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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.
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David's Song of Praise (1020 BC)
繁體中文
大衛的頌讚之詩（公元前1020年）
¹ 當耶和華救大衛脫離一切仇敵的手和掃羅之手的日，大衛向耶和華念這詩的話。
請在此觀察：I. 神的百姓常有許多仇敵，並處於落入他們手中的極大危險之中，這常常是他們的份。大衛是合神心意的人，卻不是合人心意的人：恨他、尋索他命的很多；掃羅特別被點名，或是，1. 與他那些屬外邦列國的仇敵有別。掃羅恨大衛，大衛卻不恨掃羅，所以不願把他列在自己的仇敵之中；或更恰當地說，2. 作為他仇敵之首——比其他任何人都更惡毒更有勢力。神所愛的人，若被世界所恨，不要以為希奇。
II. 凡在盡本分的路上信靠神的，必在最深的危險中發現他是隨時的幫助。大衛正是如此。神救他脫離了掃羅的手。他特別記念這事。奇妙的保全當在我們的頌讚中特別強調地提出。神又救他脫離一切仇敵的手——一個接一個，有時用這法、有時用那法；大衛從自己的經歷向我們保證：義人多有苦難，但耶和華救他脫離這一切（詩34:19）。我們要等到進了天堂，才得完全脫離一切仇敵；到那天上的國，神必保守一切屬他的人（提後4:18）。
III. 從神領受許多特別恩惠的人，當將榮耀歸他。我們手中的每一樣新恩惠，都當使我們口中有新歌——就是頌讚我們的神。心裏感恩，口裏便必說出。大衛不是僅對自己說——為自己的快樂，也不僅對身邊的人說——為教導他們，而是向耶和華說——為他的尊榮——這詩的話。我們向耶和華唱，才是用恩典唱。他在患難中用聲音呼求（詩142:1），所以也用聲音獻上感謝。向神的感恩是最甜美的歌唱。
IV. 我們當速速向神獻上感恩：*在神救他的那日，他便唱這歌。*趁恩惠新鮮、我們的敬虔情操因此最受激動之時，獻上感恩祭，使它被這情慾之火點燃。
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)
繁體中文
大衛的感恩頌（主前1020年）
² 他說：耶和華是我的磐石，我的山寨，我的救主；
³ 我的神，我所投靠的。他是我的盾牌，是拯救我的角，是我的高臺，我的避難所，我的救主；你救我脫離強暴。
⁴ 我要求告當受讚美的耶和華；這樣，我必從仇敵手中被救出來。
⁵ 曾有死亡的波浪環繞我，匪類的急流使我害怕；
⁶ 陰間的繩索環繞我，死亡的網羅迎面攔住我。
⁷ 我在患難中求告耶和華，向我的神呼求。他從殿中聽了我的聲音，我的呼求入了他的耳中。
⁸ 那時因他發怒，地就搖撼戰抖，天的根基也震動搖撼。
⁹ 從他鼻孔冒煙上騰，從他口中發火焚燒，連炭也着了。
¹⁰ 他又使天下垂，親自降臨；黑暗在他腳下。
¹¹ 他坐着基路伯飛行，在風的翅膀上顯現。
¹² 他以黑暗為藏身之處；以水的黑暗、天空的厚雲為他四圍的行帳。
¹³ 因他面前的光輝，炭都着了。
¹⁴ 耶和華從天上打雷，至高者發出聲音。
¹⁵ 他射出箭來，使仇敵四散；發出閃電，使他們擾亂。
