2 Samuel 22

ARC · Chapter 22/24

1E fallou David ao Senhor as palavras d'este cantico, no dia em que o Senhor o livrou das mãos de todos os seus inimigos e das mãos de Saul.

2Disse pois: O Senhor é o meu rochedo, e o meu logar forte, e o meu libertador.

3Deus é o meu rochedo, n'elle confiarei: o meu escudo, e a força da minha salvação, o meu alto retiro, e o meu refugio. O meu Salvador, de violencia me salvaste.

4O Senhor, digno de louvor, invoquei, e de meus inimigos fiquei livre.

5Porque me cercaram as ondas de morte: as torrentes de Belial me assombraram.

6Cordas do inferno me cingiram; encontraram-me laços de morte.

7Estando em angustia, invoquei ao Senhor, e a meu Deus clamei: do seu templo ouviu elle a minha voz, e o meu clamor chegou aos seus ouvidos.

8Então se abalou e tremeu a terra, os fundamentos dos céus se moveram e abalaram, porque elle se irou.

9Subiu o fumo de seus narizes, e da sua bocca um fogo devorador: carvões se incenderam d'elle.

10E abaixou os céus, e desceu: e uma escuridão havia debaixo de seus pés.

11E subiu sobre um cherubim, e voou: e foi visto sobre as azas do vento.

12E por tendas poz as trevas ao redor de si: ajuntamento d'aguas, nuvens dos céus.

13Pelo resplendor da sua presença brasas de fogo se accendem.

14Trovejou desde os céus o Senhor: e o Altissimo fez soar a sua voz.

15E disparou frechas, e os dissipou: raios e os perturbou.

16E appareceram as profundezas do mar, os fundamentos do mundo se descobriram: pela reprehensão do Senhor, pelo sopro do vento dos seus narizes.

17Desde o alto enviou, e me tomou: tirou-me das muitas aguas.

18Livrou-me do meu possante inimigo, e d'aquelles que me tinham odio, porque eram mais fortes do que eu.

19Encontraram-me no dia da minha calamidade: porém o Senhor se fez o meu esteio.

20E tirou-me á largura, e arrebatou-me d'ali; porque tinha prazer em mim.

21Recompensou-me o Senhor conforme á minha justiça: conforme á pureza de minhas mãos me retribuiu.

22Porque guardei os caminhos do Senhor: e não me apartei impiamente do meu Deus.

23Porque todos os seus juizos estavam diante de mim: e de seus estatutos me não desviei.

24Porém fui sincero perante elle: e guardei-me da minha iniquidade.

25E me retribuiu o Senhor conforme á minha justiça, conforme á minha pureza diante dos seus olhos.

26Com o benigno te mostras benigno: com o varão sincero te mostras sincero.

27Com o puro te mostras puro: mas com o perverso te mostras avesso.

28E o povo afflicto livras: mas teus olhos são contra os altivos, e tu os abaterás.

29Porque tu, Senhor, és a minha candeia: e o Senhor esclarece as minhas trevas.

30Porque comtigo passo pelo meio d'um esquadrão: pelo meu Deus salto um muro.

31O caminho de Deus é perfeito, e a palavra do Senhor refinada; e é o escudo de todos os que n'elle confiam.

32Porque, quem é Deus, senão o Senhor? e quem é rochedo, senão o nosso Deus?

33Deus é a minha fortaleza e a minha força, e elle perfeitamente desembaraça o meu caminho.

34Faz elle os meus pés como os das cervas, e me põe sobre as minhas alturas.

35Instrue as minhas mãos para a peleja, de maneira que um arco de cobre se quebra pelos meus braços.

36Tambem me déste o escudo da tua salvação, e pela tua brandura me vieste a engrandecer.

37Alargaste os meus passos debaixo de mim, e não vacillaram os meus artelhos.

38Persegui os meus inimigos, e os derrotei, e nunca me tornei até que os consumisse.

39E os consumi, e os atravessei, de modo que nunca mais se levantaram, mas cairam debaixo dos meus pés.

40Porque me cingiste de força para a peleja, fizeste abater-se debaixo de mim os que se levantaram contra mim.

