He Gives Great Victories

2 Samuel 22:21-51

Key verse: 51

“He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever.”

Introduction )

This passage is the continuation of David’s song of praise. David praised God who protected him and gave him great victories. Through this song we can learn how we can be truly secure and live victorious lives in Jesus Christ.

1. Read verses 21-30. How has God dealt with David and why has God rewarded him? (21, 25) What has David done to be righteous and clean? (22-24) What does God show to the faithful, the blameless, the pure and the devious?(26-27) How does God deal with the humble and the haughty?(28) What is God for David and what can David do with God’s help? (29, 30)

1-1) Read verses 21-30.

“The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness;

   according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.

22 For I have kept the ways of the Lord;

   I am not guilty of turning from my God.

23 All his laws are before me;

   I have not turned away from his decrees.

24 I have been blameless before him

   and have kept myself from sin.

25 The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness,

   according to my cleanness in his sight.

26 “To the faithful you show yourself faithful,

   to the blameless you show yourself blameless,

27 to the pure you show yourself pure,

   but to the devious you show yourself shrewd.

28 You save the humble,

   but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low.

29 You, Lord, are my lamp;

   the Lord turns my darkness into light.

30 With your help I can advance against a troop;

   with my God I can scale a wall.

1-2) How has God dealt with David and why has God rewarded him? (21, 25)

21.The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness;  according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me. 25The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness,    according to my cleanness in his sight

*God has dealt with David and rewarded him according to his righteousness and cleanness.

David lived a righteous life before God and kept himself clean in his sight. God recognized it and dealt with him according to his righteousness and cleanness.

The righteousness and cleanness can be the basis of God’s favor and blessing.

It is thanks to Jesus Christ that we become righteous and clean.

As a righteous people in Jesus, we are to live righteously before God.

Jesus says,  “ For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. (Mt 5:20)

1-3) What has David done to be righteous and clean? (22-24)

22.For I have kept the ways of the Lord;  I am not guilty of turning from my God. 23 All his laws are before me; I have not turned away from his decrees.24 I have been blameless before him    and have kept myself from sin.

*David kept the ways of the Lord by observing God’s law and keeping himself from sin.

The law is the reflection of God’s character. By keeping God’s law we can keep right relationship with God. We become righteous by faith in Jesus.

By obeying God’s word, we can remain in God. We can also keep right relationship with him and grow up to God’s perfect character.

Jesus said, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Mt 5:48)

1-4) What does God show to the faithful, the blameless, the pure and the devious? (26-27)

26.“To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, 27 to the pure you show yourself pure,  but to the devious you show yourself shrewd.

*By being faithful to God we can experience God’s faithfulness. When we live blamelessly, God treats us in the perfect way.

When we keep pure heart, God shows his pure image

(Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God, Mt 5:8).

Those who deceive others will become miserable through God’s intervention.

God deals with us according to who we are and what we do.

If we obey God’s word, we can have his character.

The best way to experience God’s greatness could be to live according to his word and character.

1-5) How does God deal with the humble and the haughty?(28)

28. You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low.

*He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed. (Proverbs 3:34).

David learned this truth through his personal experience. David kept himself humble before God. He looked for God’s help and God saved him.

1-6) What is God for David and what can David do with God’s help? (29, 30)

29.You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord turns my darkness into light.30. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.

*The lam lamp refers to God’s salvation, his guidance and glory. David walked through the darkest valley (Ps 23:4).

God saved him from the darkness and led him to the right path and gave him glory.

We could have darkness inside and out. God, our lamp can turn it into light.

*With God’s help David was able to advance against his enemies and with God he was able to scale even a wall.

With God he was not afraid of anything.  Nothing could stop him. He overcame all the challenges. God was source of power for David.

When we have faith in God we can advance against any enemies. We could have walls that bock us. But we can break any walls with God and win the victory.

2. Read verses 31-37. What does David explain about God’s way and His word? (31) What does David say about God? (32) How does God help David? (33-37)

2-1) Read verses 31-37.