¹⁶ 耶和華斥責一發，鼻孔的氣一吹，海底就顯現，大地的根基也露出。
¹⁷ 他從高處伸手抓住我，把我從大水中拉上來。
¹⁸ 他救我脫離我的勁敵，和那些恨我的人，因為他們比我強盛。
¹⁹ 我遭遇災難的日子，他們來攻擊我；但耶和華是我的倚靠。
²⁰ 他又領我到寬闊之處；他救拔我，因他喜悅我。
²¹ 耶和華按着我的公義報答我，按着我手中的清潔賞賜我。
²² 因為我遵守了耶和華的道，未曾作惡離開我的神。
²³ 他的一切判詞都在我面前；至於他的律例，我也未曾離棄。
²⁴ 我在他面前作了完全人，我也保守自己遠離我的罪孽。
²⁵ 所以耶和華按我的公義、按我在他眼前的清潔報答我。
²⁶ 慈愛的人，你以慈愛待他；完全的人，你以完全待他。
²⁷ 清潔的人，你以清潔待他；乖僻的人，你以彎曲待他。
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 耶和華啊，你是我的燈；耶和華必照明我的黑暗。
³⁰ 我藉着你衝入敵軍，藉着我的神跳過牆垣。
³¹ 至於神，他的道是完全的；耶和華的話是煉淨的：他投靠他的，就作他們的盾牌。
³² 除了耶和華，誰是神呢？除了我們的神，誰是磐石呢？
³³ 神是賜我力量和能力的；他使我的道路完全。
³⁴ 他使我的腳如母鹿的蹄，使我可以穩行在高處。
³⁵ 他教導我的手爭戰，使我的臂膀能開銅弓。
³⁶ 你把你的救恩的盾牌賜給我；你的溫和使我為大。
³⁷ 你使我腳下的地步寬闊，使我的腳未曾滑跌。
³⁸ 我追趕我的仇敵，滅絕了他們；我未將他們滅盡，總不歸回。
³⁹ 我滅絕了他們，重傷了他們，使他們不能起來；他們都倒在我的腳下。
⁴⁰ 因為你曾以力量束我的腰，使那些起來攻擊我的人都服在我以下。
⁴¹ 你又使我的仇敵轉背逃跑，叫我能滅絕那恨我的人。
⁴² 他們觀看，卻無人拯救；就是呼求耶和華，他也不應允他們。
⁴³ 我便搗碎他們，如同地上的塵埃；又踐踏他們如同街上的泥土，並把他們分散四散。
⁴⁴ 你救我脫離我百姓的爭競，保守我作列國的元首；我素不認識的百姓必事奉我。
⁴⁵ 外族人要向我假意歸順；他們一聽見我的名，就要順從我。
⁴⁶ 外族人要喪膽，戰戰兢兢地出他們的營寨。
⁴⁷ 耶和華永活着；願我的磐石被稱頌；願拯救我的磐石之神被高舉。
⁴⁸ 這位神就是為我報仇的神，使眾民服在我以下。
⁴⁹ 他救我脫離仇敵；你又把我舉起，高過那些起來攻擊我的人；你救我脫離強暴的人。
⁵⁰ 耶和華啊，因此我要在外族中稱謝你，歌頌你的名。
⁵¹ 他是那拯救他君王的，向他的受膏者——向大衛和他的後裔——施慈愛，直到永遠。
讓我們留意這首讚美詩之中，
I. 大衛如何敬拜神，將他無限完全的榮耀歸給他。沒有誰能像他，也沒有誰可與他相比（2Sa 22:32）：除了耶和華，誰是神呢？其餘一切被人當作神明敬拜的，都是假冒和冒牌的。惟有他配受倚靠。除了我們的神，誰是磐石呢？他們都是死的，但耶和華永活着（2Sa 22:47）。他們在最需要的時候令敬拜者失望。但至於神，他的道是完全的（2Sa 22:31）。人以善意開始，卻不能善終；應許了，卻不履行；但神必成全他的工，他的話語是煉淨的，是我們可信靠的。
