Devotion 2 in the series Lead Me to the Rock: 2 Samuel 22

Did You See It? The Lord Is My Rock and My Deliverer

How many times has God grabbed you by the arm and pulled you back from danger? Our hearts would stop and we would gasp for air if we knew the calamity we had been spared. For us, it seems to happen in agonizingly slow motion, and we strain to understand the purpose until we stand back and gaze on all that God has done. Surely, the Lord is our rock and our deliverer.

Blurred blue car speeding through crosswalk, only back third of car is shown

High with anticipation of seeing our first Disney on Ice performance, we left a trendy restaurant and walked intently toward the street we would need to cross to get to the recently built arena. New to the scene and setting, we all assumed we would just stride across the street and make our way to the entrance. Little girls in princess dresses darted about, begging their moms to buy the shiny spinning toys hawked by street vendors.

Our littlest one skipped ahead, and in one fell swoop, a strong arm pulled her back and a car blazed by, the wind of it swirling her dress. The car must have been going 50 miles an hour, and it must have missed her by scarcely two feet. We adults looked wide-eyed at each other, every nerve on alert, thoughts swirling of what had almost just happened.

Unaware, the little girl looked up, wondering at our harrowed looks.

How many times has God grabbed you by the arm and pulled you back from danger? Our hearts would stop and we would gasp for air if we knew the calamity we had been spared.

For us, it seems to happen in agonizingly slow motion. Instead of a split-second moment with a car whizzing past at breakneck speed, it is instead

  • the nudge in our gut about a decision that needs to be made, in a direction we were not expecting;
  • the open or shut door, the house that sells or doesn’t, the friendship firmed or shaken; or
  • the aspiration of a dream shifted to a new reality that we can’t yet understand as better.

We are myopic, unable to see the larger, developing picture of the spared life.

When David at long last had been delivered from the hand of his enemies and from the hand of Saul, he penned Psalm 18, important enough that Samuel recorded it again, as if in hindsight, at the end of his biography of David. For years, David hid in caves, fighting hard battles and surviving close calls. This once-shepherd-boy who had been called by God to be king could not assume the throne until the king who wanted him dead was himself no more.

As he ascended the throne that was finally his, David stepped back from the day’s events, which surely must have been pressing, and surveyed the status of his life.

His gaze wide-eyed, nerves calm but alert, thoughts swirling with all that God had done, he took in the magnitude of the moment. He had survived. He had been spared. The Lord had come through.

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation,
my stronghold and my refuge,
my savior; you save me from violence.
I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.

2 Samuel 22:2-4 (ESV)

How many times had God pulled David back from oncoming danger, changed his path, made things new? David knew of some; like us, he must not have known or understood them all.

Set aside your to-do list, breathe deeply, and take in this moment in your life.

From what has God, your rock, your fortress, your shield, rescued you? From what do you need rescued? Find refuge in God, your rock and your deliverer.

Digging into God’s Word: The Lord Is My Rock and My Deliverer

I encourage you to read all of Psalm 18 or all of 2 Samuel 22. If you’re reading from your own Bible, circle the times David refers to God as his rock. Underline other words that describe God’s protection, for example, as your deliverer, rescuer, fortress, and shield. Select passages from 2 Samuel 22 are included below.

Portions of 2 Samuel 22 (ESV)

David’s Song of Deliverance

And David spoke to the LORD the words of this song on the day when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. 2 He said,

“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
3     my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation,
my stronghold and my refuge,
my savior; you save me from violence.
4 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.

17 “He sent from on high, he took me;
he drew me out of many waters.
18 He rescued me from my strong enemy,
from those who hated me,
for they were too mighty for me.
19 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
but the LORD was my support.
20 He brought me out into a broad place;
he rescued me, because he delighted in me.

32 “For who is God, but the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God?
33 This God is my strong refuge
and has made my way blameless.
34 He made my feet like the feet of a deer
and set me secure on the heights.
35 He trains my hands for war,
so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
36 You have given me the shield of your salvation,
and your gentleness made me great.

47 “The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock,
and exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation.

Digging Deeper: The Lord Is My Rock and My Deliverer

Enjoy this time with the Lord. Reflect on or journal about the following questions, listening for what God has to say to you.

1. Identify one time God pulled you back from oncoming danger, changed your path, or made things new. What parts of God’s plan did you understand at the time, and what parts do you now understand in hindsight? If there are parts you still do not understand, ask God to reveal His purpose to you.

2. What makes it hard to trust God’s plan when life takes unexpected turns? Talk with God about this, and ask Him to help you to put your hand in His and trust His plan. How does Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV) help you to process this?

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

3. Ponder these songs about God’s rescue, protection, and love for you! Choose one or all of the songs to listen to, or come back to these songs throughout the week.

Finding Favour – Refuge (Hillsong)

Deliverer (Matt Maher)

Rescue (Desperation Band)

~~~~~

Extra Info

Even though 2 Samuel 22 is recorded at the end of the books containing the history of David’s life, chapter 22 repeats what David wrote in Psalm 18 near the beginning of his reign as king. It is the prophet Samuel’s rendition of Psalm 18, pointing up the importance of that moment, when David ascended the throne and yet very consciously knew who had brought him to it.

With David, may we say with confidence, “The Lord is my rock and my deliverer.”

~~~~~

Find Past Series

You can find Past Devotions from other series on the website under the Devotions menu or at www.diggingdeeperwithgod.com/past-devotions/.

Two of the most popular series have been Hope Springs Eternal and All In: A Study of Elisha.

~~~~~

Free Printable on Psalm 103

A few weeks ago, we finished a series on Leaving a Legacy, which focused on living out the characteristics that God models for us in Psalm 103. For a printable on What Psalm 103 Tells Us About God, click this link:

What Psalm 103 Tells Us About God

~~~~~

I’m so glad you are here! Sign up here to Meet With God and Grow in Faith.

Join us to get a free resource and to have these devotions delivered straight to your inbox.

Share Button
Print

Comments

  1. Eric says:

    Chris, this a blessing of a devotion. This might seem opposite of the premises, but I am reminded of the things God did not rescue me from that ultimately made me realize He really is the Rock I can stand on. The consequences of my choices were not withheld so that I would come to my senses and see the mud pit I was in.

    • Digging Deeper with God says:

      Wow, that is a valuable perspective, one a lot of people probably haven’t realized. Consequences are so hard! I was reminded in my Bible study this morning that even if I try, I don’t always see the bigger picture of what God is orchestrating. Thank you for sharing this connection.

Join the Conversation

Your email address will not be published.

Custom Wordpress theme by Jeff Roberts Web Design

Show
Hide