The Power of Prayer: A Look at King David's Cry for Help

2 Samuel 22:1-7 is a portion of King David's song of thanksgiving to the Lord after He had delivered him from danger. (There are 51  verses in total but here we're just looking at the first seven) In this passage, David describes the Lord as his rock, fortress, and deliverer, who saved him from his enemies and from the "cords of death." David recounts how the Lord came to his aid in his distress, hearing his cry for help and answering him. He acknowledges that the Lord's love and faithfulness were the source of his protection, and that the Lord's right hand saved him. David ends the passage by declaring his gratitude to the Lord and his determination to praise and honour Him forever.

Verse 1: And David spake unto the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul: The passage begins with David acknowledging that he is speaking to the Lord and giving thanks for being saved from his enemies.

Verse 2: "He said: '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’." David identifies the Lord as his source of protection, refuge, and salvation. He sees the Lord as a strong and impenetrable rock, a fortress, and a shield.

• "horn of salvation" is a metaphor used in the Scripture, specifically in 2nd Samuel, to refer to God's power and protection. In ancient times, a horn was seen as a symbol of power, strength, and victory. In this context, the "horn of salvation" refers to God's power to save and protect those who call upon Him. David, who wrote many of the Psalms, used the metaphor of the "horn of salvation" to describe the Lord as his source of protection and refuge in times of trouble. The idea of the "horn of salvation" emphasises the Lord's ability to deliver and protect His people and is a reminder of the power and might of the Lord in the lives of those who trust in Him.

Verse 3: "I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies." David emphasises his trust in the Lord, calling upon Him in times of trouble and acknowledging that He is worthy of praise.

Verse 4: "The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction assailed me; the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me." David recounts the difficulties he faced, with death, destruction, and the underworld seeming to be closing in on him.

• "cords of death" is a phrase found in Scripture, specifically in the book of Psalms, which refers to the danger and power of death. In this context, the "cords" of death" symbolise the grip or hold that death has on a person. The idea is that death has the power to hold someone tightly and prevent them from escaping its grasp. The metaphor is used to convey the overwhelming and all-consuming nature of death, as well as the fear and terror that it can evoke. The phrase is often used in the context of a person's prayer for deliverance from danger and death, emphasising the need for God's protection and salvation. The "cords of death" serve as a reminder of the power of death and the importance of relying on the Lord for protection and deliverance.
• Sheol is a term found in Scripture, which refers to the underworld or the place of the dead. In ancient Hebrew beliefs, Sheol was thought of as a realm beneath the earth where the souls of the dead went after death. It wasn’t necessarily thought of as a place of punishment but a place of darkness and stillness where the dead awaited a final judgment. In later Jewish and Christian beliefs, the concept of Sheol developed into the idea of a place of punishment for the wicked, similar to the Greek concept of Hades or the Christian concept of hell. The idea of Sheol is mentioned several times in the scripture, including Psalms, Job, and Isaiah.

Verse 5: "In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry came to His ears." In his distress, David called upon the Lord and cried for help, and the Lord heard him from His temple.

Verse 6: "Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations also of the mountains trembled and quaked, because He was angry." The Lord's response to David's call was powerful, with the earth shaking and the foundations of the mountains trembling because of His anger.

Verse 7: "Smoke went up from His nostrils, and devouring fire from His mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from Him." Here David describes the Lord's wrath like a volcano erupting, with smoke, fire, and glowing coals flaming from His mouth.

This portion of David’s song highlights the importance of relying on the Lord when we find ourselves in times of danger and distress. Like David, we see that in the face of adversity, our best course of action is to cry out through the power of prayer and praise. The passage serves as a reminder that the Lord is a faithful and loving God, who hears the cries of His people and comes to their aid in time of need. The passage also emphasises the Lord's power and might, and His ability to deliver and protect those who trust in Him.

For us who trust in the Lord, we can praise him rejoicing in the knowledge that his greatest gift of protection came when He sent Emmanuel, Jesus the Messiah to redeem us and deliver us from death and destruction.

Have a great day, and God bless,

Trev.