II. 他如何因自己與這位神的關係並與他的聯結而喜樂，這是他所蒙一切恩惠的根基：他是我的神——他如此向他呼求（2Sa 22:7），也如此倚靠他（2Sa 22:22）；他既是我的神，也就是我的磐石（2Sa 22:2），就是「我的力量和能力（2Sa 22:33），我所投靠的磐石（他是那在疲乏之地為大磐石影子給我的），我所建立盼望的磐石」（2Sa 22:3）。凡是我的力量和支持的，都是那作我磐石的神使之如此；不僅如此，他是拯救我的磐石之神（2Sa 22:47）：我的拯救之力是在他裏面、從他而來。大衛常藏身在磐石裏（1Sa 24:2），但神是他首要的藏身之處。「他是我的山寨，我在其中既安全、自己也覺得安全——我的高臺或堅壘，在其中我超乎真正的禍患之外——是拯救的高臺（2Sa 22:51），永不能被封鎖、被攻打、被挖空。救恩本身拯救了我。我在患難中麼？他是我的拯救者——遭攻擊、被射擊麼？他是我的盾牌——被追趕麼？他是我的避難所——受壓制麼？他是我的救主，把我從那些尋索我命的人手中救出來。不僅如此，他是拯救我的角，憑此我得着剛強的保護，我的仇敵被剛強地推倒。」論到基督，他被稱為大衛家中的拯救的角（Lu 1:69）。「我被重擔所壓、快要沉淪麼？耶和華是我的倚靠（2Sa 22:19），是他扶持了我。我在黑暗中、被蒙蔽、不知所措麼？耶和華啊，你是我的燈！為我照亮道路，你必驅散我的黑暗」（2Sa 22:29）。我們若真心以主為我們的神，這一切以及更多，他都必成為我們的——我們一切所需、所能渴望的。
III. 他如何運用自己在神裏面的分。他既屬我，1. 我必投靠他（2Sa 22:3），就是「我情願把自己交在他的引導之下，又仰賴他的權能、智慧和善良妥善帶領我。」2. 我要求告他（2Sa 22:4），*因為他配受讚美。*我們在神裏所體驗到那配受讚美的，當激發我們向他禱告、歸榮耀給他。3. 我要稱謝他（2Sa 22:50），且是公開地稱謝。當他在外邦人中，也不懼怕、也不以承認自己對以色列之神的虧欠為恥。
IV. 他為自己、也為別人，對神為他所行的大而可畏的善事所作的完整而詳盡的陳述。這佔了詩歌的大部分。他把拯救和勝利的榮耀都歸給神，既顯明他所得拯救的危難，也顯明他所得高舉的大能。
1. 他高舉神為他所成就的大拯救。神有時把他的百姓帶入極大的艱難和危險之中，為要使他自己得着拯救他們的榮耀，使他們享受被他拯救的安慰。他承認：你救我脫離強暴（2Sa 22:3），救我脫離我的仇敵（2Sa 22:4），脫離我的勁敵——就是指掃羅——若不是神扶持他，掃羅就太過強盛了（2Sa 22:18）。你賜給我你救恩的盾牌（2Sa 22:36）。為高舉這拯救，他留意，
(1.) 他所得拯救脫離的危險極大、極其可怕。有人起來攻擊他（2Sa 22:40,49），那些恨他的人（2Sa 22:41），一個強暴的人（2Sa 22:49）——就是掃羅——對他的計謀惡毒，追逼兇狠。這以比喻表達（2Sa 22:5,6）。他四面被死亡包圍，受威脅要被吞沒，看不見出路。死亡的波浪如此猛烈地拍擊他，死亡的繩索和網羅如此緊緊地抓住他，以致他不能自救，如同墳墓中的人不能自救一樣。彼列的洪流——那惡者和他的惡工具——使他懼怕；他看見不僅地上，連死亡和陰間都興兵攻擊他，便戰兢。
(2.) 他的拯救是對禱告的回應（2Sa 22:7）。他在此給我們留下好榜樣——在患難中迫切地呼求神，如同受驚的孩子呼求父母；也有極大的鼓勵如此行，因為他發現神從他在天上的聖殿裏——就是他永遠受服事、受敬拜之處——樂意垂聽禱告。
