David’s Psalm of Thanksgiving
Introduction:
David’s Psalm of Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
(Giving Thanks)
This lesson is our final look at David’s Psalm of Thanksgiving found in 2 Samuel 22:1-51.
David’s song is a song of praise and thanksgiving to God. (Also found in Psalm 18:1-50)
A song of worship to the Lord.
2 Samuel 22:31-51 is the concluding section of David’s Song.
David closes his song by celebrating the character of God, the power God extended to him, and the victories God granted.
David sings about God’s perfect character and His divine enablement.
God’s divine resources were made available to David (and are also available to us).
Our focus today will be on the things mentioned in this passage that we should be thankful for.
Giving thanks.
A quick look at the introduction of another of David’s Psalm of Thanks.
1 Chronicles 16:8-12 NLT
8Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness.
Let the whole world know what he has done.
9Sing to him; yes, sing his praises.
Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.
10Exult in his holy name;
rejoice, you who worship the Lord.
11Search for the Lord and for his strength;
continually seek him.
12Remember the wonders he has performed,
his miracles, and the rulings he has given,
A call to praise and remember the Lord’s mighty works.
This is a good set-up for today’s passage, 2 Samuel 22:31-51.
David’s Psalm of Thanksgiving
2 Samuel 22:31-51 NLT
31 “God’s way is perfect.
All the Lord’s promises prove true.
He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.
32 For who is God except the Lord?
Who but our God is a solid rock?
33 God is my strong fortress,
and he makes my way perfect.
34 He makes me as surefooted as a deer,
enabling me to stand on mountain heights.
35 He trains my hands for battle;
he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow.
36 You have given me your shield of victory;
your help has made me great.
37 You have made a wide path for my feet
to keep them from slipping.
38 “I chased my enemies and destroyed them;
I did not stop until they were conquered.
39 I consumed them;
I struck them down so they did not get up;
they fell beneath my feet.
40 You have armed me with strength for the battle;
you have subdued my enemies under my feet.
41 You placed my foot on their necks.
I have destroyed all who hated me.
42 They looked for help, but no one came to their rescue.
They even cried to the Lord, but he refused to answer.
43 I ground them as fine as the dust of the earth;
I trampled them in the gutter like dirt.
44 “You gave me victory over my accusers.
You preserved me as the ruler over nations;
people I don’t even know now serve me.
45 Foreign nations cringe before me;
as soon as they hear of me, they submit.
46 They all lose their courage
and come trembling from their strongholds.
47 “The Lord lives! Praise to my Rock!
May God, the Rock of my salvation, be exalted!
48 He is the God who pays back those who harm me;
he brings down the nations under me
49 and delivers me from my enemies.
You hold me safe beyond the reach of my enemies;
you save me from violent opponents.
50 For this, O Lord, I will praise you among the nations;
I will sing praises to your name.
51 You give great victories to your king;
you show unfailing love to your anointed,
to David and all his descendants forever.”
Examine the Scriptures
David’s Psalm of Thanksgiving
2 Samuel 22:31-51 NLT
31 “God’s way is perfect.
Deuteronomy 32:3-4 NLT
3 I will proclaim the name of the Lord;
how glorious is our God!
4 He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect.
Everything he does is just and fair.
He is a faithful God who does no wrong;
how just and upright he is!
- God’s way is perfect.
His actions, His timing, His decisions, and His methods are flawless.
All the Lord’s promises prove true.
Some of God’s promises to David:
2 Samuel 7:8-16 NLT
The heart of the Davidic Covenant
8 “Now go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth! 10 And I will provide a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won’t oppress them as they’ve done in the past, 11 starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies.
“‘Furthermore, the Lord declares that he will make a house for you—a dynasty of kings! 12 For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. 13 He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do. 15 But my favor will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from your sight. 16 Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.’”
- All the LORD’s promises prove true.
