2 Samuel 22:8-16
8 Then the earth shook and quaked,
The foundations of heaven were trembling
And were shaken, because He was angry.
9 Smoke went up out of His nostrils,
And fire from His mouth was devouring;
Coals were kindled by it.
10 He also bowed the heavens down low, and came down
With thick darkness under His feet.
11 He rode on a cherub and flew;
He appeared on the wings of the wind.
12 He made darkness canopies around Him,
A mass of waters, thick clouds of the sky.
13 From the brightness before Him
Coals of fire were kindled.
14 The Lord thundered from heaven,
And the Most High uttered His voice.
15 And He shot arrows and scattered them,
Lightning, and routed them.
16 Then the channels of the sea appeared,
The foundations of the world were exposed
By the rebuke of the Lord,
From the blast of the breath of His nostrils.
David’s Song (2)
Dipiction of prophetic future
In the previous passage, David was recalling the works that God had done for him and was praising God. However, suddenly David begins a prophetic depiction of the future. (1) Today’s passage (v 8-16) is written as if future events have already occurred. The content concerns the Second Coming of Christ. (2) The works of deliverance that God has done for David up to now serve as a “type” of the deliverance that God will do for Israel in the future. When David was in distress, God intervened and rescued him. In the same way, God will intervene in history and deliver His own people, Israel. This will happen at the time of the Second Coming.
The Second Coming as God’s judgement
(1) At the time of the Second Coming, the foundations of the earth and heaven will be shaken, and this is due to the anger of God. (2) Furthermore, the Second Coming will be accompanied by the Shekinah Glory (the glory of God). In this passage, words related to the Shekinah Glory appear in succession: (a) darkness, (b) cherub, (c) thick clouds, (d) brightness, (e) thunder, and so on. (3) Christ will come riding on a cherub. Revelation 19:11 says, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.” So, it is generally believed that Christ will come riding on a white horse. However, some believe that this is not a literal “white horse,” but refers to a cherub, the highest-ranking angel (ref. Ps. 28:10). In Ezekiel chapter 1, there is a description of the cherub, and from that we understand that the cherub had an animal-like form. (4) In verses 14-16, the severity of God’s judgment is described. This refers to the judgment of those who oppose God. Having depicted the future deliverance of the people of Israel, David, beginning in verse 17, returns once again to his own era and recalls the works of God done for him. For us who live in the New Testament time, we are given the privilege of learning from the past and having assurance for the future. The victory of those who trust in Christ is guaranteed. Today, let us continue to walk the path of righteousness with the assurance of Christ’s Second Coming.
Today's prayer
O God of Israel, Your promises never change for eternity. I trust in You. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.