(3.) 神以獨特非凡的方式為他、反對他的仇敵而顯現。這些描述取材於神在西奈山降臨的威嚴（2Sa 22:8,9 等）。我們並未發現在大衛的任何戰役中，神為他爭戰是用雷轟（如撒母耳的時代），或用冰雹（如約書亞的時代），或用星宿從其軌道攻擊（如底波拉的時代）；但這些崇高的比喻被使用，[1.] 是為了彰顯在拯救中所顯明的神的榮耀。在大衛得拯救中所彰顯的神的智慧和大能、善良和信實、公義和聖潔，以及他對一切受造物和人一切計謀的主權統治——這一切在信心的眼中，是神的榮耀如此清晰明亮的彰顯，如同那些神蹟奇事在感官的眼中一樣。[2.] 是為了彰顯神對他仇敵的不悅，神如此與他認同，以致對他一切仇敵都顯為仇敵；他的怒氣以鼻孔的煙、口中的火（2Sa 22:9）、炭着了（2Sa 22:13）、箭（2Sa 22:15）來形容。誰能曉得他怒氣的權勢和可畏呢？[3.] 是為了彰顯他仇敵所陷入的非比尋常的混亂和驚惶；如同地曾震動、大地的根基曾顯露一樣（2Sa 22:8,16）。神發怒時，誰能在他面前站立得住呢？[4.] 是為了表明神是何等樂意幫助他：他坐着基路伯飛行（2Sa 22:11）。神急忙趕來幫助他，及時施以援手——他雖似在遠處，卻並非如此；他是自隱的神（Isa 14:15），因他以黑暗為行帳（2Sa 22:12），為要使仇敵驚惶，又保護自己的百姓。
(4.) 神在這些拯救中向他顯出特別的恩寵和慈愛（2Sa 22:20）：他救拔我，因他喜悅我。這拯救不是出於普通的護理，而是出於約的慈愛；他在其中被當作蒙愛的人看待：這是他從這些拯救中神賜給他靈魂的恩典和安慰的交通，以及他在其中與神的相交所領會的。在這事上他是基督的預表——神扶持基督，因為喜悅他（Isa 42:1,2）。
2. 他高舉神所加給他的大勝利。神不僅保全了他，也使他興盛。他蒙福得着：(1.) 自由和擴展。他被領到寬闊之處（2Sa 22:20），在那裏有發展的餘地；他的地步在身下寬闊，可以自由行動（2Sa 22:37），不再受局促困束。(2.) 軍事的技藝、力量和速度。他雖被養育執牧杖，卻在戰事上受過良好訓練，足以擔當其中的辛勞和危險。神既選召他為神爭戰，也裝備他勝任這服事。神使他十分靈巧（他教導我的手爭戰，2Sa 22:35；這靈巧與力量同等有效，因為下文說使我的臂膀能開銅弓——不是單靠蠻力，而是靠技巧），又十分英勇剛強（你以力量束我的腰使我爭戰，2Sa 22:40；他把一切勇氣和效勞的能力都歸榮耀給神），又十分迅速敏捷：他使我的腳快如母鹿的蹄（2Sa 22:34），這在進攻和撤退中都大有優勢。(3.) 勝過仇敵——不僅是掃羅和押沙龍，還有非利士人、摩押人、亞捫人、亞蘭人及其他鄰近的列國，他都制伏了，使他們向以色列進貢。他奇妙的勝利在此被描述（2Sa 22:38-43）。那些是迅速的勝利（我未將他們滅盡，總不歸回，2Sa 22:38），又是完全的勝利。以色列的仇敵被重傷、滅絕、消滅，倒在他腳下，被踐踏，無力再起，他們的頸項任他處置。他們向地、向天呼求幫助，都是徒然。無人拯救，無人敢為他們出頭。神不應允他們，因為他們不在他那邊，他們也是直到窮途末路才向他呼求。