839. 2SA 22:36. DAVID’S SONG OF TRIUMPH

2Sa_22:36. David’s Song of Triumph

"Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation; and thy gentleness hath made me great."’972Sa_22:36.

Our text is found in the midst of one of David’s most joyous songs. It exhibits the Psalmist under the various trying and "distressing sorrows and troubles of life; and in the deliverances and mercies with which God had so signally blessed him. He commences with the language of holy exultation. "And he said, The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; 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;" 2Sa_22:2, 2Sa_22:3. He then avers his resolution to consecrate himself by prayer, to the Lord. "I will call on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies:" 2Sa_22:4. And he rests his resolution on the past interpositions of the Divine mercy. "The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me; 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:" 2Sa_22:6, 2Sa_22:7. Our text repeats what God had been to him, and had done for him in the midst of all his sorrows. "Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great."

Observe,

I. The dangers implied.

II. The salvation afforded.

And,

III. The greatness conferred.

I. The dangers implied.

David’s dangers had been personal, both as to body and soul, and also domestic and national. His life had been one series of perils. He had in early life been exposed to the terrible lion and bear,’97to the boasting Goliath,’97to the envious and malevolent Saul,’97to the hazards of war,’97to the sorrows of domestic conspiracy and national rebellion.

We too are exposed to dangers, and like David’s they are,

1. Personal.

And include those both of body and soul. Life is in danger from disease. Soul in peril from the power of sin, and the attacks of the devil. Most can testify to both these. For all men, while in the body, are liable to sickness and death; and while in the world must encounter the countless attacks of spiritual adversaries. So that life is one scene of personal tribulation and conflict. Our dangers too, like those of David,

2. Arise from various sources.

Perils of the world’97alike from its frowns and smiles. For in either case, its influence is deadly to genuine piety. Its favors are alike deadly with its hostile spirit, and often indeed its flattery is more to be dreaded, than its bitterest hate.

Perils from the powers of darkness. And the name of these is’97legion.

Perils from our own hearts, which are so partially sanctified at best, and so prone to wander from God, and yield to the temptations of evil. Yes, all around are foes to assail us, and within the very citadel is the weak vacillating heart, which may, through fear, or indolence, or lethargy, yield up all to the enemy of our peace and salvation.

3. These perils might have been most disastrous in their results.

Yes, had we fallen by them, loss of peace’97loss of hope, would have been the result. No calamity can be really greater, than to make shipwreck of faith and of a good conscience. Yet all would have been thus lost, had our spiritual foes prevailed. And following that, as the necessary result, would have been the loss of the soul. A ruin, extending its terrible results throughout a black and hopeless eternity. Let no Christian then think lightly of his spiritual foes and perils; they are too formidable to be despised, too deadly to be neglected.

Then notice, in David’s experience,

II. The salvation afforded.

Now, observe, God did not exempt him from dangers, but he delivered and saved him opt of them. God’s delivering presence was David’s shield. So he sang,’97"The Lord is a sun and shield." God had said to Abraham’97"Fear not, for I am thy shield."

Now the salvation thus afforded, was,

1. Divine.

"Thy salvation." Not mine’97not an angel’s’97not of men. A salvation effected by God’s wisdom, power, and presence. God’s graciousness produced the deliverance and the safety. "Salvation is of the Lord," &c. "There is no king saved by the multitude of a host; a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. A horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy"’97Psa_33:16-18. "For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me. But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us."’97Ps. xliv 6, 7.

This salvation,

2. Was seasonable.

At the hour of critical peril. In the season of greatest extremity. In the day of most imminent danger. Just at the right and momentous crisis. So it is ever with God’s people in their deliverances. The Lord is the shield of their salvation, when they most need him; and when there is a season of greatest danger, he usually selects that for the rescue of his people. He did so with Israel of old, as they approached the waters of the Red Sea. Hostile foes were close in the rear’97precipitous mountains on either side’97the deep waters immediately before them; but then God appeared, and the waters clave asunder and stood on heaps, that his people might pass through as on dry ground.

This salvation,

3. Was efficient.

Always a complete salvation. "For by thee I have run through a troop; by my God have I leaped over a wall. 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. For who is God, save the Lord? and who is a rock, save our God? God is my strength and power, and he maketh my way perfect. He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, and setteth me upon my high places," Psa_18:30-34. His achievements were complete. Goliath did not flee, but was slain. Just as the three Hebrews were effectually saved from the fire’97and Daniel from the lions’97and Peter from prison. So David’s deliverances were ever efficient and complete. So God entirely and fully delivers his feeble and trusting people.

