2 Samuel 22:4
I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.
I will call upon the LORD
The phrase "I will call" is a declaration of intent and faith. In Hebrew, the word for "call" is "קָרָא" (qara), which implies not just a vocal cry but an invocation or proclamation. This reflects a deep, personal relationship with God, where David, the psalmist, reaches out to the LORD, "יְהוָה" (Yahweh), the covenant name of God. This name signifies God's eternal presence and faithfulness to His people. Historically, calling upon the LORD was an act of worship and dependence, acknowledging His sovereignty and readiness to intervene in human affairs.

who is worthy to be praised
The Hebrew root for "worthy" is "הָלַל" (halal), which means to shine, boast, or celebrate. This phrase underscores the LORD's inherent glory and the rightful response of praise from His people. In the context of David's life, this praise is not just for past deliverances but also for God's unchanging nature. The act of praising God is both a recognition of His past deeds and an expression of trust in His future faithfulness. Historically, praise was central to Israel's worship, often expressed through psalms, music, and communal gatherings.

so shall I be saved from my enemies
The word "saved" comes from the Hebrew "יָשַׁע" (yasha), meaning to deliver or give victory. This salvation is both physical and spiritual, encompassing deliverance from immediate threats and ultimate redemption. David's confidence in being saved is rooted in his past experiences of God's deliverance, as seen throughout his life, from his battles with Goliath to his escapes from Saul. The phrase "from my enemies" highlights the real and present dangers David faced, yet his trust in God assured him of victory. This reflects a broader biblical theme where God is portrayed as a warrior and protector of His people, a theme that resonates throughout the Old and New Testaments.

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
The author of this song of praise, David is reflecting on God's deliverance from his enemies. This chapter is a song of thanksgiving, paralleling Psalm 18.

2. The LORD (Yahweh)
The central figure in this verse, Yahweh is the one whom David calls upon for deliverance. The Hebrew name for God emphasizes His eternal presence and covenant faithfulness.

3. Enemies
The adversaries from whom David seeks deliverance. Throughout his life, David faced numerous enemies, including King Saul, the Philistines, and internal rebellions.

4. Israel
The nation over which David ruled as king. The deliverance of their king from enemies also signifies God's protection over the nation.

5. Song of Deliverance
This chapter is a poetic recounting of God's faithfulness and deliverance, serving as a testimony to God's power and mercy.
Teaching Points
The Power of Praise
Praise is not just an expression of gratitude but a declaration of faith in God's power and character. When we praise God, we acknowledge His sovereignty and invite His presence into our circumstances.

Calling on the Lord
David's example teaches us the importance of turning to God in times of trouble. Our first response to adversity should be prayer, trusting in God's ability to save.

God's Worthiness
The verse emphasizes that God is "worthy to be praised." Our worship should be rooted in the recognition of God's inherent worth and His acts of deliverance.

Deliverance from Enemies
While David's enemies were physical, our enemies may be spiritual, emotional, or circumstantial. God's promise of deliverance applies to all forms of opposition we face.

Faith in Action
David's confidence in God's deliverance was based on past experiences of God's faithfulness. We are encouraged to remember and recount God's past faithfulness as a foundation for present trust.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does David's example of calling upon the Lord challenge your current approach to prayer in difficult situations?

2. In what ways can you incorporate praise into your daily routine, acknowledging God's worthiness?

3. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's deliverance. How can this memory strengthen your faith in current challenges?

4. How do the themes of deliverance in 2 Samuel 22:4 connect with the New Testament understanding of salvation through Jesus Christ?

5. What "enemies" are you currently facing, and how can you apply the principles from this verse to seek God's deliverance?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 18
This psalm is almost identical to 2 Samuel 22, highlighting the same themes of deliverance and praise.

Exodus 15
The Song of Moses after the crossing of the Red Sea parallels David's song, both celebrating God's deliverance.

Romans 10:13
Paul echoes the theme of calling upon the Lord for salvation, emphasizing the universality of God's deliverance.

