A Prayer from 2 Samuel 22

David's prayer in 2 Samuel 22 is one of the most powerful prayers in all of Scripture. In this prayer, David thanks God for delivering him from all his past enemies, and he expresses supreme confidence that God will deliver him from any future enemies that he might face. Thus, the prayer contains elements of both thanksgiving and confidence. And, like many other prayers in Scripture that contain these elements, David's prayer in 2 Samuel 22 contains a striking description of God's might. God's might is limitless, and His enemies - which include our enemies, for we are His people - don't stand a chance against it.

Many Christians find it difficult to relate to prayers about the defeat of enemies, probably because they think of enemies as other human beings (which they often were for David). However, if we think of enemies as anything that stands between us and God, or between us and others, then we may find it easy to relate to such prayers. My chief enemies are my own sinfulness and my psychological illnesses (specifically, depression and anxiety). When these enemies seem especially threatening (as my anxiety has been lately), I find it helpful to pray the words of David's prayer from 2 Samuel 22. I have included the words of the prayer here. If you are struggling with enemies, then I would invite you to pray these words as well. (Note, I have included only verses 2b-19, 29-41, and 47-50.)

"O LORD, my crag, my fortress, my deliverer!
O God, the rock wherein I take shelter:
My shield, my mighty champion, my fortress and refuge!
My savior, You rescue me from violence!

All praise! I called on the LORD,
and I was delivered from my enemies.

For the breakers of Death encompassed me,
The torrents of Belial terrified me;
The snares of Sheol encircled me,
The coils of Death engulfed me.

In my anguish I called on the LORD,
Cried out to my God;
In His Abode He heard my voice,
My cry entered His ears.

Then the earth rocked and quaked,
The foundations of the heaven shook¾
Rocked by His indignation.
Smoke went up from His nostrils,
From His mouth came devouring fire;
Live coals blazed forth from Him.
He bent the sky and came down,
Thick cloud beneath His feet.
He mounted a cherub and flew;
He was seen on the wings of the wind.
He made pavilions of darkness about Him,
Dripping clouds, huge thunderheads;
In the brilliance before Him
Blazed fiery coals.
The LORD thundered forth from heaven,
The Most High sent forth His voice;
He let loose bolts, and scattered them;
Lightning, and put them to rout.
The bed of the sea was exposed,
The foundations of the world were laid bare
By the mighty roaring of the LORD,
At the blast of the breath of His nostrils.
He reached down from on high, He took me,
Drew me out of the mighty waters;
He rescued me from my enemy so strong,
From foes too mighty for me.
They attacked me on my day of calamity,
But the LORD was my stay...

You, O LORD, are my lamp;
The LORD lights up my darkness.
With You, I can rush a barrier,
With my God, I can scale a wall.
The way of God is perfect,
The word of the LORD is pure.
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
Yea, who is a god except God¾
The God, my mighty stronghold,
Who kept my path secure;
Who made my legs like a deer's,
And set me firm on the heights;
Who trained my hands for battle,
So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze!
You have granted me the shield of Your protection
And Your providence has made me great.
You have let me stride on freely,
And my feet have not slipped.
I pursued my enemies and wiped them out,
I did not turn back till I destroyed them.
I destroyed them, I struck them down;
They rose no more, they lay at my feet.
You have girt me with strength for battle,
Brought low my foes before me,
Made my enemies turn tail before me,
My foes¾and I wiped them out...

The LORD lives! Blessed is my rock!
Exalted be God, the rock
Who gives me victory;
The God who has vindicated me
And made peoples subject to me,
Rescued me from my enemies,
Raised me clear of my foes,
Saved me from lawless men!
For this I sing Your praise among the nations
And hymn Your name. Amen."

There is no limit to God's might, and His love for you is boundless. There is nothing that He cannot accomplish for you, and He is determined to give you all good things. When you face enemies - whether internal or external - pray to Him, and He will deliver you. The Lord is faithful, and He is mighty to save, and He will save.