“As for God, his way is perfect:

   The Lord’s word is flawless;

   he shields all who take refuge in him.

32 For who is God besides the Lord?

   And who is the Rock except our God?

33 It is God who arms me with strength

   and keeps my way secure.

34 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;

   he causes me to stand on the heights.

35 He trains my hands for battle;

   my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

36 You make your saving help my shield;

   your help has made me great.

37 You provide a broad path for my feet,

   so that my ankles do not give way.

2-2) What does David explain about God’s way and His word? (31)

“As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.

*God’s way is perfect and his word is flawless. When we trust God we have to trust his perfect words.

Trusting God means to trust and obey his word.

*He shields all who take refuge in him; God protects those who come to him by believing God’s words.

2-3) What does David say about God? (32)

32.For who is God besides the Lord?  And who is the Rock except our God?

*The Lord is the only true God. There is no other God besides the Lord. The Lord is the only one whom to trust.

*Rock refers to the nature of God who is strong, powerful, and unchanging.

God is the true Rock who is trustworthy. He is powerful and strong enough for us to take refuge in him. Those who trust God will never be put in shame.

2-3) How does God help David? (33-37)

33.It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.34 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights.35 He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.36 You make your saving help my shield; your help has made me great.37 You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way.

* “ arms me with strength and keeps my way secure” – God protected David and strengthen him with his power and strength. He led David to the secured way.

* “feet of a deer” refers to agility or quickness. God helped David to defeat his enemies quickly when David trusted him.  

*“stand on the heights” – God exalted David to stand on the glory and honor. David confessed that his victory and glory came from God.

* “train my hand for battle” – God trained David to win battles. God trains us to win a spiritual battle and we become spiritual warriors.

*“bend a bow of bronze” – It was hard to bend the bow of bronze. But God gave special strength to do so.

*”You make your saving help my shield; your help has made me great”- ‘shield’ refers to protection and salvation. God helped David to be safe.

*“provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way”- God removed all hindrances to help David in his battle.

3. Read verses 38-46. How does David win victories over his enemies? (38-39,43) How does God help David have victory? (40-42) How does God preserve David? (44a) What has happened to David because of God? (44b-46)

3-1) Read verses 38-46.

“I pursued my enemies and crushed them;

   I did not turn back till they were destroyed.

39 I crushed them completely, and they could not rise;

   they fell beneath my feet.

40 You armed me with strength for battle;

   you humbled my adversaries before me.

41 You made my enemies turn their backs in flight,

   and I destroyed my foes.

42 They cried for help, but there was no one to save them—

   to the Lord, but he did not answer.

43 I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth;

   I pounded and trampled them like mud in the streets.

44 “You have delivered me from the attacks of the peoples;

   you have preserved me as the head of nations.

People I did not know now serve me,

45     foreigners cower before me;

   as soon as they hear of me, they obey me.

46 They all lose heart;

   they come trembling from their strongholds.

3-2) How does David win victories over his enemies? (38-39,43)

38“I pursued my enemies and crushed them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed. 39 I crushed them completely, and they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet. 43 I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth; I pounded and trampled them like mud in the streets.

*God empowered David to defeat his enemies completely. He pounded and trampled them like mud in the street.

God gives us the power so that we may defeat our enemies completely. We can dominate any enemies with the power God gives us.

3-3) How does God help David have victory? (40-42)

40.You armed me with strength for battle; you humbled my adversaries before me. 41 You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed my foes.42 They cried for help, but there was no one to save them— to the Lord, but he did not answer.

*God humbled David’s enemies. He didn’t answer to their cry for help because they were doing evil before him.

God fights against our enemies and humbles them not to fight against us. All our enemies will turn their back and run away before us when we fight good fight and trust God fully.

3-4) How does God preserve David? (44a)

44 a.“You have delivered me from the attacks of the peoples; you have preserved me as the head of nations.

*God protected David from different types of attack from people.

