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简体中文
영문 원문
This chapter is a psalm, a psalm of praise; we find it afterwards inserted among David's psalms (Ps 18:1-50) with some little variation. We have it here as it was first composed for his own closed and his own harp; but there we have it as it was afterwards delivered to the chief musician for the service of the church, a second edition with some amendments; for, though it was calculated primarily for David's case, yet it might indifferently serve the devotion of others, in giving thanks for their deliverances; or it was intended that his people should thus join with him in his thanksgivings, because, being a public person, his deliverances were to be accounted public blessings and called for public acknowledgments. The inspired historian, having largely related David's deliverances in this and the foregoing book, and one particularly in the close of the foregoing chapter, thought fit to record this sacred poem as a memorial of all that had been before related. Some think that David penned this psalm when he was old, upon a general review of the mercies of his life and the many wonderful preservations God had blessed him with, from first to last. We should in our praises, look as far back as we can, and not suffer time to wear out the sense of God's favours. Others think that he penned it when he was young, upon occasion of some of his first deliverances, and kept it by him for his use afterwards, and that, upon every new deliverance, his practice was to sing this song. But the book of Psalms shows that he varied as there was occasion, and confined not himself to one form. Here is, I. The title of the psalm, 2Sa 22:1. II. The psalm itself, in which, with a very warm devotion and very great fluency and copiousness of expression, 1. He gives glory to God. 2. He takes comfort in him; and he finds matter for both, (1.) In the experiences he had of God's former favours. (2.) In the expectations he had of his further favours. These are intermixed throughout the whole psalm.
1
David's Song of Praise (1020 BC)
简体中文
大卫的赞美之歌（主前1020年）
¹ 当耶和华救大卫脱离一切仇敌和扫罗之手的日，大卫向耶和华念这诗的话。
此处请留意：I. 神的子民往往遭遇许多仇敌，并常面临落入他们手中的迫切危险，这往往是他们的份。大卫是合神心意的人，却不是合众人心意的人；恨他、寻索他性命的人很多。扫罗被特别点名，或因：1. 他是与那些外邦仇敌有别的一个。扫罗恨大卫，但大卫并不恨扫罗，因此不愿将他列在自己的仇敌之中；或更确切地说，2. 他是众仇敌之首，比任何人都更恶毒、更有势力。蒙神所爱的人，若被世界所恨，不要以为希奇。
II. 凡在尽本分的道路上倚靠神的人，必在自己最大的危险中发现神是随时的帮助。大卫正是如此。神救他脱离了扫罗的手。他特别记念这事。值得记念的保守，在我们的赞美中当以特别的强调提出。神也救他脱离了"一切仇敌的手"——一个接一个，有时用这种方法，有时用那种方法；大卫凭自己的经历向我们保证："义人多有苦难，但耶和华救他脱离这一切"（诗34:19）。我们直到进入天堂，方能完全脱离一切仇敌；神必保守一切属他的人进入那属天的国度（提后4:18）。
III. 凡从神领受了许多格外恩典的人，当将荣耀归给他。我们手中每一样新的恩典，都当使我们口中发出新的诗歌，就是赞美我们的神。心存感恩的人，必从那丰盛之中口里说出来。大卫说话，不仅是对自己说，为自己的喜乐；也不仅是向周围的人说，为教导他们；而是"向耶和华"说，为他的荣耀——"这诗的话"。当我们向耶和华歌唱时，我们便是以恩典歌唱。在患难中，他"用声音呼求"（诗142:1），所以他也用声音献上感谢。向神感恩，是最美的声乐。
IV. 我们当速速向神献上感恩的回报："在耶和华救他的那日"，他便唱了这诗。当恩典尚新，我们敬虔的情感因此最为炽烈之时，便当献上感恩祭，使它被那情感的火所点燃。
영문 원문
David's Song of Praise (1020 BC)
¹ And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:
Observe here, I. That it has often been the lot of God's people to have many enemies, and to be in imminent danger of falling into their hands. David was a man after God's heart, but not after men's heart: many were those that hated him, and sought his ruin; Saul is particularly named, either, 1. As distinguished from his enemies of the heathen nations. Saul hated David, but David did not hate Saul, and therefore would not reckon him among his enemies; or, rather, 2. As the chief of his enemies, who was more malicious and powerful than any of them. Let not those whom God loves marvel if the world hate them.
II. Those that trust God in the way of duty shall find him a present help to them in their greatest dangers. David did so. God delivered him out of the hand of Saul. He takes special notice of this. Remarkable preservations should be mentioned in our praises with a particular emphasis. He delivered him also out of the hand of all his enemies, one after another, sometimes in one way, sometimes in another; and David, from his own experience, has assured us that, though many are the troubles of the righteous, yet the Lord delivers them out of them all, Ps 34:19. We shall never be delivered from all our enemies till we get to heaven; and to that heavenly kingdom God will preserve all that are his, 2Ti 4:18.
