September 21, 2023
Big Idea
No one is immune to sin.
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."
1 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. 2 He said,
“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
3
my
1
22:3
Septuagint (compare Psalm 18:2); Hebrew lacks 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.
4
I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.
5
For the waves of death encompassed me,
the torrents of destruction assailed me;
2
22:5
Or terrified me
6
the cords of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.
7
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.
8
Then the earth reeled and rocked;
the foundations of the heavens trembled
and quaked, because he was angry.
9
Smoke went up from his nostrils,
3
22:9
Or in his wrath
and devouring fire from his mouth;
glowing coals flamed forth from him.
10
He bowed the heavens and came down;
thick darkness was under his feet.
11
He rode on a cherub and flew;
he was seen on the wings of the wind.
12
He made darkness around him his canopy,
thick clouds, a gathering of water.
13
Out of the brightness before him
coals of fire flamed forth.
14
The LORD thundered from heaven,
and the Most High uttered his voice.
15
And he sent out arrows and scattered them;
lightning, and routed them.
16
Then the channels of the sea were seen;
the foundations of the world were laid bare,
at the rebuke of the LORD,
at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.
17
He sent from on high, he took me;
he drew me out of many waters.
18
He rescued me from my strong enemy,
from those who hated me,
for they were too mighty for me.
19
They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
but the LORD was my support.
20
He brought me out into a broad place;
he rescued me, because he delighted in me.
21
The LORD dealt with me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me.
22
For I have kept the ways of the LORD
and have not wickedly departed from my God.
23
For all his rules were before me,
and from his statutes I did not turn aside.
24
I was blameless before him,
and I kept myself from guilt.
25
And the LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
according to my cleanness in his sight.
26
With the merciful you show yourself merciful;
with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;
27
with the purified you deal purely,
and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.
28
You save a humble people,
but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down.
29
For you are my lamp, O LORD,
and my God lightens my darkness.
30
For by you I can run against a troop,
and by my God I can leap over a wall.
31
This God—his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD proves true;
he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.
32
For who is God, but the LORD?
And who is a rock, except our God?
33
This God is my strong refuge
and has made my
4
22:33
Or his; also verse 34
way blameless.
5
22:33
Compare Psalm 18:32; Hebrew he has blamelessly set my way free, or he has made my way spring up blamelessly
34
He made my feet like the feet of a deer
and set me secure on the heights.
35
He trains my hands for war,
so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
36
You have given me the shield of your salvation,
and your gentleness made me great.
37
You gave a wide place for my steps under me,
and my feet
6
22:37
Hebrew ankles
did not slip;
38
I pursued my enemies and destroyed them,
and did not turn back until they were consumed.
39
I consumed them; I thrust them through, so that they did not rise;
they fell under my feet.
40
For you equipped me with strength for the battle;
you made those who rise against me sink under me.
41
You made my enemies turn their backs to me,
7
22:41
Or You gave me my enemies' necks
those who hated me, and I destroyed them.
42
They looked, but there was none to save;
they cried to the LORD, but he did not answer them.
43
I beat them fine as the dust of the earth;
I crushed them and stamped them down like the mire of the streets.
44
You delivered me from strife with my people;
8
22:44
Septuagint with the peoples
you kept me as the head of the nations;
people whom I had not known served me.
45
Foreigners came cringing to me;
as soon as they heard of me, they obeyed me.
46
Foreigners lost heart
and came trembling
9
22:46
Compare Psalm 18:45; Hebrew equipped themselves
out of their fortresses.
47
The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock,
and exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation,
48
the God who gave me vengeance
and brought down peoples under me,
49
who brought me out from my enemies;
you exalted me above those who rose against me;
you delivered me from men of violence.
50
For this I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations,
and sing praises to your name.
51
Great salvation he brings
10
22:51
Or He is a tower of salvation
to his king,
and shows steadfast love to his anointed,
to David and his offspring forever.”
Do you ever think to yourself, "Wow, my life is a struggle right now!"
Have you considered the hardships David experienced? Second Samuel 21 outlines all of David's struggles, including Saul's attempts to kill him!
As we read 2 Samuel 22, we see two different themes:
The very first thing David does after war is respond with a song to the Lord, praising Him for deliverance. (2 Samuel 22:2-3)
In July 2022, my wife Catherine and I found out we were pregnant with our third child. We rejoiced in this news, only to find out a few weeks later that our precious child had passed away due to a miscarriage. We grieved a child that we will never meet here on earth, but we rejoice that our child will live with our Heavenly Father.
Because of the miscarriage, I was frustrated with God, but the Lord sought me and cared for me in the midst of my pain. The following morning after hearing the news of our miscarriage, I went for a run. As I wandered through the trails, the Lord put in my mind a song that I held fast to, "Tis So Sweet" by Shane and Shane. These words rang true:
Jesus Jesus how I trust Him!
How I proved him O’er and O’er
Jesus Jesus precious Jesus
O for grace, to trust Him more!
Like David in this passage, when we sing, we are reminded of the Lord's faithfulness. Despite the pains that this life can bring, we can trust God and have full assurance that He will see us through to the end. Who is our God? Our God is a God who delivers and saves us.
One day Catherine and I will meet our child Sam in heaven, and we will sing at the top of our lungs, proclaiming God's goodness and deliverance in our lives.
My prayer is that your hearts would be strengthened and your song be bold in whatever trial or struggle you are facing.
Tis So Sweet!
This month's memory verse
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
1. Are you dealing with a trial now? First, stop and pray. Make your specific requests known to God. Then share it with your community group so they can also encourage you. (Hebrews 10:24)
2. How have you been reminded of the Lord's faithfulness in your life recently? Write out a list of 10 ways that the Lord has been faithful in your life. Share it with your community group!
3. What is your first response when things don't go your way? How can you "sing" to the Lord in your daily walk with Him?
4. What songs have strengthened your heart?
5. Read 2 Samuel 22 again, this time sung as a song to remind you of David's great joy in the Lord's deliverance.
As we gear up to release even more features for Join The Journey in 2025, our staff team, unfortunately, no longer has the margin to continue to support the comment functionality. We have big things in store for Join The Journey 2025. Stay tuned!
Hugh Stephenson
Hugh Stephenson
Hugh Stephenson
Scott Self
Greg Jones
Sue Bohlin
Michael Scaman
JOHN CIMMERMAN
Amy Lowther