Meditation Points
2 Samuel 21
- New governments often inherit problems created by their predecessors. Saul ordered his own version of ethnic cleansing; and the resulting judgment was not felt until the reign of King David (v 1).
- Only after the atrocity was publicly recognized and punishment meted out was God entreated for the land (v 14).
- The men of Gibeon would not be satisfied with financial remuneration; by man was their blood spilled, and only the spilling of that man’s blood would atone for his crimes. As Saul was long dead, 7 of his descendants were executed in his place (v 4-9).
- David ordered that the remains of Saul and Jonathan, along with the bodies of the recently executed be buried with respect (v 12-14).
- The Philistines once again presented a giant problem to Israel; and once again David and his people slew the giant (v 15-22).
2 Samuel 22
- The similarity of this psalm with Psalm 118 cannot be ignored. Is it the same psalm, revised in David’s later years for publication?
- Our earlier notes on Psalm 118 can be found here.
- This psalm’s great devotion is born out of the troubles in David’s life and God’s delivering him out of them (v 1). Men often turn to God when they are in great trouble. Indeed, where else can we turn?
- David has great cause to praise the God who delivered him from his troubles; and David intends thus to praise God (v 2-4).
- Shall we catalog the troubles of our lives as David did? If, in so doing, we exalt the God of our salvation as David did (v 5-20), then let us start the list now.
- God saves us inside and out (v 21-29).
- God is unique (v 30-34)
- God empowers his people to gain victory over their enemies (v 35-46). How, then, can we be defeated by bad habits?
- To God be the glory, great things He has done (v 47-51).
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