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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Friday, 5 September 2025:
2 Samuel 22:1-4 — And David spoke to the Lord the words of this song on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.”
This chapter is David’s psalm of thanksgiving, nearly identical to Psalm 18. After decades of warfare, betrayal, failures, and deliverance, David bursts forth with praise to God as his rock, fortress, deliverer, shield, and savior. He acknowledges that every escape from danger, every victory, and every preservation of his life has been God’s doing. This is the language of someone who has lived through storms and found safety only in the Lord. His personal deliverance is a foreshadowing of the eternal salvation we have in Christ, the Rock of our salvation (1 Corinthians 10:4).
2 Samuel 22:5-7 — “For the waves of death encompassed me, the torrents of destruction assailed me; the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I called. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry came to his ears.”
David vividly recalls his many close brushes with death. The imagery of drowning in the “waves of death” shows how overwhelmed he often felt. Yet God heard him each time. No cry went unheard. For us, this points to the assurance that the Lord is attentive to the cries of His people. Even when all hope seems lost, our prayers reach His throne, and He responds in His perfect timing (Psalm 34:17).
2 Samuel 22:8-16 — “Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations of the heavens trembled and quaked, because he was angry…. He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under his feet… Out of the brightness before him coals of fire flamed forth. The Lord thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered his voice.”
David describes God’s deliverance in cosmic, earth-shaking terms, portraying the Lord as a divine warrior who intervenes with power. This poetic imagery emphasizes that God is not distant but personally enters history to save His people. It foreshadows Christ’s ultimate intervention, where God came down not in fire and storm but in humility, taking on flesh to save us (John 1:14).
2 Samuel 22:17-20 — “He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters. He rescued me from my strong enemy…. He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.”
Here we see the heart of grace. God’s deliverance was not because David was perfect — his sins prove otherwise — but because the Lord delighted in him. God rescues His people out of His covenant love and delight, not out of their worthiness. This truth finds its fullest expression in Christ, who rescues us from sin and death because the Father delights in His Son and those united with Him (Matthew 3:17; Ephesians 1:4–5).
2 Samuel 22:21-25 — “The Lord dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me….”
At first glance, this seems inconsistent with David’s sins. Yet David speaks from the perspective of covenant faithfulness. Though guilty of grave sins, David repented, trusted in God’s mercy, and did not abandon the Lord for idols. His righteousness was not sinless perfection but covenant loyalty. For us in Christ, this points to the righteousness we receive by faith, not our own, but the righteousness of Christ credited to us (Philippians 3:9).
Though we are saved by grace and not by works, love compels that we seek with all that we are to be faithful and obedient. Grace is not opposed to effort, just earning. We are saved by grace and also rewarded through obedience. It is in obedience where we come to know Him and and He is manifested in our lives – “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” (John 14:21)
God expects our obedience, holds us accountable for obedience, and blesses our obedience. Jesus commissioned us to go into the world and make disciples, “teaching them to obey ALL that [He] has commanded.” All means all. Partial obedience is disobedience. When we lose sight of the holiness of God, and when we are no longer amazed by grace, we don’t take obedience very seriously.
2 Samuel 22:26-31 — “With the merciful you show yourself merciful…. With the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous. You save a humble people, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down. For you are my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness.”
God treats you the way you treat others. Compare this with The Lord’s Prayer (or disciple’s prayer) – “…forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” The humble receive mercy, the proud are brought low. David recognizes that God had lifted him up not because of strength but because he humbled himself before the Lord. Jesus echoes this principle: “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:11). Pay attention to how often us use the first-person singular personal pronouns “I” and “me” to draw positive attention to yourself – stop doing that, even professionally. Let your Christlike character speak for itself while you proclaim His Name every chance you get – “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30)
2 Samuel 22:28 — You save a humble people, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down.
The world views humility as weakness, but the truly humble have the power of God on their side. Jesus said, “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:4)
2 Samuel 22:32-37 — “For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? This God is my strong refuge and has made my way blameless He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights…”
David exalts God as the only true refuge, the only Rock. He acknowledges that every success, every ability, and every victory is from the Lord. God not only delivered David but also equipped him for the battles he faced. Likewise, Christ strengthens us with His Spirit so that we can walk faithfully, securely, and victoriously in Him (Ephesians 6:10-11).
2 Samuel 22:38-46 — “You delivered me….”
David recounts how God gave him victory over his enemies and made nations subject to him. Yet David’s words point beyond himself to the greater Son of David, Christ, to whom all nations will one day bow (Philippians 2:9-11). The victories of David foreshadow the greater triumph of Jesus, who conquers sin, Satan, and death forever.
2 Samuel 22:47-51– “The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation, the God who gave me vengeance and brought down peoples under me…. For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations, and sing praises to your name. Great salvation he brings to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his offspring forever.”
David ends his psalm with a doxology of praise. He acknowledges the Lord as the source of all salvation, not just for him but for his offspring forever. This points directly to Christ, the true Anointed One, through whom steadfast love is shown to the nations. David’s personal song of thanksgiving thus becomes a prophecy of the Messiah, whose salvation extends to all peoples.
Strength, security, and success are in the LORD’s hands. Salvation comes only from God.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 5 September 2025: Today, practice gratitude as your weapon of faith. Like David, recount the ways God has delivered you, sustained you, and shown mercy to you. In prayer, name specific moments of God’s rescue in your life. Let gratitude fuel humility, confidence in Christ, and courage to face present battles with trust in the Rock of your salvation.
Pray: “Father, You are my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer. Thank You for rescuing me from sin and death through Jesus Christ, and for hearing my cries in times of trouble. Teach me to walk in humility, to remember Your faithfulness, and to live with gratitude as my song. May my life, like David’s psalm, proclaim to the nations that You alone are God and worthy of praise. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 