2 Samuel 22:8

Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth.

Then the earth {H776} shook {H1607}{H1607} and trembled {H7493}; the foundations {H4146} of heaven {H8064} moved {H7264} and shook {H1607}, because he was wroth {H2734}.

"Then the earth quaked and shook, the foundations of heaven trembled. They were shaken because he was angry.

Then the earth shook and quaked; the foundations of the heavens trembled; they were shaken because He burned with anger.

Then the earth shook and trembled, The foundations of heaven quaked And were shaken, because he was wroth.

Commentary

2 Samuel 22:8 is a powerful poetic declaration from David's song of deliverance, also recorded in Psalm 18:7. This verse vividly describes the Lord's awesome intervention on David's behalf, using cosmic imagery to convey His immense power and righteous indignation against David's enemies.

Context

This verse is part of a grand psalm of thanksgiving and praise offered by King David to the Lord "in the day that the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul" (2 Samuel 22:1). It serves as a personal testimony of God's faithfulness and mighty acts throughout David's tumultuous life. The song is highly poetic, employing rich metaphors and anthropomorphisms to portray God's active involvement in human affairs, particularly in the deliverance of His anointed servant. The imagery of the earth shaking and heaven's foundations moving signifies a divine, cataclysmic response to David's distress call, emphasizing that God's intervention was not subtle but overwhelmingly powerful, transforming the very fabric of creation.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Power and Majesty: The shaking earth and moving foundations of heaven underscore God's absolute sovereignty over creation. He is not merely a distant observer but an active, dynamic force capable of altering the physical world to accomplish His purposes. This portrays Him as the ultimate deliverer, whose power knows no bounds.
  • God's Righteous Wrath: The phrase "because he was wroth" is central to understanding the divine reaction. This is not capricious anger but a holy, righteous indignation against injustice, oppression, and wickedness. God's wrath is always directed towards those who oppose His will and harm His chosen people, demonstrating His commitment to justice and His fierce love for His own. This concept of God's righteous anger is seen elsewhere, such as in Romans 1:18.
  • God's Active Deliverance: The verse highlights that God does not stand idly by when His people are in distress. He actively intervenes, often with dramatic and overwhelming displays of power, to rescue and protect. David's experience serves as a testament to God's readiness to fight for those who trust in Him.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew words used for "shook" (ra'ash) and "trembled" (ga'ash) are often associated with earthquakes and violent convulsions of the earth. The parallelism between "the earth shook and trembled" and "the foundations of heaven moved and shook" intensifies the imagery, suggesting a universal disturbance, not just a localized event. "Foundations of heaven" is a poetic expression, reflecting the ancient understanding of the cosmos as having a stable structure, which even that structure is depicted as being disturbed by God's presence and power. The term "wroth" (Hebrew: charah) signifies a burning anger, often accompanied by strong emotion and decisive action.

Related Scriptures

  • For a direct parallel to this passage, explore Psalm 18:7.
  • The theme of God's power causing the earth to shake is also found in other prophetic books, such as Nahum 1:5, where mountains tremble before Him, and Isaiah 64:1, which calls for God to descend and make the mountains quake.
  • For more on God's righteous anger and judgment, consider Exodus 32:10 or Romans 1:18.

Practical Application

This verse offers profound encouragement for believers today. When faced with overwhelming adversaries or circumstances that seem impossible, we can remember that the same powerful God who shook the earth for David is still active and sovereign. It reminds us that God is not indifferent to our suffering but is capable of grand, decisive interventions on our behalf. Furthermore, it underscores the importance of a holy fear of God, recognizing that His wrath is a righteous response to evil. This should motivate us to seek His will and trust in His unfailing justice and power to deliver us from all our troubles, just as He delivered David.

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Cross-References

  • Psalms 97:4 (6 votes)

    His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.

  • Job 26:11 (6 votes)

    The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof.

  • Psalms 77:18 (5 votes)

    The voice of thy thunder [was] in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.

  • Judges 5:4 (5 votes)

    LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water.

  • Nahum 1:5 (3 votes)

    The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.

  • Psalms 18:7 (3 votes)

    Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.

  • Matthew 28:2 (3 votes)

    And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.