David's song of praise in 2 Samuel 22 is, on the surface, a victory celebration after God had delivered him from his enemies. Verse 29 says, "For You are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord shall enlighten my darkness." According to the rabbinic commentary in ArtScroll's Rubin Edition of the Prophets, I-II Samuel, the verse also touches on another source of David's joy – God's Word. The sages write, "When someone realizes that the Torah is God's lamp to illuminate the world, and dedicates himself to study, God responds by giving him the understanding that removes his intellectual darkness." In Jewish tradition, Torah study is regarded as worship. And it appears that David embraced this concept with all his heart and soul.
Posted by Jeff King at August 1, 2003 02:14 PM