What a truly amazing Psalm. It is full of fulfilled prophecy, which is
always exciting. But it is one of the
most descriptive passages of the atoning sacrifice of our Lord Jesus
Christ. That, more than anything else,
thrills the heart of the believer.
Consider some opening thoughts.
·
This is the first of three consecutive Psalms
that highlight the past, present and future ministry of the Messiah.
o Ps.
22: Psalm of the Cross / The Suffering Savior
o Ps.
23: Psalm of the Crook / The Good Shepherd (it’s the Shepherd’s crook, His staff)
o Ps.
24: Psalm of the Crown / The Coming King
·
There is no known incident in David’s life that
matches this Psalm. It is quite possible
it was written by David completely under the influence of the Holy Spirit,
purely for Messianic purposes. It
describes things about the Messiah that were not known in David’s time,
especially the practice of crucifixion which was a Roman form of execution.
·
No Psalm is so frequently quoted in the New
Testament.
·
Here is an outline:
1) v1-21:
the Prayer
(1) v1-2: problem
with God
(2) v3-5: yet God is
not at fault
(3) v6-8: problem
with others
(4) v9-11: yet God
put me here
(5) v12-18: problem
with me
(6) v19-21: but God
can rescue
2) v22-31:
the Praise
a) v22-24:
personal
b) v25-31:
praise from others
The opening line is perhaps quite recognizable
as they are the words Jesus spoke from the cross. But dwell here before moving on. It sets the stage for the entire Psalm. But more than that, it tells us wonderful
things of our God and Savior Jesus Christ as well as His Father!
God is the God of the Son of God, the One who took on flesh and dwelt among us. He says “My” God. Remember that without giving up His deity our
Lord humbled Himself under the mighty hand of God. He came to do the Father’s will. And His humble obedience brought Him to the
cross. To say, “not my will but thine be
done” was to acquiesce to the Father’s plan.
The Father who was not willing that any should perish, who said He took
to pleasure in the death of the wicked, nevertheless for the love of the world
sent His One and Only Son, whom He loved, to die in our place.
His God forsook Him. The Father turned His back on the Son. Such is the affliction of our Lord who bore
our sins on the tree. The holy and
righteous One became sin for us. Thus
the eternal, never at any other time broken fellowship of the Father and Son,
was broken in the hours of darkness, from noon to three on the day of
preparation when all the lambs were being cleansed and then slaughtered at the
altar of sacrifice on the north side of the door to the temple. There was no help for the Son of God. He hung alone in the universe, groaning,
crying out to His God who did not hear.
What pain in our stead! What a terrible
price we owed! What a grievous enemy is
sin! What a true and faithful Savior is
Jesus!
And did our Lord become bitter that He was
forsaken? Did He cry out in self-pity at
His undeserved ill treatment? No He did
not! He yet acknowledged and confessed
the holiness of His God, enthrones in the praises of Israel. He did not deny the faithful God who was
trusted by the fathers who were never ashamed, never disappointed when they
trusted.
Why must He suffer so? Why must the righteous ever suffer?
·
Sometimes we forget to pray (Jas. 4:2).
·
The answer may be on the way (Mt. 6:8).
·
Maybe Satan has delayed the answer (Dan. 10:13).
·
Perhaps there is yet a lesson to be learned
(Heb. 12:5).
·
Perhaps the answer is “more grace” (2 Cor. 12:9;
Jas. 4:6).
·
Perhaps there is more glory for God by our
endurance (1 Pt. 1:7).
·
Perhaps the answer is already there for us
(Josh. 7:10).
·
Maybe we will learn greater comfort to share
with others (2 Cor. 1:4).
·
The delay may achieve greater victory (Ex.
5:19-6:1). God hardens Pharaoh’s heart;
Israel suffers more; and God does greater things. If Stephen does not die, perhaps Paul is not
saved.
·
Perhaps we have not yet learned Christ (Phil.
3:10).
·
Perhaps we cling too tightly to this world (2
Cor. 5:2).
There is no end of potential reasons that we
might like to know. In the end all we
can say is that it is the Father’s will.
And the Father is holy and faithful.
We will never be ashamed if we endure patiently and joyfully! In the end our pain fills up the suffering of
Christ. But it can never match the
forsaking of His God!
·
22:5-8: On the cross He was a worm and no man,
despised and reproached mercilessly by those who passed by and those who hung
on either side.
·
22: 9-11: From birth He had known and
anticipated this agony. It was “His
Father’s business”, the “things of God” for Him.
·
22:12-13: The powers that existed rejoiced in
His demise, especially the Roaring Lion himself as he struck the heel of the
Son of God.
·
22:14-15: His soul overwhelmed Him. The despair was unimaginable as He came into
the powerful, true experience of death.
In crucifixion His bones were stretched out of their joints; strength
vanished.
·
22:16-18:
The dogs, legalists, the constant antagonists in His ministry, were
gathered against Him. The somewhat
ignorant soldiers treated Him with utmost disdain, gambling for His garments.
·
22:19-21a:
Yet He prayed. Still He placed
His soul in the hands of His God. “Into
Thy hands I commit My spirit.”
And then He could say, YOU HAVE ANSWERED
ME! Finally, eventually, ultimately the
Silent One thundered from an empty tomb!
The full identity with death became the crushing defeat of death. There would be something to talk about
(v22). There would be reason to praise
(v23). Though silent, though forsaking,
His God would show His face (v24).
Gospel praise would emanate from the Risen Lord so that every tribe,
nation, language and people would join in praise and service for generations to
come. It will be preached that HE, the
Son and His God has done this!
Meditate on the magnificent love of God! Recognize your pit of despair, the ilk from
which you have come! Do not deny your
hopeless situation. Know that full
atonement has been made. You will never
be ashamed as you trust in, believe on, the Lord Jesus Christ!
Hallelujah!
