"God is My Rock"
2 Samuel • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 2 viewsDavid's Psalm of Praise. Almost identical to Psalm 18
Notes
Transcript
Proposition - In our text this morning we find David’s song after God delivered him from all his enemies—especially Saul. It’s a testimony of God’s faithfulness in the middle of danger, fear, and pressure.
You as teens face many different challenges from peer pressure, temptation, identity struggles—but the same God who delivered David can deliver you.
Interrogative Question -
Faithlife Study Bible (Chapter 22)
22:1–51 This psalm is inserted after David’s final defeat of the Philistines (see 2 Sam 21:15–22). It is nearly identical to Psa 18 and expresses David’s gratitude to Yahweh for His salvation, deliverance, and covenant faithfulness. Its position here is especially meaningful because David appears—at least from the human perspective—to be susceptible to defeat in 2 Sam 21:15–16.
The MacArthur Study Bible (Chapter 22)
David’s song of praise here is almost identical to Ps. 18. This song also has many verbal links to Hannah’s prayer (see note on 1 Sam. 2:1–10) and together with it forms the framework for the books of Samuel. This song focuses on the Lord’s deliverance of David from all his enemies, in response to which David praised the Lord, his deliverer (vv. 2–4). The major part of the song (vv. 5–46) states the reason for this praise of the Lord. David first describes how the Lord had delivered him from his enemies (vv. 5–20), then declares why the Lord had delivered him from his enemies (vv. 21–28), then states the extent of the Lord’s deliverance from his enemies (vv. 29–46). The song concludes with David’s resolve to praise his delivering Lord, even among the Gentiles (vv. 47–51).
I. God is the believers Security - vs. 1–4
I. God is the believers Security - vs. 1–4
1 And David spoke the words of this song to the Lord in the day that 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.
“The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer.”
How does David describe the Lord in these verses?
Rock
Fortress
Deliverer
Shield
These describe strength and protection.
Truth:
God is not just someone you believe in—He is someone you run to.
Illustration:
A rock climber trusts his rope completely. If he doesn’t trust it, he hesitates and falls. In the same way, if you don’t trust God fully, you’ll panic when life gets hard.
2 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.
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe.
When life feels unstable, don’t run to:
Friends first
Social media
Emotions
Run to God.
II. God hears the Believers cry - vs. 5–7
II. God hears the Believers cry - vs. 5–7
5 “For the waves of death encompassed me; The torrents of destruction overwhelmed me; 6 The cords of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me. 7 “In my distress I called upon the Lord, Yes, I cried to my God; And from His temple He heard my voice, And my cry for help came into His ears.
“In my distress I called upon the Lord… and he did hear my voice.”
David describes overwhelming trouble:
“Waves of death”
“Floods of ungodly men”
God listens when you cry out—especially in your lowest moments.
Illustration:
Think of a child in a crowded place who suddenly realizes they’re lost. They cry out for their parent—and the parent immediately responds. God is even more attentive than that.
3 ‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him And saved him out of all his troubles.
Don’t wait until life falls apart to talk to God. Build the habit now.
III. God Responds with His Power - vs. 8–20
III. God Responds with His Power - vs. 8–20
8 “Then the earth shook and quaked, The foundations of heaven were trembling And were shaken, because He was angry. 9 “Smoke went up out of His nostrils, Fire from His mouth devoured; Coals were kindled by it. 10 “He bowed the heavens also, and came down With thick darkness under His feet. 11 “And He rode on a cherub and flew; And He appeared on the wings of the wind. 12 “And He made darkness canopies around Him, A mass of waters, thick clouds of the sky. 13 “From the brightness before Him Coals of fire were kindled. 14 “The Lord thundered from heaven, And the Most High uttered His voice. 15 “And He sent out arrows, and scattered them, Lightning, and routed them. 16 “Then the channels of the sea appeared, The foundations of the world were laid bare By the rebuke of the Lord, At the blast of the breath of His nostrils. 17 “He sent from on high, He took me; He drew me out of many waters. 18 “He delivered me from my strong enemy, From those who hated me, for they were too strong for me. 19 “They confronted me in the day of my calamity, But the Lord was my support. 20 “He also brought me forth into a broad place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me.