If God protects us, any attacks from many people can not strike us.

3-5) What has happened to David because of God? (44b-46)

44b.People I did not know now serve me,45 foreigners cower before me; as soon as they hear of me, they obey me.46 They all lose heart; they come trembling from their strongholds.

*God helped David to conquer many other nations around Israel. People from other nations served him. Now his kingdom became the most powerful kingdom over all other nations.

It shows the vision that people from all nations on earth will come to Jesus and serve him and obey him. The vision will come true with the power of Almighty God.

4. Read verses 47-51. What does David say about God? (47a)  How does David praise God? (47b) What are the reasons David gives for praising God?(48-50). What does God give to David and show to him?(51) How do David’s praises to God relate to your life?

4-1) Read verses 47-51.

“The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock!

   Exalted be my God, the Rock, my Savior!

48 He is the God who avenges me,

   who puts the nations under me,

49     who sets me free from my enemies.

You exalted me above my foes;

   from a violent man you rescued me.

50 Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;

   I will sing the praises of your name.

51 “He gives his king great victories;

   he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed,

   to David and his descendants forever.”

4-2) What does David say about God? (47a)  

47a “The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock!

*The Lord lives! –  It is the expression that God works actively in our practical situation. He shows his power and wisdom. David personally experienced the living God in his life.

God works actively to fulfill his will and helps those who trust him. When we seek God with faith in our situation, we will experience the living God just as David did.

All those who trust in God will cry out at the end, “The Lord lives!”  When we believe the living God, we will not be afraid of anything.  

*When we believe that God lives, we feel secure and are joyful daily. Those who believe the living God and the resurrection of Jesus Christ will never stop their singing of praise.

4-3) How does David praise God? (47b)

  47b. Exalted be my God, the Rock, my Savior!

*God is the Rock to David. God protected David like a rock. Rock is so strong and solid that no one can challenge and break it easily.

*Under such God’s protection and care, David takes refuge in God.

4-4) What are the reasons David gives for praising God?(48-50).

48 He is the God who avenges me, who puts the nations under me, 49 who sets me free from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from a violent man you rescued me. 50Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;  I will sing the praises of your name.

*God punished David’s enemies and put nations under him. He saved David from his enemies and exalted him above his foes.

You prepare a table before me  in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil;  my cup overflows.(Ps 23:5)

* “Therefore I will praise you” – Remembering all the things that God had done for him, David could not but praise God with all his heart.

God let those who trust him and live according to his word praise him among nations by revealing his glory and power to them.

In the same way we should praise God by remembering the great things he has done for us.

We have many reasons to praise God. He will let us have more reasons to praise him in the future if we trust him and follow his way.

4-5) What does God give to David and show to him?(51)

51 “He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever.”

*God gave great victories to David.

1)God gave David great victories, not small victories.

2) He gave David many victories, not couple victories.

*God shows his unfailing kindness to David.

Despite sins and made many mistakes, David received God’s unfailing kindness through sin forgiveness. David believed that God’s kindness for him and his descendants forever.

* “to his anointed”- David was an anointed king. God blessed David according to his promise to him. Ultimately ‘his anointed’ refers to Jesus Christ who would come to the world as a king.

* “his descendants” –it refers to David’s descendants including Solomon but ultimately it refers to Jesus Christ who would come as a descendant of David.

*Jesus is the focal point of God’s promise.  David’s victorious life is a shadow of Jesus’ ultimate victory against all our enemies. Through his victory, Jesus brought us salvation and had us live in glory.

*”Forever” – God is giving us victory through Jesus forever.  

David ended his song praising God. God is the only one who  should be praised.

4-6) How do David’s praises to God relate to your life?

Conclusion)

David praised God who protected him and gave him victories. David took refuge in God by trusting his words for they are perfect and flawless. God then protected from all his enemies and empowered him to win great victories. David wanted to praise God only. God gives the  great victories  through Jesus Christ to those who trust his word and take refuge in him like David.

One word: God gives us victories!

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