Matthew Henry on 2 Samuel 22:2–end
Let us observe, in this song of praise,
I. How David adores God, and gives him the glory of his infinite perfections. There is none like him, nor any to be compared with him (Sa2 22:32): Who is God, save the Lord? All others that are adored as deities are counterfeits and pretenders. None is to be relied on but he. Who is a rock, save our God? They are dead, but the Lord liveth, Sa2 22:47. They disappoint their worshippers when they most need them. But as for God his way is perfect, Sa2 22:31. Men begin in kindness, but end not - promise, but perform not; but God will finish his work, and his word is tried, and what we may trust.
II. How he triumphs in the interest he has in this God, and hi…
Read the whole note in the consoleAdam Clarke on 2 Samuel 22:5
When the waves of death compassed me - Though in a primary sense many of these things belong to David, yet generally and fully they belong to the Messiah alone.
John Gill on 2 Samuel 22:5
When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. See Gill on Psalm 18:4.
Keil & Delitzsch on 2 Samuel 22:5-7
5 For breakers of death had compassed me,
Streams of wickedness terrified me.
6 Cords of hell had girt me about,
Snares of death overtook me.
7 In my distress I called Jehovah,
And to my God I called;
And He heard my voice out of His temple,
And my crying came into His ears.
David had often been in danger of death, most frequently at the time when he was pursued by Saul, but also in Absalom's conspiracy, and even in several wars (cf. Sa2 21:16). All these dangers, out of which the Lord delivered him, and not merely those which originated with Saul, are included in Sa2 22:5, Sa2 22:6. The figure "breakers or waves of death" is analogous to that of the "streams of Belial." His distress is repr…
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