2 Samuel 22:31 - David's Psalm Of Thanksgiving.

Perfection of God's way and Word.

These words may be regarded as a brief summary of the lessons which David had learned from his varied experiences and meditations. They are the perfection of God's way, the unmixed truth of his Word, and the safety of all who flee to him for protection.

I. THE PERFECTION OF GOD 'S WAY . "His way is perfect." This is true of all his proceedings, in every department of his operations. His ways in nature are to a large extent inscrutable; but we are sure they are infinitely wise and good. His method of redeeming and saving sinners is perfect. But here the reference is rather to the course of his providence—the way in which he leads, governs, protects, and delivers his servants.

1 . The meaning of the assertion. That God's way is perfectly wise and good and holy, perfectly adapted to fulfil the purposes of his love towards his children, and leads to an end that is perfectly good. That, in comparison with the way we might have preferred, it is infinitely superior.

2 . The grounds of the assertion. It expresses a conviction which springs from:

3 . The influence which this truth should have upon us.

II. THE PURITY OF GOD 'S WORD . It is "tried;" literally, "smelted," and so purified and refined, as metals by fire (comp. Psalms 12:6 , "The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times"). The meaning is that God's Word is thoroughly genuine, true, sincere, free from every particle of opposite qualities. The statement applies to every word of God—his declarations, revelations, precepts, promises, and threatenings. It is most probably made here as to his promises. These are all thoroughly true and reliable, free from error, free from deceit. For God:

1 . Let us trust the Word of God with a confidence suited to its entire trustworthiness.

2 . Let us be glad and thankful that, amidst so much that is unreliable, we have here a firm foundation on which to rest our life and hopes.

3 . Let our Word correspond with that of God in its freedom from all insincerity and untruthfulness, if it cannot be free from the uncertainty which springs from ignorance, inability, or mutability.

III. THE PROTECTION WHICH GOD AFFORDS TO HIS PEOPLE .

1 . The protection itself. "He is a Buckler [Shield] to all them that trust in him." Not only he secures protection, he is himself the Shield that protects. As a hen protects her chickens under her own wings ( Psalms 91:4 ), so the Lord covers and defends his people with his own Being and perfections. Their enemies have to conquer him before they can injure them. They are under the guardianship of his knowledge, power, goodness, faithfulness; and these must fail before they can perish.

2 . The persons who enjoy such protection. "All them that trust in him"—all, as the word is, who flee to him for refuge.