2 Samuel 22:33

2Sa_22:33-34

He maketh my way perfect.

The perfect way indicated

A gentleman crossing the English Channel stood near the helmsman. It was a calm and pleasant evening, and no one dreamed of a possible danger to their good ship. But a sudden flapping of a sail, as if the wind had shifted, caught the ear of the officer on watch, and he sprang at once to the wheel, examining closely the compass. You are half a point off the course, he said sharply to the man at the wheel. The deviation was corrected, and the officer returned to his post. You must steer very accurately, said the looker-on, when only half a point is so much thought of. Ah! half a point in many places might bring us directly on the rocks, he said. What avails being almost right, if destruction is the end? Many, it is to be feared, have missed eternal life by half a point. Alas, many Christians allow slight deviations from the law of Christ in their lives. He is daily with us to correct us, and we attain to the perfect way only by implicit obedience to the word of the Captain of our Salvation.

The perfect rule for the path of life

The Bible is so strict and old-fashioned, said a young man to a greyhaired friend who was advising him to study Gods Word if he would learn how to live. There are plenty of books written nowadays that are moral enough in their teaching, and dont bind me down as the Bible does. The old merchant turned to his desk and took down a couple of rulers, one of which was slightly bent. With each of these he ruled a line, and silently handed the ruled paper to his companion. Well, said the lad, what do you mean? One line is straight and true, is it not? Now, my young friend, when you mark your path in life, do not use a crooked ruler!

God made ways for our feet

God does not make straight even paths all alike, as in great cities now. There is infinite variety in the paths He makes, and He can make them anywhere. Think you not that He who made the spider able to drop anywhere, and to spin its own path as it goes, is not able to spin a path for you through every blank or perplexity, or depression? (C. A. Fox.)

Go straight and keep steady

While walking in the country with several relatives, a little girl came to a deep ditch which could only be crossed by a narrow plank. Though for a time she feared to cross, she suddenly looked round and exclaimed: Grandpa, you go first; you are the heaviest, and I want to see how you do it. After watching her grandparent safely over the plank, the child said: Oh, I can do that; you have only to go straight and keep steady. May we net learn that if we would go the way that God has opened, we have but to follow His Word, go straight, and keep our faith steady? Our difficulties may be overcome if we will but allow God to clear the way, instead of attempting to do so in our own strength. (The Advertiser.)

Our way perfected by the hand of another

I sometimes think of it as of a child sitting in a boat. The child does not know the coast, and it very little understands how to row. If the child were left to itself, pulling upon the oars, its right hand being a little stronger than the other, it would be all the time veering the boat to the right, and the boat would be constantly turning round and round. The child would, perhaps, make its way out of the harbour and into the ocean, and it would be carried away and lost if there were no guiding power in the boat except its own. But there in the stern sits the father. The uneven strokes of the child would carry the boat this way or that way out of its course; but the steady hand of the father overcomes those uneven strokes; and all the mistakes with the oars are rectified by the rudder, and the boat keeps the right course. So that the force exerted by the child, though misdirected, all works for good when the father guides. (H. W. Beecher.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

(33) God is my strength and power.—Better, my strong fortress. The psalm has quite a different thought, which is expressed in 2Sa_22:40, “It is God that girdeth me with strength.”

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

33. my strength and power] Rather, my strong fortress. Psa_18:32 reads “who girdeth me with strength:” cp. 2Sa_22:40.

maketh my way perfect] Maketh is a different word from that similarly translated in Psa_18:32, and seems to express the removal of obstacles which blocked up the path of his life. Observe the analogy between the perfection of God’s way (2Sa_22:31) and His servant’s. Cp. Mat_5:48. Cp. also Psa_101:2; Psa_101:6.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

God is my Strength.

God who girdeth me with strength". (Psa_18:32) Physical strength is derived from God. Much more is spiritual. It is obtained through faith. And every believer may say, "His strength is mine." Thereby:

1. I live live unto God, "soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world" (Tit_2:12; Heb_2:4; Gal_2:20)

2. I stand stand fast in temptation, attack, danger (Rom_14:4; 2Co_1:24; Php_4:1)

3. I walk walk forward, in the way of the Lord, surely, swiftly (ver. 34), perseveringly (2Co_5:7; Isa_40:31)

4. I labour labour with and for God, zealously, patiently, and not in vain (Isa_26:12; 1Co_15:58)

5. I endure endure "hardness," afflictions, reproaches, yea, all things, supported and "strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward (2Ti_2:3; Heb_11:27; Psa_138:3)

1. I fight fight "the good fight of faith," against his enemies, courageously and effectually (ver. 35).

2. I overcome overcome in life and death. D. (1Co_15:57)

Divine protection and guidance.

The experience of David, and the purpose of the psalm, naturally lead to repetition of declarations and images descriptive of the protection and guidance which had been vouchsafed to him. They are not unsuitable to record the convictions and feelings of every good man as he reviews the past and anticipates the future. This verse in the Revised Version reads, "God is my strong Fortress, and he guideth the perfect in his way.

I GOD IS OUR STRONG FORTRESS. A fortress is a protection against enemies.

1. We have powerful foes. The world and the flesh, the devil and his angels, assault us continually, and would destroy, not only our peace, but our souls. They are too strong and numerous for our power and skill; and no creature power is sufficient for our defence.

2. God is our Almighty Protector. The Fortress into which we can flee, and where we are safe; which no enemy can scale or breach. His presence surrounds us; his power defends us. Yea, he is in our hearts to strengthen and protect us. Everywhere, and under all circumstances, we can resort to this Refuge, and defy our foes. We should therefore be ready to go anywhere and do anything at God"s command. He may lead us where temptations are numerous and powerful; but obeying and trusting him, we are secure.

II GOD IS OUR ALL WISE GUIDE. The reading and translation preferred by the Revisers gives a good sense, harmonizing with many statements of Holy Writ. "He guideth the perfect in his way," or, perhaps, "his God"s way." The man who is "perfect" in the sense of "upright," sincere, true, righteous, wholehearted, may be assured of Divine guidance; while the insincere, hypocritical, double minded, shall be left to go astray. In the margin of the Revised Version, however, another reading and rendering are given, viz. "guideth my way in perfectness," which appears to be substantially in agreement with the Authorized Version, "maketh my way perfect.

1. God leads his people in their way. By his providence, Word, Spirit. In respect to the affairs of this life, and those of the soul and eternity. He guides them into the position he has chosen for them, and to and in the work he appoints for them. "The steps of a good man are ordered by the. (Psa_37:23)

2. His lead is perfect. Such was the conclusion of the psalmist in reference to his own way. He could see that all had been ordered aright for the accomplishment of the Divine purposes respecting him. Such will be the conclusion of all God"s servants at the last; and their faith in God will enable them to cherish this conviction now, notwithstanding all the perplexities in which they may be involved. The way in which they may be led may not be always pleasant; but it is:

(1) The best way. The way of holiness; the way in which they can gain most real good, serve and honour God most, be most useful, attain ultimately the greatest glory and felicity.

(2) The safe way. Sometimes a way which avoids enemies and perils; in other cases, a way through the midst of them, which God makes safe by his protection.

(3) The way that ends in eternal glory and blessedness. It is "the way of life which goeth upward". (Pro_15:24, Revised Version) "The end" is "everlasting life". (Rom_6:22) It may be asked how it comes to pass that those who have God for their Guide nevertheless make such grievous mistakes, and fall into so much trouble.

(1) The troubles which spring from want of worldly wisdom, as well as those which arise from circumstances, are under Divine guidance. It is the will of God that his people should suffer, and his benevolent purpose is often made manifest in the spiritual profit and greater usefulness of the sufferers.

(2) Even good men do not fully seek and follow the guidance of God. They too frequently choose their own way, and thus fall into mischief. But God, in his goodness, does not therefore forsake them. He leads those who are true at heart out of the evils into which they have brought themselves, turns their very sins and follies to account in training them for further service, and brings them safe home at last.

The lessons are:

1. Be thankful for such a Guide.

2. See to it that you ever honestly seek and submit to his guidance. By the study of his Word and providence, and by earnest prayer, inquire what is the way in which he would have you go; and, when you see it, walk in it. G.W.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

He cleared my path to perfection. From any obstacle, from any sin and from any danger until there was peace and [the land was] conquered.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.