Yahweh is my rock,
my fortress,
and my deliverer, even mine;
God is my rock in whom I take refuge;
my shield, and the horn of my salvation,
my high tower, and my refuge.
My savior, you save me from violence.
I call on Yahweh, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies.
For the waves of death surrounded me.
The floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
The cords of Sheol were around me.
The snares of death caught me.
In my distress, I called on Yahweh.
Yes, I called to my God.
He heard my voice out of his temple.
My cry came into his ears.
Then the earth shook and trembled.
The foundations of heaven quaked and were shaken,
because he was angry.
Smoke went up out of his nostrils.
Consuming fire came out of his mouth.
Coals were kindled by it.
He bowed the heavens also and came down.
Thick darkness was under his feet.
He rode on a cherub and flew.
Yes, he was seen on the wings of the wind.
He made darkness a shelter around himself:
gathering of waters, and thick clouds of the skies.
At the brightness before him,
coals of fire were kindled.
Yahweh thundered from heaven.
The Most High uttered his voice.
He sent out arrows, and scattered them;
lightning, and confused them.
Then the channels of the sea appeared.
The foundations of the world were laid bare by Yahweh’s rebuke,
at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.
He sent from on high and he took me.
He drew me out of many waters.
He delivered me from my strong enemy,
from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.
They came on me in the day of my calamity,
but Yahweh was my support.
He also brought me out into a large place.
He delivered me, because he delighted in me.
For you are my lamp, Yahweh.
Yahweh will light up my darkness.
For by you, I run against a troop.
By my God, I leap over a wall.
As for God, his way is perfect.
Yahweh’s word is tested.
He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him.
For who is God, besides Yahweh?
Who is a rock, besides our God?
God is my strong fortress.
He makes my way perfect.
He makes his feet like hinds’ feet,
and sets me on my high places.
He teaches my hands to war,
so that my arms bend a bow of bronze.
You have also given me the shield of your salvation.
Your gentleness has made me great.
You have enlarged my steps under me.
My feet have not slipped.
Yahweh lives!
Blessed be my rock!
Exalted be God, the rock of my salvation,
Yes, you lift me up above those who rise up against me.
You deliver me from the violent man.
Therefore, I will give thanks to you, Yahweh, among the nations,
and will sing praises to your name.
He gives great deliverance to his king,
and shows loving kindness to his anointed,
to David and to his offspring, forever more.
2 Samuel 22:2-20,
29-37, 47, 49-51
As David nears the end, he surveys his
life and finds God was with him all the time, as promised. When David was in trouble, God roused Himself
to a fury to protect His own, laying bare the very foundations of the
earth. David was not immune from
suffering: He had lost his favorite son and was overcome with grief. And being
God’s beloved didn’t inspire him to be particularly virtuous all the time, as
he arranged for the death of Uriah so that he could continue his relations with
Bathsheba. But David was always sure of
God’s loving gaze.