III. Those that have received many signal mercies from God ought to give him the glory of them. Every new mercy in our hand should put a new song into our mouth, even praises to our God. Where there is a grateful heart, out of the abundance of that the mouth will speak. David spoke, not only to himself, for his own pleasure, not merely to those about him, for their instruction, but to the Lord, for his honour, the words of this song. Then we sing with grace when we sing to the Lord. In distress he cried with his voice (Ps 142:1), therefore with his voice he gave thanks. Thanksgiving to God is the sweetest vocal music.
IV. We ought to be speedy in our thankful returns to God: In the day that God delivered him he sang this song. While the mercy is fresh, and our devout affections are most excited by it, let the thank-offering be brought, that it may be kindled with the fire of those affections.
2-51
David's Thanksgiving (1020 BC)
简体中文
大卫的感恩颂（公元前1020年）
² 他说：耶和华是我的岩石，我的山寨，我的救主；
³ 我的神，我所投靠的盘石；他是我的盾牌，是拯救我的角，是我的高台，我的避难所，我的救主；你救我脱离强暴。
⁴ 我要求告当受赞美的耶和华；这样，我必从仇敌手中被救出来。
⁵ 曾有死亡的波浪环绕我；匪类的急流使我惊惧；
⁶ 阴间的绳索缠绕我；死亡的网罗临到我。
⁷ 我在急难中求告耶和华，向我的神呼求；他从殿中听了我的声音，我的呼求入了他的耳中。
⁸ 那时因他发怒，地就摇撼战抖；天的根基也震动摇撼。
⁹ 从他鼻孔冒烟上腾；从他口中发火焚烧，连炭也着了。
¹⁰ 他又使天下垂，亲自降临；有黑云在他脚下。
¹¹ 他坐着基路伯飞行；在风的翅膀上显现。
¹² 他以黑暗为藏身之处；以水的黑暗、天空的厚云，为他四围的行宫。
¹³ 因他面前的光辉，炭都着了。
¹⁴ 耶和华从天上打雷；至高者发出声音。
¹⁵ 他射出箭来，使仇敌四散；发出闪电，使他们扰乱。
¹⁶ 耶和华啊，因你的斥责，海的深处现出，地的根基也显露。耶和华的鼻孔一出气，水便退去。
¹⁷ 他从高处伸手抓住我；把我从大水中拉上来。
¹⁸ 他救我脱离我的劲敌，脱离恨恶我的人；因为他们比我强盛。
¹⁹ 我遭遇灾难的日子，他们来攻击我；但耶和华是我的倚靠。
²⁰ 他又领我到宽阔之处；他救拔我，因他喜悦我。
²¹ 耶和华按着我的公义报答我，按着我手中的清洁赏赐我。
²² 因为我遵守了耶和华的道，未曾恶作离开我的神。
²³ 他的一切典章常在我面前；他的律例，我也未曾离弃。
²⁴ 我在他面前作了完全人；我也保守自己远离罪孽。
²⁵ 所以耶和华按我在他眼中手中的清洁向我回转。
²⁶ 慈爱的人，你以慈爱待他；完全的人，你以完全待他。
²⁷ 清洁的人，你以清洁待他；乖僻的人，你以弯曲待他。
²⁸ 困苦的百姓，你必拯救；但你的眼目察看高傲的人，使他降卑。
²⁹ 耶和华啊，你是我的灯；耶和华必照明我的黑暗。
³⁰ 我藉着你冲入敌军，藉着我的神跳过墙垣。
³¹ 至于神，他的道是完全的；耶和华的话是炼净的；凡投靠他的，他便作他们的盾牌。
³² 除了耶和华，谁是神呢？除了我们的神，谁是盘石呢？
³³ 神是我坚固的保障；他引导完全人行他的路。
³⁴ 他使我的脚快如母鹿的蹄；又使我在高处安稳。
³⁵ 他教导我的手争战；甚至我的膀臂能开铜弓。
³⁶ 你把救恩的盾牌赐给我；你的温和使我为大。
³⁷ 你使我脚下的地步宽阔；我的脚未曾滑跌。
³⁸ 我追赶我的仇敌，灭绝了他们；未灭以先，我不归回。
³⁹ 我灭绝了他们，伤了他们，使他们不能起来；他们都倒在我的脚下。
⁴⁰ 因为你曾以力量束我的腰，使我能争战；你也使那起来攻击我的，都服在我以下。
⁴¹ 你又把我的仇敌交在我面前，叫我能灭绝那恨我的人。
⁴² 他们仰望，却无人拯救；就是呼求耶和华，他也不应允他们。
⁴³ 我就捣碎他们，如同地上的灰尘；践踏他们，如同街上的泥土，又把他们四散。
⁴⁴ 你救我脱离我百姓的争竞，立我作列国的元首；我素不认识的百姓必事奉我。
⁴⁵ 外邦人要虚心投降我；他们一听见我的名声，就必顺从我。
⁴⁶ 外邦人要疲乏而丧胆，从他们的营寨中战战兢兢地出来。
⁴⁷ 耶和华活著；愿我的盘石被称颂；愿神，那拯救我的盘石，被高举。
⁴⁸ 这位神就是那为我伸冤、使众民服在我以下的。
⁴⁹ 他救我脱离仇敌；又把我举起，高过那些起来攻击我的人；你救我脱离强暴的人。
⁵⁰ 耶和华啊，因此我要在外邦中称谢你，歌颂你的名。
⁵¹ 耶和华赐极大的救恩给他所立的王，施慈爱给他的受膏者，就是给大卫和他的后裔，直到永远。
让我们在这首颂赞之诗中观察：
I. 大卫怎样敬拜神，将他无限完全的荣耀归给他。无人像他，也无可与他相比（撒下22:32）：除了耶和华，谁是神呢？其余一切被人当作神敬拜的，都是假冒和骗子。惟独他可靠靠赖。除了我们的神，谁是盘石呢？它们是死的，但耶和华活着（撒下22:47）。它们在最需要时令敬拜者失望。但至于神，他的道是完全的（撒下22:31）。人以仁慈开始，却不能坚持到底——应许了，却不履行；但神必成全他的工，他的话语是炼净的，是我们可信靠的。
II. 他怎样因自己在这位神里头所得的份、与他的关系而夸胜；他把这关系作为自己从他领受一切恩惠的根基：他是我的神——既如此，他便向他呼求（撒下22:7），也依傍他（撒下22:22）；他若是我的神，便是我的盘石（撒下22:2），即"我的力量，我的能力"（撒下22:33），"我所投靠的盘石（他于我如同疲乏之地大磐石的影子），我所建立盼望的盘石"（撒下22:3）。凡作我力量和支持的，都是因我盘石的神使之如此；不但如此，他是拯救我的盘石的神（撒下22:47）：我拯救的力量是在他里面、从他而来。大卫常藏在盘石中（撒上24:2），但神是他首要的藏身之处。"他是我的山寨，我在其中既安全也自以为安全——我的高台，就是避难所，在其中我脱离真实的祸患——拯救的高台（撒下22:51），永不能被围困、攻破或挖掘。救恩本身拯救我。我在患难中么？他是我的救主——受攻击、被射击么？他是我的盾牌——被追赶么？他是我的避难所——受压迫么？他是我的救主，把我从寻索我命的人手中救拔出来。不但如此，他是拯救我的角，藉此我得着大能的保护，仇敌被大能地推开。"论到这拯救的角，基督被称作大卫家中拯救的角（路1:69）。"我有重担、将要沉沦么？耶和华是我的倚靠（撒下22:19），我所赖以支撑的。我在黑暗中、被蒙蔽、无所适从么？耶和华啊，你是我的灯，为我指明当行的路，你必驱散我的黑暗"（撒下22:29）。我们若真心以耶和华为我们的神，这一切，以及更多，他都要向我们成为——一切我们所需要、所能渴望的。
III. 他怎样运用自己在神里的份。他若属于我，1. 我必投靠他（撒下22:3），即"我要把自己交托他的引导，然后倚靠他的权能、智慧和良善，妥善地带领我"。2. 我要呼求他（撒下22:4），因他是当受赞美的。我们既在神身上经历了他当受赞美之处，就当激励我们去祷告他、将荣耀归他。3. 我要称谢他（撒下22:50），且是公开地。当他在外邦之中时，他对以色列神的恩情既不惧怕，也不以为耻。
IV. 他为自己、也向别人，详细记下并讲述神为他所行的大而善的事。这一项占去了诗的大部分。他将拯救和成功两方面的荣耀都归给神，既显示他所脱离的危险，也显示他所被提升的能力。
1. 他称颂神为他所行的大拯救。神有时让他的百姓陷入极大的艰难与危险，好使他自己得着拯救他们的尊荣，他们得着被他拯救的安慰。他承认：你救我脱离强暴（撒下22:3），脱离我的仇敌（撒下22:4），脱离我的劲敌——意指扫罗，他若非神扶助，必胜过他（撒下22:18）。你将救恩的盾牌赐给我（撒下22:36）。为彰显这拯救，他指出，
（1）他所脱离的危险极大且凶险。起来攻击他的（撒下22:40,49）、恨恶他的（撒下22:41）、强暴的人（撒下22:49）——即扫罗，对他心怀恶意的设计并穷追不舍。这在撒下22:5,6是用比喻的话来表达的。他被死亡从四面环绕，受威胁将要被淹没，看不出逃脱之路。死亡的波浪如此猛烈地拍打他，死亡的绳索和网罗如此紧地抓住他，以致他自救无门，如同坟墓中人不能自助一般。彼列的洪流——那恶者和他的恶工具——使他惊惧；他看见不仅是地，连死亡和阴间都武装起来攻击他，便战兢。
（2）他的拯救是祷告的答应（撒下22:7）。他在此为我们留下了好榜样：在患难中当恳切地呼求神，如同受惊的孩童向父母呼求一般；也留下了大鼓励，因他发现神乐意从天上他的殿中答应祷告——在那里他不断受事奉敬拜。
（3）神以独特而非凡的方式为他、向他的敌人显现。这些表达是借用神在西奈山降临的威荣（撒下22:8,9等）。我们在大卫的任何战役中，并没有发现神像撒母耳时以雷、像约书亚时以冰雹、像底波拉时以星宿的轨道那样为他争战；但用了这些崇高的比喻，[1]为要彰显在拯救中所显明之神的荣耀。神的智慧与大能、良善与信实、公义与圣洁，并他统管一切受造物与人一切计谋的主权——这些都为大卫的缘故而显明，对信心的眼睛而言，是神荣耀的又明又亮的显明，正如那些神奇妙的干预对感官的眼睛一样。[2]为要彰显神对他仇敌的不悦；神如此拥护他的事业，以致向一切仇敌显为仇敌；他的怒气以鼻孔冒烟、口中发火（撒下22:9）、炭都着了（撒下22:13）、箭矢（撒下22:15）来形容。谁知道他怒气的权能与可畏呢？[3]为要彰显仇敌所陷入的非常混乱和所受的惊惶；仿佛地都震动、地的根基都显露了（撒下22:8,16）。神发怒时谁能站立得住呢？[4]为要表明神何等乐意帮助他：他坐着基路伯飞行（撒下22:11）。神急忙去救助他，按时解救而来，虽似乎遥远；然而他是自隐的神（赛14:15），因他以黑暗为行宫（撒下22:12），为要震慑仇敌，保护自己的百姓。
（4）在这些拯救中，神特别向他施恩、向他显出慈爱（撒下22:20）：他救拔我，因他喜悦我。拯救不是出于一般的护理，而是出于立约的爱；他在其中被当作蒙爱的人对待：他是从这些拯救中所得的神恩典与安慰临到他灵魂的交通，以及他在其中与神的相交，而这样察觉的。在此他是基督的预表；神扶助基督，因为喜悦他（赛42:1,2）。
2. 他称颂神所赐下的极大成功。神不仅保全了他，更使他昌盛。他蒙福，（1）得着自由与宽广。他被领到宽阔之处（撒下22:20），有发展的余地；他脚下的地步被放宽（撒下22:37），有活动的空间，不再受困受约束。（2）得着军事的技巧、力量与速度。他虽自幼牧羊，却受了战事的良好训练，堪当其劳苦与危险。神既召他争战，便赐他相应的能力。他使他极精巧（他教导我的手争战，撒下22:35；这巧慧与力量一样宝贵，因为下文说甚至我的膀臂能开铜弓——不是单凭蛮力，而是凭借技巧）；也极勇猛奋勇（你以力量束我的腰，使我能争战，撒下22:40；他将一切勇气与服事的能力归荣耀于神）；且极敏捷：他使我的脚快如母鹿的蹄（撒下22:34），这在进攻和撤退时都大有裨益。（3）得着对仇敌的胜利——不仅扫罗和押沙龙，还有非利士人、摩押人、亚扪人、亚兰人及邻近诸国，他都制伏，使他们作以色列的进贡者。他奇妙的胜利在此描述（撒下22:38-43）。这是迅速的胜利（我未灭以先，不归回，撒下22:38），也是彻底的胜利。以色列的仇敌被伤、被灭、被除尽，倒在他的脚下，被践踏，无力起来，他们的颈项任他处置。他们向地、向天呼求帮助，却徒然。无人拯救，无人敢为他们出面。神不应允他们，因他们不属他，直等到被带到绝境才向他呼求。他们既被这样撇弃，便成为大卫公义得胜之刀剑轻易的猎物，以致他把他们捣碎如同地上的灰尘，被风吹散，被凡脚所踏。（4）得着尊荣与权能的高升。他在患难之前已受膏，终于历经种种危难之后达到了目的。神使他的道完全（撒下22:33），在他一切所行的事上赐他成功，使他 在高处安稳（撒下22:34），既表明安全也表明尊荣。神的温和——他的恩典与怜悯——使我为大（撒下22:36），赐他极大的财富、极大的权柄，以及地上伟人那样的名声。他被立作列国的元首（撒下22:44）；他奇异的保全表明他乃是被定意保留作大事的人——要统治全以色列，尽管有百姓的争竞，并使那些他所不认识的百姓事奉他，即许多远处的外邦。这样他被举起，高过那些起来攻击他的人，与宝座同等（撒下22:49）。