41E deste-me o pescoço de meus inimigos, d'aquelles que me tinham odio, e os destrui.

42Olharam, porém não houve libertador: sim, para o Senhor, porém não lhes respondeu.

43Então os moí como o pó da terra; como a lama das ruas os trilhei e dissipei.

44Tambem me livraste das contendas do meu povo; guardaste-me para cabeça das nações; o povo que não conhecia me servirá.

45Os filhos de estranhos se me sujeitaram; ouvindo a minha voz, me obedeceram.

46Os filhos de estranhos descairam; e, cingindo-se, sairam dos seus encerramentos.

47Vive o Senhor, e bemdito seja o meu rochedo; e exaltado seja Deus, a rocha da minha salvação:

48O Deus que me dá inteira vingança, e sujeita os povos debaixo de mim.

49E o que me tira d'entre os meus inimigos: e tu me exaltas sobre os que contra mim se levantam; do homem violento me livras.

50Por isso, ó Senhor, te louvarei entre as gentes, e entoarei louvores ao teu nome.

51Elle é a torre das salvações do seu rei, e usa de benignidade com o seu ungido, com David, e com a sua semente para sempre.

📖 Chapter study

Summary

David sings a long song of praise and gratitude to God for delivering him from all his enemies, including Saul, throughout his life. The poem celebrates God's strength, justice, and faithfulness as a rock and refuge.

Explanation

This song is nearly identical to Psalm 18, showing how David's poetry was used both in collective worship (in the Psalms) and as a personal historical record (here in 2 Samuel). The repetition of images like 'rock,' 'shield,' and 'tower of salvation' reflects a theology of total dependence on God as the source of security, rather than on one's own military or political power. It is an invitation to look back over one's life and recognize, as David did, the moments when God intervened even when we did not clearly perceive it at the time.

Fun facts

  • The poem's dramatic imagery — the earth trembling, the heavens bowing down, God riding upon a cherub — uses language known as 'theophany,' common in ancient Hebrew poetry to describe an awe-inspiring manifestation of divine power.
  • The song closes by mentioning the promise 'to his seed for evermore,' echoing directly the Davidic covenant of chapter 7.