Numbers 23:19 NLT
19 God is not a man, so he does not lie.
He is not human, so he does not change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and failed to act?
Has he ever promised and not carried it through?
Hebrews 6:18 NLT
18 So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie.
He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.
Psalm 28:7 NLT
7 The Lord is my strength and shield.
I trust him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.
Proverbs 30:5 NLT
5 Every word of God proves true.
He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.
- God is a shield for all who look to him for protection.
32 For who is God except the Lord?
There is no other God.
Who but our God is a solid rock?
Isaiah 44:6 NLT
6 This is what the Lord says—Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies:
“I am the First and the Last;
there is no other God.
Isaiah 44:8 NLT
8 Do not tremble; do not be afraid.
Did I not proclaim my purposes for you long ago?
You are my witnesses—is there any other God?
No! There is no other Rock—not one!”
Isaiah 45:21 NLT
21 …
For there is no other God but me,
a righteous God and Savior.
There is none but me.
- Only the LORD (Yahweh) is truly God. There is no other. No one compares with Him. Only He deserves our worship, trust, and obedience.
LORD – Yahweh – YHWH
33 God is my strong fortress,
and he makes my way perfect.
Other translations:
many say perfect
some say blameless
some say upright
some say safe
He makes my way: straight
safe
upright.
He leads me: toward righteousness
toward obedience
He helps me: mature
live faithfully
- God shapes our character.
34 He makes me as surefooted as a deer,
enabling me to stand on mountain heights.
35 He trains my hands for battle;
he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow.
A bow of bronze would be powerful, but difficult to draw
36 You have given me your shield of victory;
your help has made me great.
37 You have made a wide path for my feet
to keep them from slipping.
God equipped David.
- God equips us to deal with life’s battles.
God strengthens His people and prepares them for the battles they must face.
38 “I chased my enemies and destroyed them;
I did not stop until they were conquered.
39 I consumed them;
I struck them down so they did not get up;
they fell beneath my feet.
40 You have armed me with strength for the battle;
you have subdued my enemies under my feet.
41 You placed my foot on their necks.
I have destroyed all who hated me.
- God gives us victory over our enemies.
God strengthens His people and prepares them for the hardships they must face.
42 They looked for help, but no one came to their rescue.
They even cried to the Lord, but he refused to answer.
43 I ground them as fine as the dust of the earth;
I trampled them in the gutter like dirt.
44 “You gave me victory over my accusers.
You preserved me as the ruler over nations;
people I don’t even know now serve me.
45 Foreign nations cringe before me;
as soon as they hear of me, they submit.
46 They all lose their courage
and come trembling from their strongholds.
- God despises the wicked.
47 “The Lord lives! Praise to my Rock!
May God, the Rock of my salvation, be exalted!
48 He is the God who pays back those who harm me;
he brings down the nations under me
49 and delivers me from my enemies.
You hold me safe beyond the reach of my enemies;
you save me from violent opponents.
50 For this, O Lord, I will praise you among the nations;
I will sing praises to your name.
51 You give great victories to your king;
you show unfailing love to your anointed,
to David and all his descendants forever.”
- God is to be exalted.
- God deserves our praise
I will sing praises to your name.
Psalm 145:1-3 NLT
A psalm of praise of David.
1 I will exalt you, my God and King,
and praise your name forever and ever.
2 I will praise you every day;
yes, I will praise you forever.
3 Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!
No one can measure his greatness.
Psalm 113:1-4 NLT
1 Praise the Lord!
Yes, give praise, O servants of the Lord.
Praise the name of the Lord!
2 Blessed be the name of the Lord
now and forever.
3 Everywhere—from east to west—
praise the name of the Lord.
4 For the Lord is high above the nations;
his glory is higher than the heavens.
Psalm 18:2-3 NLT (nearly identical to 2 Samuel 22:3-4)
2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
and my place of safety.
3 I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and he saved me from my enemies.
List things we should be thankful for.