他們既被如此撇棄，便成了大衛公義得勝之劍輕易的獵物，以致他將他們搗碎如同地上的塵埃——被風吹散、被每一隻腳踐踏。(4.) 被高舉到尊榮和權能。他在患難開始之前已受此膏，終於歷盡艱險之後達到了目標。神使他的道路完全（2Sa 22:33），使他所行的一切盡都順遂，使他穩行在高處（2Sa 22:34），既表明安全、又表明尊嚴。神的溫和——他的恩典和慈憐——使他為大（2Sa 22:36），賜他極大的財富、極大的權柄，以及如同地上偉人那樣的名聲。他被保守作列國的元首（2Sa 22:44）；他非凡的保全證明他是被定意、被保留來成就大事——治理全以色列，儘管有百姓的爭競；又使那些他素不認識的遠方列國事奉他。這樣他被高舉，高到寶座之上，超乎那些起來攻擊他的人（2Sa 22:49）。
V. 他因着自己的正直而作出的安慰回顧——神藉着那些奇妙的拯救已經恩慈地承認並為之作見證（2Sa 22:21-25）。他主要是指着自己對掃羅和以施波設、押沙龍和示巴，以及那些反對他登基或企圖廢黜他的人的正直而言。他們虛假地控告他、誣衊他，但他的良心為他作證，他並非他們所說的那種野心勃勃、虛謊嗜血的人——他從未採取任何不正當、不合法的手段來保全自己或抬高自己，而是在整個行徑中守在自己本分的道上——並且在他整個為人的歷程中，大體上以信仰為他所致力的事，因此他能把神對他的恩寵當作自己公義的賞賜——不是因功績，而是出於恩典。神報答了他——雖非為着他的公義（彷彿他的公義在神面前配得甚麼），卻照着他的公義——這是神所喜悅、所看重的。他的良心為他作證：1. 他以神的言語為準則，並持守它（2Sa 22:23）。無論在哪裏，神的判詞常在他面前作他的指引；無論往何處，他都帶着他的信仰同行；雖然被迫離開本國、被打發如同去事奉別神一般，但至於神的律例，他沒有離棄，而是謹守耶和華的道、行在其中。2. 他小心避開罪的旁徑。他未曾作惡離開他的神。他不能說自己沒有走錯過幾步，但他沒有背棄神，沒有離棄他的道。軟弱的罪他不能自稱無辜，但神的恩典保守了他不犯任意妄為的罪。雖然他有時軟弱地偏離了他的神。從此顯出他在神面前、向着神（在他的眼前、以他為目標）是完全的：他保守自己遠離自己的罪孽——不僅是遠離那在有能力殺掃羅時殺他的那個特殊的罪，而且大體上他懼怕罪、防備罪，對自己所說所行的都存着無虧的良心。烏利亞之事是個例外（1Ki 15:5），正如希西家評語中的那個例外一樣（2Ch 32:31）。當知，謹慎地遠避自己的罪孽，是我們正直的最佳證據之一；而良心為我們所作的見證——我們確曾如此行——必成為一種喜樂，不僅能減輕受苦之境的憂傷，還能加增興盛之境的安慰。大衛回顧自己勝過自身罪孽的得勝，比回顧他戰勝歌利亞和一切未受割禮的非利士軍兵更覺安慰；而他自己的良心對他正直的見證，比那些唱着大衛殺死萬萬的人的歌聲更甜美——雖然更為無聲。一個偉人若是善人，他的善良必比他的偉大更成為他的滿足。願恩寵賜給正直的人，他的正直必使之甘甜，使之加倍。
VI. 他對神將來更大恩寵的美好盼望。他回首觀望，也前瞻觀望，帶着喜樂，並確信神為一切聖徒、為自己、也為他的後裔所存留的慈愛。
