Psalm 22

 

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 no 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, enthroned 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 by 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 pit 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!