V. 他对自己正直所作的安慰回顾；神藉那些奇妙的拯救，已经恩惠地承认并为这正直作了见证（撒下22:21-25）。他特别指的，是他在扫罗和伊施波设、押沙龙和示巴，以及那些或反对他登基、或图谋废他王位之人面前所守的正直。他们诬告他、曲解他，但他良心的见证为他表白：他不是一个野心勃勃、贪婪的人，不是一个虚假残忍的人，像他们所说的那样——他从未用任何不正当、不合法的手段来保全或高升自己，反而在一切行为上守住了当尽的本分之路——并且在日常行事为人上，他大体以敬虔为业，以致能将神对他的恩待视为对他公义的赏赐——不是因功得当得的，而是出于恩典。神已经报答他，虽非为他的公义——仿佛那公义能从神手中赚得什么——却是照着他的公义，是神所喜悦、所看重的。他的良心为他见证：1. 他以神的话语为准则，并守住了它（撒下22:23）。无论在哪里，神的典章常在他面前作指引；无论往何处，他都带着他的信仰同行；他虽被迫离开本乡，仿佛被差去事奉别神，然而论到神的律例，他并未离弃，而是守住了主的道，行在其中。2. 他谨慎地避开了罪的旁径。他没有恶作离开他的神。他不能说自己没有走过几步错路，但他并未丢弃神，也未离弃他的道。软弱的罪他不能免，但神的恩典保守了他免犯任意妄为的罪。他虽然有时软弱地离开了神；但他在神面前作完全人——在神眼中，并仰望神——他保守自己远离自己的罪孽，这不仅是特指他有机会时却没有杀扫罗那件罪，更是广义上他惧怕罪、儆醒防罪，对所言所行都存无亏的良心。乌利亚的事是个例外（王上15:5），如同希西家品格中的那一条（代下32:31）。当知道：谨慎地远离自己的罪孽，是我们正直最好的凭据之一；我们良心在这一点上为我们作的见证，不仅会减轻在受苦中的忧愁，更会加增在兴旺中的安慰。大卫回想自己胜过自身罪孽的胜利，比回想他胜过歌利亚和一切未受割礼非利士军兵的胜利，更加得着安慰；他心中对自己正直所作的见证，比那些唱大卫杀死万万的人的歌声更甜美，虽更为静默。伟人若同时也是好人，他的善良比他的伟大更使他满足。让正直人蒙恩，他的正直要使这恩甘甜，使它加倍。
VI. 他对神进一步恩惠的安慰展望。他既回顾，也前瞻，都满有喜乐，确信神为一切圣徒、为他自己，也为他的后裔所存留的慈爱。
1. 为一切敬虔之人（撒下22:26-28）。神既按他的正直待他，也要照样待其他一切人。他在此借机定下神对待世人那不易的规则：——
（1）他必善待心中正直的人。我们向神如何，神也向我们如何。[1] 神的怜悯与恩典，要作怜悯恩慈之人的喜乐。怜悯人的人也需要怜悯；他们必蒙怜悯。[2] 神的正直——他的公义与信实——要作正直、公义、信实之人（无论向神向人）的喜乐。[3] 神的纯洁与圣洁，要作纯洁圣洁之人的喜乐，他们因此一想起便称谢。这些敬虔人之中若有人是困苦的百姓，他必拯救他们——或从患难中救出，或经过患难之后拯救。另一面，
（2）那些偏离弯曲道路的人，他必和作孽的人一同领出来，如他在另一篇诗中所说。乖僻的人，他以弯曲待他；与神角力的人，必定被挫败。与造他的主争竞的有祸了！神要向那些与他背道而驰的人变脸，向那些对他不悦的人不悦。至于高傲的人，他的眼目在他们身上，仿佛要把他们挑出来降卑；因为他阻挡骄傲的人。
2. 为他自己。他预见自己的征服和国度还要进一步扩大（撒下22:45,46）。连外邦人听见他得胜的传闻和神与他同在的凭据，也要心生畏惧，被迫臣服——虽是虚情——并要顺从他。他既有的成功，他看作是更大成功的凭据和手段。既有这么多人被克服，谁还敢抗拒他呢？这样，大卫的子孙必胜了又胜（启6:2）。他那已经得胜的福音，必越来越得胜。
3. 为他的后裔：他施慈爱给他的受膏者（撒下22:51），不仅给大卫自己，也给那永远属他的后裔。大卫自己是神所膏的，不是篡位者，乃是正当地蒙召治理，且合乎资格；因此他毫不怀疑神必向他施慈爱——他所应许不从他和他的后裔夺去的那慈爱（撒下7:15,16）；他靠着那应许，并仰望基督——惟独他是他那永远的后裔——他的宝座和国度仍然延续，且必延续到底，而大卫的子孙谱系早已断绝。参诗89:28,29。这样，他一切的喜乐和一切盼望都终止于——我们的也当如此——那位伟大的救赎主。
영문 원문
David's Thanksgiving (1020 BC)
² And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
³ The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.
⁴ I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
⁵ When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid;
⁶ The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;
⁷ In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.
⁸ Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth.
⁹ There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
¹⁰ He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet.
¹¹ And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind.
¹² And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies.
¹³ Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled.
¹⁴ The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice.
¹⁵ And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them.
¹⁶ And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.
¹⁷ He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters;
¹⁸ He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.
¹⁹ They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.
²⁰ He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
²¹ The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
²² For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
²³ For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them.
²⁴ I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity.
²⁵ Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight.
²⁶ With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.
²⁷ With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury.
²⁸ And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down.
²⁹ For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.
³⁰ For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall.
³¹ As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.
³² For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God?
³³ God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.
³⁴ He maketh my feet like hinds' feet: and setteth me upon my high places.
³⁵ He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
³⁶ Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great.
³⁷ Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip.
³⁸ I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them.
³⁹ And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet.
⁴⁰ For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.
⁴¹ Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.
⁴² They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.
⁴³ Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad.
⁴⁴ Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me.
⁴⁵ Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.
⁴⁶ Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places.
⁴⁷ The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.
⁴⁸ It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me,
⁴⁹ And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.
⁵⁰ Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.
⁵¹ He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore.