But observe, this salvation, 4. Was ever connected with the use of means.

God did not deliver David by supernatural agency or miraculous interposition, but by the use of means, which he blessed and rendered effective. God gave him the wisdom, and might, and magnanimity, so needful in his perilous career. Now so it is still: God preserves and delivers his people by the use of means. Prayer’97which lays hold of God’s strength. The Word’97which is the two-edged sword. Faith’97which is the shield of defence against fiery darts. Hope’97which is the helmet. Now all these are to be spiritually employed against our spiritual adversaries. See Eph_6:11-18. And so with regard to the troubles and sorrows of life, means are to be employed; and the spirit of prudence, vigilance, and activity, cultivated; and then on these, and with them, the divine blessing is to be sought, and trusted in for safety and for triumph.

Notice,

III. The greatness conferred.

"Thy gentleness hath made me great."

Now here there are two things to be carefully observed:

1. The greatness itself.

(1.) There is physical greatness; and God gave this to David: for he was strong and vigorous in his bodily powers.

(2.) There is mental greatness, and he also bestowed this. Hence the wonderful display of thought and intellect his powerful addresses and songs exhibit.

(3.) There is also moral greatness. The love of right’97the earnest desire to be holy’97the deep-toned love of God and his law, by which sin is resisted, and temptation overcome, and purity of character attained; and David had this. Hence his devotion’97his fortitude’97his self denial’97his uprightness’97his spirituality, &c. All these were signs of moral greatness.

He especially gave two striking evidences of lofty moral dignity, on two remarkable occasions. When he might have rid himself of his mortal enemy, Saul, from whom he had so often to flee for his life; but when the life of that infatuated monarch was in his hand, hear his address to him: "And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt? Behold, this day thine eyes have been how that the Lord had delivered thee today into mine hand in the cave; and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand, against my lord; for he is the Lord’s anointed."’971Sa_24:9, 1Sa_24:10.

The other case was, when he was exposed to the curses of the wretched Shimei. "And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came. And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left." "Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head. And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because the Lord hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so? And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it! Let him alone, and let him curse, for the Lord hath bidden him. It may be that the Lord will look on mine affliction, and that the Lord will requite me good for his cursing this day."’972Sa_14:5-6; 2 Samuel 9-12. Here was exhibited the greatest possible manifestation of self-control and submission to God. This was the loftiest moral heroism indeed, and of a truth! And God abundantly prospered and increased the house and kingdom of David; so that his reign was illustrious, magnificent, and great.

Then observe,

2. How the greatness bestowed.

"By God’s gentleness."

Now the idea is this, that God’s great love, as evidenced in kindness, and forbearance, and tenderness towards him, had made him great.

(1.) Look at the ideas suggested in reference to God’s treatment of Israel. "For the Lord’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings." Deu_32:9-11. The eaglets are to be made great in valor and flight. Then they must be forced from the nest to attempt the hazardous flight; but not at once’97not roughly’97not fiercely; but gently and affectionately. "Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself."’97Exo_19:4. "In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them, all the days of old."’97Isa_63:9.

(2.) Look at the trainer of youth. He wishes to educate his mind and spirit. Well, he does it gently; by elementary efforts first; by gradual steps; by leading the pupil on from lesson to lesson. So God did by David. His paternal goodness and gentle care had made him great. So he does by all his people. Hence he represents himself as standing in connection with them, as a pitiful Father; more loving and faithful than the devoted mother; careful as the watchful nurse; and by the dispensations of his infinite compassion and loving kindness, he trains his people for service, and warfare, and perils, and greatness. Any thing else would crush, and dispirit, and destroy them.

Application

Then observe from the text,

1. The security of God’s people. God being their shield and their salvation, who, or what, can harm them?

2. What should be the great object of our desire? "Greatness." Moral, spiritual greatness. To be eminently good’97singularly pious’97publicly self-denying’97unceasingly useful. Notice,

3. The example God presents to us, in the gentleness of his training. Parents, teachers, and ministers may learn from it how they may best succeed in making favorable impressions, and imparting the loftiest principles, to those committed to their care. Of this the Apostle Paul gives us an eminent example, 2Th_2:7-9.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS