A song not for Publication

2 Samuel 22:1-4

Have you ever written a song, not for publication but to express your thankfulness for the blessings of an all-powerful and Holy God?  If not, King David is going to give us some pointers on how to do just that.  The following is a song coming from a grateful man to a holy, all-loving Father.  And we will need better understanding to look at the verses and examine each word. 

“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.”

When David refers to God being his rock, he is not talking about the one you pick up but a mighty granite cliff, very stable and not able to be moved.  His fortress was a secure place where rest and the ability to renew his energy happened.  He calls God his deliverer in that he understood it was God who gave every victory, it was God who gave direction to his path, and it was all God.  Can you imagine God as a shield going before you in all of life’s battles; David can for he has experienced it.

And what about, “and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior.“  Horn is often used in Scripture and a lot in the Psalms, its meaning is strength or power, but the horn of my salvation is pointing to Christ.  In Luke 1:69, “The expression "horn of salvation," applied to Christ, means a salvation of strength, or a strong Savior.”  Taken from  ("Easton's Bible Dictionary")

Then David writes; “I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.”  How often do you and I call on the Lord, usually it is after we have done all that is in our power, and when all has failed we cry out to God.  That’s the wrong model, and that is not what we are learning from King David.

As one who desires wisdom, would it not be wise to spend time pondering on who God is to you?  Today we only covered a few verses, we are not ready to write our song, for a song like this one of David’s came not from his mind but his heart.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice