JESUS and the Song (2 Sam.20-22)

Even though David was a man after God's own heart, and even though David would repent of the sins he committed, he was still dealing with consequences from some of those... but he still kept his faith in the LORD... he still looked to the LORD for help!  He still praised the LORD!!!

(2 Samuel 22:1-3)  And David spoke the words of this song to the Lord in the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. 2 He said,

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
3 My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge;
My savior, You save me from violence...

This was obviously one of the songs that had been written, which the people would sing.  Perhaps it was familiar to many?  Therefore, these terms were not foreign to them.

The word "horn" could have one of several meanings:  the instrument (which would be loud and clear as a message);  the top of a hill;  or corners of the altar (which was what criminals could grab hold of when seeking asylum - much like we need to grab hold of Jesus for salvation).  Either one, the message about their Messiah was a clear, strong message.  Therefore, while waiting for their Messiah to come, how did they not recognize Jesus as their Messiah (meaning Christ)... the one who would take them into the kingdom of heaven?

I've already covered the fact that Jesus is considered the "rock"... the foundation on which to build, so I'm going to focus on the description "horn of my salvation".  But first, let me describe the events in the New Testament.  After Mary had been told that she was to give birth to the Messiah, she went to visit her aunt Elizabeth who was also pregnant (another miracle conception because Elizabeth was getting on in years and up until this point she was unable to conceive).

(Luke 1:60)   When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.”

Elizabeth's husband was a Pharisee, so she knew the scriptures quite well.  And like every other Israelite, they were WAITING for their Messiah.  Everyone knew that if you were in king David's line to be king, you could very well give birth to the one who would step up and take the throne... which had been vacant for quite some time now.  Not only that, the Romans had invaded their land, so they hoped for their Messiah to come soon and lead them in a victorious war against Rome.  So now, Elizabeth knew that the Messiah was about to be born.  And when her own child was born, her husband, looked down at his own baby...

(Luke 1:67)  And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:

68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people,
69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David His servant—
70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old—
71 Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us;
72 To show mercy toward our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant,
73 The oath which He swore to Abraham our father,
74 To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear,
75 In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.
76 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways;
77 To give to His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins,
78 Because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,
79 To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Zacharias' prophecy covers so much information.  Firstly about Christ Jesus, the Messiah who would bring about salvation and a spiritual peace (in people's personal lives).  Zacharias also prophecies about his own son, who would become "John the Baptist" - who would let people know - the Messiah has come.  So now, the people should acknowledge and accept Jesus!!!???  But why do some people just not "see"?  Why do they just not "get it"?

(Matthew 13:10-17)  And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. 12 For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,

‘You will keep on hearing, but will not understand; you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive;
15 For the heart of this people has become dull, with their ears they scarcely hear, and they have closed their eyes, otherwise they would see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and return, and I would heal them.’

16 But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17 For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it..."

We cannot be angry at God for people's hardness of heart.  God is fair and just.  Let the following scripture be an encouragement to us who see and believe...

(Romans 1:18-25)  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.