Let us observe, in this song of praise,
I. How David adores God, and gives him the glory of his infinite perfections. There is none like him, nor any to be compared with him (2Sa 22:32): Who is God, save the Lord? All others that are adored as deities are counterfeits and pretenders. None is to be relied on but he. Who is a rock, save our God? They are dead, but the Lord liveth, 2Sa 22:47. They disappoint their worshippers when they most need them. But as for God his way is perfect, 2Sa 22:31. Men begin in kindness, but end not-promise, but perform not; but God will finish his work, and his word is tried, and what we may trust.
II. How he triumphs in the interest he has in this God, and his relation to him, which he lays down as the foundation of all the benefits he has received from him: He is my God; as such he cries to him (2Sa 22:7), and cleaves to him (2Sa 22:22); "and, if my God, then my rock" (2Sa 22:2), that is, "my strength and my power (2Sa 22:33), the rock under which I take shelter (he who is to me as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land), the rock on which I build my hope," 2Sa 22:3. Whatever is my strength and support, it is the God of my rock that makes it so; nay, he is the God of the rock of my salvation (2Sa 22:47): my saving strength is in him and from him. David often hid himself in a rock (1Sa 24:2), but God was his chief hiding-place. "He is my fortress, in which I am safe and think myself so—my high tower, or stronghold, in which I am out of the reach of real evils—the tower of salvation (2Sa 22:51), which can never be sealed nor battered, nor undermined. Salvation itself saves me. Am I in distress? he is my deliverer—struck at, shot at? he is my shield—pursued? he is my refuge—oppressed? he is my saviour, that rescues me out of the hand of those that seek my ruin. Nay, he is the horn of my salvation, by which I am strongly protected, and my enemies are strongly pushed." Christ is spoken of as the horn of salvation in the house of David, Lu 1:69. "Am I burdened, and ready to sink? The Lord is my stay (2Sa 22:19), by whom I am supported. Am I in the dark, benighted, at a loss? Thou art my lamp, O Lord! to show me my way, and thou wilt dispel my darkness," 2Sa 22:29. If we sincerely take the Lord for our God, all this, and much more, he will be to us, all we need and can desire.
III. What improvement he makes of his interest in God. If he be mine, 1. In him will I trust (2Sa 22:3), that is, "I will resign myself to his direction, and then depend upon his power, and wisdom, and goodness, to conduct me well." 2. On him I will call (2Sa 22:4), for he is worthy to be praised. What we have found in God that is worthy to be praised should engage us to pray to him and give glory to him. 3. To him will I give thanks (2Sa 22:50), and that publicly. When he was among the heathen he would neither be afraid nor ashamed to own his obligations to the God of Israel.
IV. The full and large account he keeps for himself, and gives to others, of the great and kind things God had done for him. This takes up most of the song. He gives God the glory both of his deliverances and of his successes, showing both the perils he was delivered from and the power he was advanced to.
1. He magnifies the great salvations God had wrought for him. God sometimes brings his people into very great difficulties and dangers, that he may have the honour of saving them and they the comfort of being saved by him. He owns, Thou hast saved me from violence (2Sa 22:3), from my enemies (2Sa 22:4), from my strong enemy, meaning Saul, who, if God had not succoured him, would have been too hard for him, 2Sa 22:18. Thou hast given me the shield of thy salvation, 2Sa 22:36. To magnify the salvation, he observes,
(1.) That the danger was very great and threatening out of which he was delivered. Men rose up against him (2Sa 22:40,49) that hated him (2Sa 22:41), a violent man (2Sa 22:49) namely, Saul, who was malicious in his designs against him and vigorous in his pursuit. This is expressed figuratively, 2Sa 22:5,6. He was surrounded with death on every side, threatened to be overwhelmed, and saw no way of escape. So violently did the waves of death beat upon him, so strongly did the cords and snares of death hold him, that he could not help himself, any more than a man in the grave can. The floods of Belial, the wicked one, and his wicked instruments, made him afraid; he trembled to see not only earth, but death and hell, in arms against him.
(2.) That his deliverance was an answer to prayer, 2Sa 22:7. He has here left us a good example, when we are in distress, to cry unto God with importunity, as children in a fright cry to their parents; and great encouragement to do so, in that he found God ready to answer prayer out of his temple in heaven, where he is continually served and adored.
(3.) That God appeared in a singular and extraordinary manner for him and against his enemies. The expressions are borrowed from the descent of the divine Majesty upon Mount Sinai, 2Sa 22:8,9, etc. We do not find that in any of David's battles God fought for him with thunder (as in Samuel's time), or with hail (as in Joshua's time), or with the stars in their courses (as in Deborah's time); but these lofty metaphors are used, [1.] To set forth the glory of God, which was manifested in his deliverance. God's wisdom and power, his goodness and faithfulness, his justice and holiness, and his sovereign dominion over all the creatures and all the counsels of men, which appeared in favour of David, were as clear and bright a discovery of God's glory to an eye of faith as such miraculous interpositions would have been to an eye of sense. [2.] To set forth God's displeasure against his enemies, God so espoused his cause that he showed himself an enemy to all his enemies; his anger is set forth by a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth (2Sa 22:9), coals kindled (2Sa 22:13), arrows, 2Sa 22:15. Who knows the power and terror of his wrath? [3.] To set forth the extraordinary confusion which his enemies were put into, and the consternation that seized them; as if the earth had trembled and the foundations of the world had been discovered, 2Sa 22:8,16. Who can stand before God when he is angry? [4.] To show how ready God was to help him: He rode upon a cherub and did fly, 2Sa 22:11. God hastened to his succour, and came to him with seasonable relief, though he had seemed at a distance; yet he was a God hiding himself (Isa 14:15), for he made darkness his pavilion (2Sa 22:12), for the amazement of his enemies and the protection of his own people.