Acts 2:21
Peter, quoting Joel, reiterates the promise that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, connecting to the theme of divine rescue.
God Worthy to be PraisedG. Wood 2 Samuel 22:4
Abundant Cause for ThanksgivingChristian Endeavour Times2 Samuel 22:1-51
David's Song of PraiseB. Dale 2 Samuel 22:1-51
Psalm SingingA. Whyte, D. D.2 Samuel 22:1-51
The Song of ThanksgivingW. G. Blaikie, D. D.2 Samuel 22:1-51
God the Refuge and DelivererG. Wood 2 Samuel 22:2-4
People
David, Saul
Places
Gath
Topics
Cry, Enemies, Praise, Praised, Safe, Saved, Worthy
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Samuel 22:4

     8369   worthiness
     8623   worship, of God
     8640   calling upon God

2 Samuel 22:1-4

     5292   defence, divine
     8618   prayerfulness

2 Samuel 22:2-51

     8609   prayer, as praise and thanksgiving

Library
David's Hymn of victory
'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
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Mosaic Cosmogony.
ON the revival of science in the 16th century, some of the earliest conclusions at which philosophers arrived were found to be at variance with popular and long-established belief. The Ptolemaic system of astronomy, which had then full possession of the minds of men, contemplated the whole visible universe from the earth as the immovable centre of things. Copernicus changed the point of view, and placing the beholder in the sun, at once reduced the earth to an inconspicuous globule, a merely subordinate
Frederick Temple—Essays and Reviews: The Education of the World

The First Commandment
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.' Exod 20: 3. Why is the commandment in the second person singular, Thou? Why does not God say, You shall have no other gods? Because the commandment concerns every one, and God would have each one take it as spoken to him by name. Though we are forward to take privileges to ourselves, yet we are apt to shift off duties from ourselves to others; therefore the commandment is in the second person, Thou and Thou, that every one may know that it is spoken to him,
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

In the Present Crusade against the Bible and the Faith of Christian Men...
IN the present crusade against the Bible and the Faith of Christian men, the task of destroying confidence in the first chapter of Genesis has been undertaken by Mr. C. W. Goodwin, M.A. He requires us to "regard it as the speculation of some Hebrew Descartes or Newton, promulgated in all good faith as the best and most probable account that could be then given of God's Universe." (p. 252.) Mr. Goodwin remarks with scorn, that "we are asked to believe that a vision of Creation was presented to him
John William Burgon—Inspiration and Interpretation

A Discourse of Mercifulness
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Matthew 5:7 These verses, like the stairs of Solomon's temple, cause our ascent to the holy of holies. We are now mounting up a step higher. Blessed are the merciful . . '. There was never more need to preach of mercifulness than in these unmerciful times wherein we live. It is reported in the life of Chrysostom that he preached much on this subject of mercifulness, and for his much pressing Christians to mercy, he was called of many, the alms-preacher,
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

The Ark among the Flags
'And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi. 2. And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months. 3. And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink. 4. And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him. 5. And the daughter of Pharaoh came
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Christ's Prophetic Office
'The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet,' &c. Deut 18:85. Having spoken of the person of Christ, we are next to speak of the offices of Christ. These are Prophetic, Priestly, and Regal. 'The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet.' Enunciatur hic locus de Christo. It is spoken of Christ.' There are several names given to Christ as a Prophet. He is called the Counsellor' in Isa 9:9. In uno Christo Angelus foederis completur [The Messenger of the Covenant appears in Christ alone].
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Samuel
Alike from the literary and the historical point of view, the book[1] of Samuel stands midway between the book of Judges and the book of Kings. As we have already seen, the Deuteronomic book of Judges in all probability ran into Samuel and ended in ch. xii.; while the story of David, begun in Samuel, embraces the first two chapters of the first book of Kings. The book of Samuel is not very happily named, as much of it is devoted to Saul and the greater part to David; yet it is not altogether inappropriate,
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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