Verse-by-verse explanation

  1. 2 Samuel 22:1David sings this song to the Lord on the day he was delivered from all his enemies and from Saul — a poetic summary of his entire journey. This poem is nearly identical to Psalm 18.
  2. 2 Samuel 22:2David calls the Lord his rock, fortress, and deliverer — images of solid protection used repeatedly throughout the song.
  3. 2 Samuel 22:3He keeps stacking images of security: shield, horn of salvation, refuge — all to describe how God saved him from violence.
  4. 2 Samuel 22:4David declares that it is enough to call on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, to be delivered from his enemies.
  5. 2 Samuel 22:5He describes the danger he lived through as waves of death and torrents of destruction surrounding him.
  6. 2 Samuel 22:6He uses the image of the cords of the grave and deadly snares to describe how close to death he came.
  7. 2 Samuel 22:7In the midst of distress, David cries out, and God hears his voice from the temple — his cry reaches divine ears.
  8. 2 Samuel 22:8God’s response is described as an earthquake and a shaking of the foundations of heaven, because of divine wrath.
  9. 2 Samuel 22:9The images of smoke rising from God’s nostrils and devouring fire from His mouth belong to a poetic style common in the ancient Near East for describing storm-related deities — the same kind of language used for rain and thunder gods in neighboring texts, applied here to the Lord.
  10. 2 Samuel 22:10The poetic image continues: God bows the heavens and comes down, with darkness under His feet — a dramatic theophany.
  11. 2 Samuel 22:11God is described flying upon a cherub, seen upon the wings of the wind — a scene of divine intervention coming from on high.
  12. 2 Samuel 22:12God surrounds Himself with darkness like tents, with water-laden clouds around Him.
  13. 2 Samuel 22:13Out of the brightness of God’s presence come burning coals of fire.
  14. 2 Samuel 22:14The Lord thunders from heaven, and the Most High makes His voice sound like thunder.
  15. 2 Samuel 22:15God shoots arrows and lightning that scatter and confuse the enemies.
  16. 2 Samuel 22:16The force of the divine rebuke is such that it uncovers even the bottom of the sea and the foundations of the world.
  17. 2 Samuel 22:17God reaches down from on high and pulls David out of deep waters — an image of rescue from mortal danger.
  18. 2 Samuel 22:18David acknowledges he was delivered from an enemy too strong for him to overcome alone.
  19. 2 Samuel 22:19Even when found on his hardest day, David says the Lord became his support.
  20. 2 Samuel 22:20God brings him out into a broad, safe place, because He delighted in him.
  21. 2 Samuel 22:21David sings that God rewarded him “according to my righteousness” — a statement that sounds uncomfortable after the episode with Bathsheba, but in the language of psalms of lament and victory, it usually speaks of general loyalty to the covenant with God, not a claim of a flawless life.
  22. 2 Samuel 22:22David affirms that he has always kept the ways of the Lord, without wickedly departing from Him.
  23. 2 Samuel 22:23He says he has kept God’s judgments before him, without turning aside from His statutes.
  24. 2 Samuel 22:24David describes himself as blameless before God, having kept himself from his own iniquity.
  25. 2 Samuel 22:25He repeats that God rewarded him according to his righteousness and purity in God’s sight — a statement of general faithfulness to the covenant, despite David’s well-known failures.
  26. 2 Samuel 22:26David describes God’s character like a mirror: merciful to the merciful, upright to the upright.
  27. 2 Samuel 22:27In the same way, God is pure with the pure, and opposes those who act perversely.
  28. 2 Samuel 22:28God saves the humble people, but turns against the proud to bring them down.
  29. 2 Samuel 22:29David calls the Lord his lamp — the light that brightens even the darkest shadows of his life.
  30. 2 Samuel 22:30With God’s help, David says he can run through a troop and even leap over a wall.
  31. 2 Samuel 22:31He declares that God’s way is perfect and His word is pure, a shield to all who trust in Him.
  32. 2 Samuel 22:32A rhetorical question: who is God besides the Lord? who is a rock besides our God?
  33. 2 Samuel 22:33God is described as the strength and fortress who makes David’s way perfect.
  34. 2 Samuel 22:34God makes his feet like the feet of a deer, able to stand firm even on the highest places.
  35. 2 Samuel 22:35God trains his hands for war, giving him strength to even break a bow of bronze with his arms.
  36. 2 Samuel 22:36God gives him the shield of salvation, and it is God’s gentleness that makes him great.
  37. 2 Samuel 22:37God enlarges his steps, giving him stability so that his feet do not slip.
  38. 2 Samuel 22:38David describes pursuing his enemies and not stopping until he had destroyed them completely.
  39. 2 Samuel 22:39He consumes them so completely that they never rise again, falling under his feet.
  40. 2 Samuel 22:40He acknowledges that it was God who girded him with strength for battle, making his adversaries bow before him.
  41. 2 Samuel 22:41God makes the enemies turn their backs, and David is able to destroy those who hated him.
  42. 2 Samuel 22:42The enemies look for help, but there is no deliverer; they cry out to the Lord, but He does not answer them.
  43. 2 Samuel 22:43David beats them as fine as the dust of the earth and tramples them like mud in the streets — an image of complete, crushing victory.
  44. 2 Samuel 22:44God also delivers him from the internal disputes of his own people, and establishes him as head over foreign nations, who now come to serve him.
  45. 2 Samuel 22:45Foreigners submit to him, obeying as soon as they hear of him.
  46. 2 Samuel 22:46These foreigners lose heart and come trembling out of their fortified hiding places.
  47. 2 Samuel 22:47David celebrates that the Lord lives, blessing his rock and exalting God as the rock of his salvation.
  48. 2 Samuel 22:48He praises God for granting him complete vengeance and subduing peoples under him.
  49. 2 Samuel 22:49He acknowledges that it was God who brought him out from among his enemies and delivered him from the violent man.
  50. 2 Samuel 22:50Therefore David promises to praise the Lord among the nations and sing praises to His name.
  51. 2 Samuel 22:51The song closes declaring that God is the tower of salvation for His king, showing mercy to David and his descendants forever — echoing the promise of chapter 7.

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