(4.) That God manifested his particular favour and kindness to him in these deliverances (2Sa 22:20): He delivered me, because he delighted in me. The deliverance came not from common providence, but covenant-love; he was herein treated as a favourite: so he perceived by the communications of divine grace and comfort to his soul with these deliverances, and the communion he had with God in them. Herein he was a type of Christ, whom God upheld because he delighted in him, Isa 42:1,2.
2. He magnifies the great successes God had crowned him with. He had not only preserved but prospered him. He was blessed, (1.) With liberty and enlargement. He was brought into a large place (2Sa 22:20), where he had room to thrive, and his steps were enlarged under him, so that he had room to stir (2Sa 22:37), being no longer straitened and confined. (2.) With military skill, and strength, and swiftness. Though he was bred up to the crook, he was well instructed in the arts of war and qualified for the toils and perils of it. God, having called him to fight his battles, qualified him for the service. He made him very ingenious (He teacheth my hands to war, 2Sa 22:35. And this ingenuity was as good as strength, for it follows, "so that a bow of steel is broken by my arms," not so much by main force as by dexterity), and very vigorous and valiant. (Thou hast girded me with strength to battle, 2Sa 22:40. He gives God the glory of all his courage and ability for service), and very expeditious: He maketh my feet swift like hinds feet (2Sa 22:34), which is of great advantage both in charging and retreating. (3.) With victory over his enemies, not only Saul and Absalom, but the Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, Syrians, and other neighbouring nations, whom he subdued and made tributaries to Israel. His wonderful victories are here described, 2Sa 22:38-43. They were speedy victories (I turned not again till I had consumed them, 2Sa 22:38) and complete victories. The enemies of Israel were wounded, destroyed, consumed, fell under his feet, trampled upon, and disabled to rise, and their necks lay at his mercy. They cried both to earth and heaven for help, but in vain. There was none to save, none that durst appear for them. God answered them, not for they were not on his side, nor did they cry unto him till they were brought to the last extremity. Being thus abandoned, they became an easy prey to David's righteous and victorious sword, so that he beat them as small as the dust of the earth, which is scattered by the wind and trodden on by every foot. (4.) With advancement to honour and power. To this he was anointed before his troubles began, and at length, post tot discrimina rerum—after all his dangers and disasters, he gained his point. God made his way perfect (2Sa 22:33), gave him success in all his undertakings, set him upon his high places (2Sa 22:34), denoting both safety and dignity. God's gentleness, his grace and tender mercy, made him great (2Sa 22:36), gave him great wealth, and great authority, and a name like that of the great men of the earth. He was kept to be the head of the heathen (2Sa 22:44); his signal preservations evinced that he was designed and reserved for something great—to rule over all Israel, notwithstanding the strivings of the people, and so that those whom he had not known should serve him, many of the nations that lay remote. Thus he was lifted up on high, as high as the throne, above those that rose up against him, 2Sa 22:49.
V. The comfortable reflections he makes upon his own integrity, which God, by those wonderful deliverances, had graciously owned and witnessed to, 2Sa 22:21-25. He means especially his integrity with reference to Saul and Ishbosheth, Absalom and Sheba, and those who either opposed his coming to the crown or endeavoured to dethrone him. They falsely accused him and misrepresented him, but he had the testimony of this conscience for him that he was not an ambitious aspiring man, a false and bloody man, as they called him,—that he had never taken any indirect unlawful courses to secure or raise himself, but in his whole conduct had kept in the way of his duty,—and that in the whole course of his conversation he had, for the main, made religion his business, so that he could take God's favours to him as the rewards of his righteousness, not of debt, but of grace. God had recompensed him, though not for his righteousness, as if that had merited any thing at the hand of God, yet according to his righteousness, which he was well pleased with, and had an eye to. His conscience witnessed for him, 1. That he had made the word of God his rule, and had kept to it, 2Sa 22:23. Wherever he was, God's judgments were before him as his guide; whithersoever he went, he took his religion along with him, and though he was forced to depart from his country, and sent, as it were, to serve other gods, yet as for God's statutes, he did not depart from them, but kept the way of the Lord and walked in it. 2. That he had carefully avoided the bye-paths of sin. He had not wickedly departed from his God. He could not say but that he had taken some false steps, but he had not deserted God, nor forsaken his way. Sins of infirmity he could not acquit himself from, but the grace of God had kept him from presumptuous sins. Though he had sometimes weakly departed from his God. By this it appeared that he was upright before God, or to God (in his sight, and with an eye to him), that he kept himself from his own iniquity, not only from that particular sin of killing Saul when it was in the power of his hand to do it, but, in general, he was afraid of sin and watchful against it, and made conscience of what he said and did. The matter of Uriah is an exception (1Ki 15:5), like that in Hezekiah's character, 2Ch 32:31. Note, A careful abstaining from our own iniquity is one of the best evidences of our own integrity; and the testimony of our conscience for us that we have done so will be such a rejoicing as will not only lessen the griefs of an afflicted state, but increase the comforts of a prosperous state. David reflected with more comfort upon his victories over his own iniquity than upon his conquest of Goliath and all the hosts of the uncircumcised Philistines; and the witness of his own heart to his uprightness was sweeter though more silent music than theirs that sang, David has slain his ten thousands. If a great man be a good man, his goodness will be much more his satisfaction than his greatness. Let favour be shown to the upright and his uprightness will sweeten it, will double it.
