I have just realised that if I continue to blog at this pace through 2 Samuel 22 then I could be here longer that Martyn Lloyd Jones on Romans or Ephesians, so I will endeavour to be quicker!

We have seen the similarities between this chapter and Psalm 18. Now we move on to the next few verses where again the metaphoric and literal are all mixed up. It’s wonderful and powerfully prophetic. It points to nature’s dramatic involvement in the events of the cross. God shows himself to be the God of nature and demonstrates himself through nature.

We have earthquakes in verses 8-9, darkness in verses 12-13, great storms in verses 13-16. These fulfil two functions: on the one hand it shows the wrath of God against the wickedness of his people (I will leave you to read Romans 1:18:32). On the other hand it shows the power and greatness of God. The way you read these verses will depend on your relationship with God as your father. It may also depend on your own personal experiences. In a thunderstorm some hide under their beds whilst others see it as worship and are in awe and wonder. I once had a conversation with a lady in a previous church who said when the weather was wild she would go and stand outside her back door and worship because she could see and feel God. (I will leave that one to your own theology). Are thunder and lightening just weather patterns? The answer appears to be yes and no. Yes it’s weather, and no it’s not just weather.

His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles. Psalm 97:4

The lightening points to the one who sent it. God is revealing himself. All that nature stuff going on around the cross was not just changing weather patterns but rather a demonstration of the power of God. I know much is spoken about today in regards to Mother Nature or Mother Earth, but this fallen earth, on which we live, with all its complexities and wonder is but the stage set for the cross of Christ. We stand with our feet firmly planted in this creation which speaks and testifies about God. The Earth belongs to the Lord (Psalm 24:1).

So, just for a short while, let’s return to the events of the cross.

Firstly, the next few verses describe how God delivers his suffering son. Four expressions describe the suffering. Many waters (vs 17), strong enemy (vs 18), day of calamity (vs 19), and by implication from verse 20 a narrow space or confined space, maybe prison like. What a description of what Jesus was enduring for us. What will God do? Why will he do it?

He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.  2 Samuel 22:20

Secondly, there were three hours of darkness whilst Jesus hung on the cross. There was the physical tearing in two of the veil in the temple, the earth shook, some of the dead rose and there was an earthquake (Matthew 27 and 28). There was the ferocity of Satan towards Christ and the bearing of sin. The physical and emotional strains of the crucifixion.  It was not just a death on a cross, but a cosmic event transcending time and space, again what will God do and why will he do it? He raised up his son because he delighted in him.

God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. Acts 2:24

Jesus remaining dead was not to be, it could not happen, and so God raised Him up. God was the judge, overriding the conviction and punishment of the human trial Jesus endured. He had been wrongly accused (Mark 14:55–59), wrongly convicted (John 19:12–16), and wrongly executed (Matthew 27:54). He was perfectly sinless and therefore it was not possible for him to remain dead. Also he could not remain dead because he had finished the work that he had been sent to do. It was finished, the price had been paid, our salvation was secured.

I love the statement, “God raised Him up.” That almost becomes a title for God in Romans 4 as Paul says “him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord” So thank you Lord, that you raised your son and in doing so secured my salvation, the work is done, I am saved because of the work of the cross. I’m for ever grateful for the cross, that you came to seek and save the lost.