Introduction 

2 Samuel 22:1–30: Today’s reading is the first half of David’s victory song. He compares God to a fortress, a shield, a place of protection, and more. He praises God for saving him from his enemies and recounts a dramatic narrative of danger and rescue. 

Today’s Key Verse: 2 Samuel 22:2 

The LORD is my protector; he is my strong fortress. 

Read 

22 When the Lord saved David from Saul and his other enemies, David sang this song to the Lord:

2 The Lord is my protector;
he is my strong fortress.
3 My God is my protection,
and with him I am safe.
He protects me like a shield;
he defends me and keeps me safe.
He is my savior;
he protects me and saves me from violence.
4 I call to the Lord,
and he saves me from my enemies.
Praise the Lord!

5 The waves of death were all around me;
the waves of destruction rolled over me.
6 The danger of death was around me,
and the grave set its trap for me.
7 In my trouble I called to the Lord;
I called to my God for help.
In his temple he heard my voice;
he listened to my cry for help.

8 Then the earth trembled and shook;
the foundations of the sky rocked and quivered
because God was angry!
9 Smoke poured out of his nostrils,
a consuming flame and burning coals from his mouth.
10 He tore the sky open and came down,
with a dark cloud under his feet.
11 He flew swiftly on his winged creature;
he traveled on the wings of the wind.
12 He covered himself with darkness;
thick clouds, full of  water, surrounded him;
13     burning coals flamed up from the lightning before him.

14 Then the Lord thundered from the sky,
and the voice of Almighty God was heard.
15 He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies;
with flashes of lightning he sent them running.
16 The floor of the ocean was laid bare,
and the foundations of the earth were uncovered
when the Lord rebuked his enemies
and roared at them in anger.

17 The Lord reached down from above and took hold of me;
he pulled me out of the deep waters.
18 He rescued me from my powerful enemies
and from all those who hate me—
they were too strong for me.
19 When I was in trouble, they attacked me,
but the Lord protected me.
20 He helped me out of danger;
he saved me because he was pleased with me.

21 The Lord rewards me because I do what is right;
he blesses me because I am innocent.
22 I have obeyed the law of the Lord;
I have not turned away from my God.
23 I have observed all his laws;
I have not disobeyed his commands.
24 He knows that I am faultless,
that I have kept myself from doing wrong.
25 And so he rewards me because I do what is right,
because he knows that I am innocent.

26 O Lord, you are faithful to those who are faithful to you,
and completely good to those who are perfect.
27 You are pure to those who are pure,
but hostile to those who are wicked.
28 You save those who are humble,
but you humble those who are proud.

29 You, Lord, are my light;
you dispel my darkness.
30 You give me strength to attack my enemies
and power to overcome their defenses.

Reflect 

David’s victory song, one of the oldest major poems in the Hebrew Scriptures, is also collected in a slightly different form in Psalm 18. In verses 2–4, how does David describe God? In verses 21–25, David seems to indicate that he thought the LORD supported him because he was innocent by God’s standards and because he obeyed the LORD. What are your thoughts about what he says in these verses? 

Pray 

Mighty God, you are my protector, my strong fortress, and my savior. You are my defender and shield and my place of safety. I praise you and thank you for the ways in which you protect and care for me. Amen. 

Tomorrow’s Reading 

2 Samuel 22:31–51: David continues his prayer to God.