VI. The comfortable prospects he has of God's further favour. As he looks back, so he looks forward, with pleasure, and assures himself of the kindness God has in store for all the saints, for himself, and also for his seed.
1. For all good people, 2Sa 22:26-28. As God had dealt with him according to his uprightness, so he will with all others. He takes occasion here to lay down the established rules of God's procedure with the children of men:—
(1.) That he will do good to those that are upright in their hearts. As we are found towards God, he will be found towards us. [1.] God's mercy and grace will be the joy of those that are merciful and gracious. Even the merciful need mercy; and they shall obtain it. [2.] God's uprightness, his justice and faithfulness, will be the joy of those that are upright, just, and faithful, both towards God and man. [3.] God's purity and holiness will be the joy of those that are pure and holy, who therefore give thanks at the remembrance thereof. And, if any of these good people be afflicted people, he will save them, either out of their afflictions or by and after them. On the other hand,
(2.) That those who turn aside to crooked ways he will lead forth with the workers of iniquity, as he says in another psalm. With the froward he will wrestle; and those with whom God wrestles are sure to be foiled. Woe unto him that strives with his Maker! God will walk contrary to those that walk contrary to him and be displeased with those that are displeased with him. As for the haughty, his eyes are upon them, marking them out, as it were, to be brought down; for he resists the proud.
2. For himself. He foresaw that his conquests and kingdom would be yet further enlarged, 2Sa 22:45,46. Even the sons of the stranger, that would hear the report of his victories and the tokens of God's presence with him, would be possessed with a fear of him, would be forced to submit to him, though feignedly, and would be obedient to him. The successes which he had had he looked upon as earnests of more and means of more. Who durst oppose him by whom so many had been overcome? Thus the Son of David goes on conquering and to conquer, Re 6:2. His gospel, which has been victorious, shall be so more and more.
3. For his seed: He showeth mercy to his Messiah (2Sa 22:51), not only to David himself, but to that seed of his for evermore. David was himself anointed of God, not a usurper, but duly called to the government and qualified for it; therefore he doubted not but God would show mercy to him, that mercy which he had promised not to take from him nor from his posterity (2Sa 7:15,16); on that promise he depends, with an eye to Christ, who alone is his seed for evermore, whose throne and kingdom still continue, and will to the end, whereas the seed and lineage of David are long since extinct. See Ps 89:28,29. Thus all his joys and all his hopes terminate, as ours should, in the great Redeemer.
本章是一篇诗篇，一篇赞美之诗；我们后来在《诗篇》中亦见其收录（诗18:1-50），仅有少许差异。此处所载，是大卫最初为自己私下的灵修与琴瑟所作；而《诗篇》中所载，则是日后交予伶长供会众敬拜之用，属二次修订、略有增补的版本。因为，此诗虽原初为大卫自身境遇而作，却同样适用于其他信徒在得拯救后向神献上感恩；又或大卫有意使百姓与他一同以此诗称谢，因为他既是公众人物，他的蒙救便当视为公众的福分，理当有公众的称谢。受默示的史家既已在本卷与前卷中详述大卫历次的拯救，尤其前章末尾所记那一次，便认为当将这篇圣诗记下，作为前述一切拯救的纪念。有人认为，大卫作此诗时已是晚年，乃是在回顾平生所蒙诸般恩惠、以及神自始至终所赐无数奇妙的保守之后而作。我们在赞美中当尽可能回顾久远，勿让时光冲淡了对神恩惠的感念。另有人认为，此诗乃大卫年轻时所作，缘于他最初几次的拯救，此后一直随身备用；每逢新的拯救临到，他便唱诵此诗。然而《诗篇》一书表明，他乃随境遇而变易其辞，并不拘于一种格式。本诗内容如下：I. 诗的标题（撒下22:1）。II. 诗的正文；在其中，他以极其热烈的虔诚、极其流畅丰沛的辞藻——1. 将荣耀归于神；2. 在神里面得着安慰；而他在两方面都寻得了凭据——(1.) 在他过往对神恩惠的经历中；(2.) 在他对神进一步恩惠的盼望中。这些内容贯穿全诗，彼此交织。