Read Psalm 22
For the director of music. To the tune of “The Doe of the Morning.” A psalm of David.
1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish?
2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, but I find no rest.
3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
you are the one Israel praises.
4 In you our ancestors put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.
5 To you they cried out and were saved;
in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
6 But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by everyone, despised by the people.
7 All who see me mock me;
they hurl insults, shaking their heads.
8 “He trusts in the Lord,” they say,
“let the Lord rescue him.
Let him deliver him,
since he delights in him.”
9 Yet you brought me out of the womb;
you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast.
10 From birth I was cast on you;
from my mother’s womb you have been my God.
11 Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.
12 Many bulls surround me;
strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
13 Roaring lions that tear their prey
open their mouths wide against me.
14 I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax;
it has melted within me.
15 My mouth is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
you lay me in the dust of death.
16 Dogs surround me,
a pack of villains encircles me;
they pierce my hands and my feet.
17 All my bones are on display;
people stare and gloat over me.
18 They divide my clothes among them
and cast lots for my garment.
19 But you, Lord, do not be far from me.
You are my strength; come quickly to help me.
20 Deliver me from the sword,
my precious life from the power of the dogs.
21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;
save me from the horns of the wild oxen.
22 I will declare your name to my people;
in the assembly I will praise you.
23 You who fear the Lord, praise him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not despised or scorned
the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
but has listened to his cry for help.
25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;
before those who fear you I will fulfill my vows.
26 The poor will eat and be satisfied;
those who seek the Lord will praise him—
may your hearts live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth
will remember and turn to the Lord,
and all the families of the nations
will bow down before him,
28 for dominion belongs to the Lord
and he rules over the nations.
29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—
those who cannot keep themselves alive.
30 Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord.
31 They will proclaim his righteousness,
declaring to a people yet unborn:
He has done it!
Go Deeper
Throughout Scripture, we see examples of God working outside the boundary of explanation: Daniel in the lion’s den, Hannah’s prayer for a child, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace- stories of the impossible.
Psalm 22 is quite possibly one of the best examples we have of God’s miracle-working power. Charles Spurgeon called this chapter “the Psalm of the Cross”, describing both the darkness and the glory of Jesus’ death and resurrection. He also said it should be read with reverence: “Putting off our shoes from our feet, as Moses did at the burning bush, for if there be holy ground anywhere in Scripture it is in this psalm.” This should cause us to pause and read this chapter again more closely. David continues to exemplify faith in action as he has in previous chapters, showing us his grief, honesty, and transparency–followed quickly by his praise. But, here he also gives us direct and clear signals that point to the One who would be the ultimate “But, God” story.
Upon closer examination, we can see that verses 1-21 describe the agony that Jesus would experience. Jesus even quotes this Psalm while hanging on the cross (Matthew 27:46). Verse 15 references Jesus’ thirst on the cross (John 19:28), and verse 18 foreshadows those who cast lots for His clothing (Matthew 27:35). Did David know of what he was prophesying or was he simply faithful to speak the words that God placed on his heart? Either way, he knew his God and he trusted His word, even when he was scorned and mocked for doing so (verses 7-8).
Do we, like David, trust God when our situation feels impossible? Are we honest and transparent with our feelings, recognizing that even David and Jesus felt forsaken by God? Things seemed impossible for them, and they were honest with God about their heartbreak. Yet, they trusted and worshipped. They knew that God sat on His throne as the Holy One, and He was not far from them. They knew that their situation was humanly impossible.
But, God.
Questions
- What is your favorite story of God miraculously intervening in Scripture?
- What situation seems impossible to you today?
- Have you been honest with God about how you are feeling? Don’t worry–He can handle it and wants an honest and transparent relationship with you!
Did you know?
Some versions of Psalm 22 translate the last verse as “It is Finished.” This draws another comparison to this chapter as the Psalm of the Cross, as it begins and ends with words spoken by Jesus on the cross.
3 responses to “Psalm 22”
31 declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!
So fascinating to see all the foreshadowing to the cruxifixction in this “Messianic Psalm” about 1,000 years before Jesus’ life on Earth!
Agree! Praise God!!
BUT GOD demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
God loved Jesus. He still loves Jesus. Yet, He allowed for Jesus to drink the full cup of His wrath and judgment – a suffering so horrifyingly comprehensive that none of us can understand the weight of it.
Most likely, we will have suffering in this life whether we follow Jesus or not. The other fact is that we can rest in the fact that God is always waiting, watching and moving because He fully loves us. He is faithful to deliver us and show us the way if we but ask. .
The penalty for sin has been paid in full. Your sin, my sin, the sins of all, from from from Adam and Eve all the way to the end of earthly existence. The sins of man have been laid upon the Son of God and he bore our sins in his own body on the cross. And the full wrath of God was poured out upon him. The Father turns his face away and he experiences for the first time separation from God.
And at the end, as he’s about to give up the ghost, what does he say? Into your hands I commit my spirit. I have to trust in you. Jesus said, no one takes my life from me, I lay it down on my own accord. But he didn’t take up his own life. He waited for the Father to take up his life, to bring him back to life. HE IS RISEN!
Thank You God for Your son. Thank You that He was willing to go to the cross for me. I am so thankful for eternal life and that no one, no where, no matter what they say or think will change that for me. I definitely do not deserve it. BUT GOD! Thank You for me meditating on Your word day and night. This is where the facts are, not what man thinks but what Your word states. I am so thankful for Jesus being raised from the dead so that I could receive Holy Spirit. God I am living in this world waiting, living and learning to live with You evermore. In the minutes of this time of waiting thank You for being able to speak truth and love to those around. Let Your light so shine through me to glorify You in all I say and do. God I am so thankful, grateful and blessed. I am so thankful for what Jesus Christ accomplished for me so that I can be with You for evermore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BUT GOD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!