2 Samuel 22:44

The strivings of my people. Ps. 18:43 has, “strivings of the people,” as does also the LXX of 2 Sam. 22:44. Since David is leading up to a climax of complete victory over his foreign foes (2 Sam. 22:44-46), some have thought it hardly likely that he would here be dealing with domestic difficulties. The wars of his people in which he was here engaged were wars that they were carrying on against other nations.

Head of the heathen. In his victory over the heathen, David had become their master and was receiving tribute from them. It was not the plan of God that the world should continue to be divided into many states constantly engaged in war against one another, but that they should ultimately be united into one nation under one king, with Jerusalem as the capital. But the Israelites refused to cooperate in God’s plan to make them the leaders and light bearers to the Gentiles. They were rebellious and proud, and in many respects no better than their heathen neighbors. Finally God rejected them and took away their privilege.

Yet under the Messiah to come as the Seed of David and through the true Israel of God — the spiritual seed of Abraham — that plan will receive a degree of fulfillment, yet different in many respects from the original design (see Rom. 9:6-8; PK 713, 714).

Which I knew not. See Isa. 55:5.