大卫的晚年
撒母耳记下廿二章1至6节，25至32节
1当耶和华救大卫脱离一切仇敌和扫罗之手的日子，他向耶和华念这诗，
2说：“耶和华是我的岩石，我的山寨，我的救主，
3我的神，我的磐石，我所投靠的。他是我的盾牌，是拯救我的角，是我的高台，
是我的避难所。我的救主啊，你是救我脱离强暴的。
4我要求告当赞美的耶和华，这样，我必从仇敌手中被救出来。
5曾有死亡的波浪环绕我，匪类的急流使我惊惧，
6阴间的绳索缠绕我，死亡的网罗临到我。
25所以耶和华按我的公义，按我在他眼前的清洁赏赐我。
26慈爱的人，你以慈爱待他；完全的人，你以完全待他；
27清洁的人，你以清洁待他；乖僻的人，你以弯曲待他。
28困苦的百姓，你必拯救。但你的眼目察看高傲的人，使他降卑。
29耶和华啊，你是我的灯，耶和华必照明我的黑暗。
30我借着你冲入敌军，借着我的神跳过墙垣。
31至于神，他的道是完全的；耶和华的话，是炼净的。凡投靠他的，他便作他们的盾牌。
32除了耶和华，谁是神呢？除了我们的神，谁是磐石呢？
信息分享
儿子押沙龙的叛变和死亡，只是痛苦的一部分。到了晚年的大卫，终于可以进入宁静的生活；在这些日子中，他亲身经历到与神的相交，并且深深信靠神的同在和能力。
这章经文与诗篇第十八篇差不多完全一样，两者都是以赞美作为开始和结束。当我们将自己的祷告与这篇祷文相比，是否发现我们总是经常祈求，而很少向神发出颂赞？
留意大卫怎样称呼神。他称神是「我的岩石，我的山寨，我的救主，我的磐石，我的盾牌，我的高台，我的避难所」。
我们能否用今天的表达方式，来表达这些称谓的意思，说神是我们信仰的根基，我们的避难所，我们的救助，我们的保护者，我们的救主？除了这些，我们还可以用更多的称谓来描述神。
神为何祝福大卫？因神看大卫的内心，知道他深深渴求神的旨意成就在他的身上。今天，神同样祝福这样的人。
倘若你想像大卫一样写一篇见证（大卫总共写了73篇诗篇），你会写甚么呢？你会否说：「神一直以信实和恩慈待我。祂接纳我的一切失败，又赦免我的一切罪过。祂供应我的一切所需，又指引我的前路。祂有时还屈尊使用我。我要为生命中的一切颂赞祂的名！」
你可以在今天写下你的见证吗？坐下来，写两、三段你的见证，这都能够荣耀神，并让你的心灵得着神的祝福。今天就做吧。
DAVID'S FINAL YEARS
2 Samuel 22:1-6 and 25-32
1 Then David spoke to the LORD the words of this song, on the day when the LORD had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul.
2 And he said:
“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
3 The God of my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation,
My stronghold and my refuge;
My Savior, You save me from violence.
4 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies.
5 “When the waves of death surrounded me,
The floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
6 The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me;
The snares of death confronted me.
25 Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness,
According to my cleanness in His eyes.]
26 “With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful;
With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless;
27 With the pure You will show Yourself pure;
And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd.
28 You will save the humble people;
But Your eyes are on the haughty, that You may bring them down.
29 “For You are my lamp, O LORD;
The LORD shall enlighten my darkness.
30 For by You I can run against a troop;
By my God I can leap over a wall.
31 As for God, His way is perfect;
The word of the LORD is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
32 “For who is God, except the LORD?
And who is a rock, except our God?
Message
Absalom's rebellion and death were only part of those years. Finally David seemed to have moved into a period of peace, in which he knew real fellowship with God and deep trust in His presence and power.
This chapter is almost identical to Psalm 18. It begins and ends in praise. Can we check our own “give me” prayers against these words, to see how little praise is usually contained in our prayers?
Notice the different words David uses when speaking of God. He calls Him “My rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my refuge, my shield, my stronghold, my saviour”.
Can we put some of those titles into today's language and say “God is the foundation of my faith, my place of refuge, the one who can resolve my problems, my protector, and my saviour.” God is more, on top of all the above.
Why did God bless David? God looked into David's heart and saw a man who deep down wanted God's will for his life. God still blesses the same kind of person today.
If you were to write a testimony as David did in the Psalms (he wrote about 73 of them), what would you say? Would it be something like this, “God has been incredibly faithful and gracious to me. He has put up with my failures and forgiven my sins. He has provided for me and guided me and at times has condescended to use me. Praise His name for every thing!”
Could you or would you do this today? Sit down and write out two paragraphs of your testimony. It will glorify God and bless your own soul. Do it today.