1. 為一切敬虔的人（2Sa 22:26-28）。神既照着他的正直待他，也必照着正直待其他一切人。他藉此機會提出神待人之道的確定法則：(1.) 他必善待那些心中正直的人。我們向神如何，神也必向我們如何。[1.] 神的憐憫和恩典必成為那些慈悲恩憐之人的喜樂。慈悲的人也需要憐憫；他們必得着憐憫。[2.] 神的正直——他的公義和信實——必成為那些向着神和人正直、公義、信實之人的喜樂。[3.] 神的純潔和聖潔必成為那些純潔聖潔之人的喜樂，他們因此一經記念便獻上感謝。這些敬虔的人中若有人是困苦的百姓，他必拯救他們——或從苦難中拯救，或在苦難之後拯救。另一方面，(2.) 那些偏向彎曲之道的，他必把他們和作孽的人一同帶出去，正如他在另一篇詩中所說。*與乖僻的人，他要以彎曲相待；*與神較力的必被挫敗。那與造他的主爭論的人有禍了！神必向那些背着他行的人變臉，向那些不喜悅他的人不喜悅。至於高傲的人，他的眼目察看他們，如同把他們標出來要降卑；因為他阻擋驕傲的人。
2. 為他自己。他預見自己的征服和國土還要進一步擴展（2Sa 22:45,46）。連那些外族人，聽見他勝利的風聲和神與他同在的記號，都對他心生畏懼，被迫歸順——雖是假意——並順從他。他過去所有的勝利，他看作是更多勝利的憑據和手段。既已有這麼多人被他制伏，誰還敢與他對抗？這樣，大衛的子孫要勇往直前，勝了又勝（Re 6:2）。他的福音既已得勝，還要更加得勝。
3. 為他的後裔：他向他的受膏者施慈愛（2Sa 22:51），不僅是向大衛自己，更是向他的後裔直到永遠。大衛自己是神所膏的，不是篡位者，而是正當蒙召治理並裝備齊全的；所以他毫不懷疑神必向他施慈愛——就是他應許不從他和他後裔身上取去的慈愛（2Sa 7:15,16）。他憑這應許仰望基督——惟有基督才是他永遠的後裔，基督的寶座和國度至今長存，且必存到末了；而大衛的後裔和血脈早已斷絕。見 Ps 89:28,29。這樣，他一切的喜樂和一切盼望，都歸結於那位偉大的救贖主——我們的喜樂和盼望也當如此。
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.
本章是一篇詩篇，一篇頌讚之詩；我們其後可在詩篇中讀到它（詩18:1-50），略有出入。在此我們得到的是它最初為大衛自己的內室與自己的琴而作的模樣；而在詩篇裏我們得到的是它後來交予伶長供教會使用、略經修訂的第二版；因為它雖然首先是因大衛的處境而寫，卻也可同樣適用於別人的敬虔，為他們的拯救獻上感恩；又或者他的本意是要百姓這樣與他一同感恩，因為他既是公眾人物，他的拯救便當算為公眾的福祉，理當有公眾的稱謝。受默示的史家既在本書與前書中詳述了大衛的拯救，特別是在前一章末了的那一次，便認為當把這首神聖的詩歌記錄下來，作為前面所述一切的記念。有人認為大衛是在年老時寫下這詩，回顧他一生的恩惠，以及神從頭到尾所賜他那許多奇妙的保全。我們在稱頌中應當盡力往回看，不讓時間磨滅了對神恩惠的感念。另有人認為他是在年輕時、為著最初幾次拯救中的一次而寫，並留存身邊備用，此後每逢新的拯救便唱這歌。但詩篇表明他是按需要有所變化，並不拘於一式。這裏有：I. 詩的標題（撒下22:1）。II. 詩的本身，其中他以極熱切的敬虔與極豐富流暢的言辭，1. 將榮耀歸給神。2. 在神裏面得安慰；並且他為這兩者都找到材料，（1）在他對神既往恩惠的經歷中，（2）在他對神更進一步恩惠的期盼中。這些貫穿全詩交織在一起。