2 Samuel 22:17–25

“He sent from above, He took me,
He drew me out of many waters.
He delivered me from my strong enemy,
From those who hated me;
For they were too strong for me.
They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
But the LORD was my support.
He also brought me out into a broad place;
He delivered me because He delighted in me.

“The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness;
According to the cleanness of my hands
He has recompensed me.
For I have kept the ways of the LORD,
And have not wickedly departed from my God.
For all His judgments were before me;
And as for His statutes, I did not depart from them.
I was also blameless before Him,
And I kept myself from my iniquity.
Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness,
According to my cleanness in His eyes.”

The phrase “many waters” (מַּ֥יִם רַבִּֽים, my-eem ra-beem) is a literal translation, but here “many” really means “much.” The NIV translates it as “deep waters.” In modern lingo, David was in over his head. Despite this passage’s ancient origins, it feels like it’s describing a helicopter rescue.

David was out of options when the LORD delivered him from his strong enemy. Defeat was sure For they were too strong for me.

But David wasn’t just rescued; He was brought into a broad place. The Hebrew word translated as broad place (מֶּרְחָ֖ב, mer-khav) is a colloquialism for a place free of trouble.

David didn’t just survive; he found peace.

The second paragraph sounds like David is without sin. We know that’s not how he feels. So, what is it?

It’s the righteousness of faith. David is far from perfect, but he has faith—the faith he described at the beginning of this song.

And that faith isn’t perfect either. David simply believes and is trying to serve the LORD as Israel’s king.

That’s the lesson. Normal faith is saving faith—faith that’s credited as righteousness.