This psalm of David expresses David’s feelings of triumph beginning in the first line through the entire poem/lyric/psalm. 2 Samuel 22 is a statement of faith that has been realized. It is not simply a belief system, but something David has experience as he has seen his hope in God’s word fulfilled.

David selects several metaphors and descriptive words to describe to his listeners (or, readers) how the Lord has manifested in David’s times of need: Rock, Fortress, Deliverer, Shield, Horn, Stronghold, Refuge, Savior.

The word “rock,” sela, refers to a very large outcropping of rock or bedrock projecting up out of the earth’s surface. This would be similar to David’s time in caves and areas of large rock formations while hiding from Saul. Sela is used in 1 Samuel 23:25-28, “Saul and his men began the search, and when David was told about it, he went down to the rock (sela) and stayed in the Desert of Maon.”

The word “fortress” is the Hebrew word mesuda, or Masada, which is the name of the fortress David used by the Dead Sea that was also used by the Maccabees, Herod and the Jewish Zealots. David used mesuda, or Masada, in 1 Samuel 22:4, “So he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him as long as David was in the stronghold (mesuda, Masada),” and 1 Samuel 24:22, “Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold (mesuda, Masada).” Jerusalem itself is built on a mesuda according to 2 Samuel 5:7, “Nevertheless, David captured the fortress (mesuda) of Zion—which is the City of David.”

David testifies as a witness of these events in 22:31 that God’s “way is perfect” and “the Lord’s word is flawless.” The phrase “the Lord’s word is flawless” is refers to God’s promises to David have “been proved true” or the verb literally says, “stands the test of fire.” This is a reference to fire separating the pure silver from the dross. David says the fire of battle and the situations in life have separated the false ideas from the sure Word of God spoken as promises to David. God’s way is perfect and the Lord’s word is flawless.

David’s personal use the word “my” five times reveals that David has personally experience God as his rock, his deliverer, his refuge, his salvation, etc.

(Below are photos of Masada or the "stronghold" call mesuda in Hebrew, or Masada in English.
Click on the photos for a larger image. See more photos and details concerning Masada HERE.)

"I would to God that a plouighman would sing a text of the scripture at his plough and that the weaver would hum them to the tune of his shuttle." - Erasmus

Paterology is the study of God the Father. Pater, or πατηρ, is the Greek word for father. The fatherhood of God as creator is true for all men, but the New Testament develops a richer and deeper relationship with God as Father for the believer in Jesus Christ.

The word for Father is used fifteen times in the Old Testament but 245 times in the New Testament. This concept was clarified by Jesus in his reference to God as his Father concerning his own relationship with God (see Matthew 11:25-27). The Aramaic term Abba, a term originally used by young children for their fathers, indicating an intimate and familiar relationship, was used by Jesus to address God (Mark 14:36).