David describes God moving in dramatic, powerful ways:
Earth shaking
Fire and lightning
God rescuing him
God is not passive—He is powerful and active in your life.
Illustration:
You may not always see electricity, but when you flip the switch, the light comes on. God’s power is often unseen, but it is always working.
20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
Just because you don’t see God working doesn’t mean He isn’t.
IV. God Honors Righteous Living - vs. 21–28
IV. God Honors Righteous Living - vs. 21–28
21 “The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. 22 “For I have kept the ways of the Lord, And have not acted wickedly against my God. 23 “For all His ordinances were before me, And as for His statutes, I did not depart from them. 24 “I was also blameless toward Him, And I kept myself from my iniquity. 25 “Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness, According to my cleanness before His eyes. 26 “With the kind You show Yourself kind, With the blameless You show Yourself blameless; 27 With the pure You show Yourself pure, And with the perverted You show Yourself astute. 28 “And You save an afflicted people; But Your eyes are on the haughty whom You abase.
David says God rewarded him according to his righteousness—not perfection, but a heart that follows God.
Truth:
Your choices matter. God honors obedience.
Illustration:
A student who studies consistently shouldn’t be surprised when they pass the test. In the same way, obedience brings spiritual strength.
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.
12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.
Live clean, even when others don’t:
In what you watch
In what you say
In how you treat people
V. God is the Source of Strength - vs. 29–40
V. God is the Source of Strength - vs. 29–40
29 “For You are my lamp, O Lord; And the Lord illumines my darkness. 30 “For by You I can run upon a troop; By my God I can leap over a wall. 31 “As for God, His way is blameless; The word of the Lord is tested; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him. 32 “For who is God, besides the Lord? And who is a rock, besides our God? 33 “God is my strong fortress; And He sets the blameless in His way. 34 “He makes my feet like hinds’ feet, And sets me on my high places. 35 “He trains my hands for battle, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 36 “You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, And Your help makes me great. 37 “You enlarge my steps under me, And my feet have not slipped. 38 “I pursued my enemies and destroyed them, And I did not turn back until they were consumed. 39 “And I have devoured them and shattered them, so that they did not rise; And they fell under my feet. 40 “For You have girded me with strength for battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.
“For thou art my lamp, O Lord…”
David gives God credit for:
Strength
Victory
Endurance
Truth:
You don’t fight life’s battles alone—God equips you.
Illustration:
A soldier doesn’t go into battle without training and armor. God trains you through His Word and equips you through His Spirit.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Your strength doesn’t come from:
Popularity
Talent
Confidence
It comes from God.
VI. God is Worthy of our Praise - vs. 47–51
VI. God is Worthy of our Praise - vs. 47–51
47 “The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock; And exalted be God, the rock of my salvation, 48 The God who executes vengeance for me, And brings down peoples under me, 49 Who also brings me out from my enemies; You even lift me above those who rise up against me; You rescue me from the violent man. 50 “Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the nations, And I will sing praises to Your name. 51 “He is a tower of deliverance to His king, And shows lovingkindness to His anointed, To David and his descendants forever.”
“The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock…”
David ends with praise.
Truth:
When God delivers you, don’t forget to thank Him.
Illustration:
Too many people treat God like a 911 call—only dialing when there’s an emergency. But God deserves daily praise, not just crisis prayers.
6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
15 Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.
Make praise a daily habit—not just a Sunday activity.
SO WHAT?
David looked back and said:
“God brought me through everything.”
One day, you’ll look back too.
Challenge:
Trust God as your Rock
Call on Him in trouble
Live righteously
Give Him the glory
If God was faithful to David in caves, battles, and fear—
He will be faithful to you in school, friendships, and life.
