises will be given by a literal David during the Millennial kingdom. God will have to raise David from the dead so that he can fulfill this prophecy.
The Apostle Paul would later quote a portion of this verse in Romans 15:9, as coming from the lips of Jesus the Messiah. This confirmed that parts of this song were messianic.
David never lost a battle. He conquered all of his enemies and turned Israel into an economic, military, and religious power. What David did for Israel, Jesus will do for the entire global world at His second coming.
22:51 He gives his chosen king magnificent victories;
he is faithful to his chosen ruler, to David and to his descendants forever!”
The Hebrew word for “chosen” is מָשִׁ֫יחַ (mashiac), meaning messiah or anointed one. David was the מָשִׁ֫יחַ (mashiac), or the anointed king of Israel, just as Jesus will be the מָשִׁ֫יחַ (mashiac), or anointed king of the entire world at His second coming. Jehovah gave David magnificent victories over his enemies.
Jehovah will be faithful to three groups of people. He will be faithful to the Messiah, to David, and to Israel. The Hebrew word for “forever” is עוֹלָֽם (olam), meaning a very long time. The length of the Messianic, or Millennial Kingdom, was not given in the Old Testament. However, it was given in Revelation 20 as 1,000 literal years. Therefore, this prophecy will be fulfilled during the Millennial Kingdom.