Who is God?

2 Samuel 22:26–34 ESV

26 “With the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless man you show yourself blameless; 27 with the purified you deal purely, and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous. 28 You save a humble people, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down. 29 For you are my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness. 30 For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. 31 This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. 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.

2 Samuel 22:26–27 ESV

26 “With the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless man you show yourself blameless; 27 with the purified you deal purely, and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.

The Lutheran Study Bible (Notes) Chapter 22

22:21–31 Although these verses seem to change from the praise of God to the praise of human works, they actually point to God’s covenant. God gave His Word to His people. One difference between God’s people and others is that His people are humble toward His revelation, not haughty (v 28). All of “my righteousness” (v 25) is itself a gift of God (vv 29–31). Cf Jb 4:17–19.

John 5:21–29 ESV

21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. 25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

Apology to the Augsburg Confession:

Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions The Adversaries’ Other Arguments

The adversaries insist that good works have the right to merit eternal life, because Paul says:

He will render to each one according to his works. (Romans 2:6)

Glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good. (Romans 2:10)

Those who have done good to the resurrection of life. (John 5:29)

I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed Me. (Matthew 25:35)

Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions The Adversaries’ Other Arguments

In these and all similar passages in which works are praised in the Scriptures, it is necessary to understand not only outward works, but also the faith of the heart. Scripture does not speak of hypocrisy, but of the righteousness of the heart with its fruit. 251 [372] Furthermore, whenever the Law and works are mentioned, we must know that Christ cannot be excluded as Mediator. He is the end of the Law, and He Himself says, “Apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). We have said above that all passages about works can be judged according to this rule. When eternal life is granted to works, it is granted to those who have been justified. Only justified people, who are led by the Spirit of Christ, can do good works. Without faith and Christ as Mediator, good works do not please, according to Hebrews 11:6: “Without faith it is impossible to please [God].” 252 [373

2 Samuel 12:13 ESV

13 David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.

(See also Psalm 51)

2 Samuel 22:28 ESV

28 You save a humble people, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down.

Examples of Saul & David

2 Samuel 22:29 ESV

29 For you are my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness.

Isaiah 58:8 ESV

8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

John 1:3–4 ESV

3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

2 Samuel 12:12–13 ESV

12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’ ” 13 David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.

But this seeming contrast between the terms of the psalm and the terms of the story is in fact the whole point. When David looked back from the vantage point of deliverance (Title), he knew that it could only have been done by the Lord of Sinai (7–8; cf. Ex. 19:18), of the judgments on Egypt (9–12; cf. Ex. 9:13ff; 10:21ff), and of the Red Sea (15), respectively, the Lord acting in holiness, judgment and deliverance. This is the meaning of the vivid imagery: behind all his circumstances lies the supernatural working of God. David took refuge in the cave of Adullam (1 Sa. 22:1) and the rocks of the wild goats (1 Sa. 24:2), but by hindsight he saw that it was always the Lord who was his rock and refuge (2, 46), concealing his glory, to be sure, behind the dark veil of circumstances, but reigning from his throne in the interests of his servant.

J. A. Motyer, “The Psalms,” in New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, ed. D. A. Carson et al., 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), 496.