Psalm 22:1-8, Why have You forsaken Me?

Job struggled with the thought that his sufferings were God’s doings.  Jeremiah in the “Lamentations,” particularly in the first 10 verses of Ch. 2, points to the fact that the burning and destruction of Jerusalem was God’s doing.  Even in Ps. 22, a Psalm that vividly describes the cross of Jesus Christ, we hear Jesus on the cross, crying out to God: “why have You forsaken Me?  Why are you so far from helping Me?” 

Before I get to the meat of this post, let me affirm that all three (Job, Jeremiah and Jesus), along with many others in Scripture, concluded that God was righteous, that God was in the right.  In Psalm 22, after the agony of v1-2, the same Person confesses, “But You are holy” (v3).  Yes, it was God’s work.  And yes, God was totally in the right.

Having begun with those thoughts, I would like to think through the question asked in 22:1: “Why are You so far from helping Me?”  Among mortals, why might we think that God is far from saving us?

·       James 4:2: Perhaps we have forgotten to pray.  James says, “you have not because you ask not.”

·       Matt. 6:8: Perhaps the answer is on the way but has not arrived.  Jesus assured us that the Father knows what we need before we even ask.

·       Daniel 10:13: Perhaps the answer is delayed by Satan.  One of his angels delayed the angel bringing an answer to Daniel for 3 weeks.

·       Hebrew 12:5: Perhaps there is yet a lesson to be learned.  Hebrews speaks of God’s chastening, that we ought not fall under the weight of discipline lest we come up short in God’s training session.

·       2 Cor. 12:9; James 4:6: Perhaps the answer is “more grace.”  Paul assured us that God’s grace would be sufficient in our time of weakness.  But James, quoting the Proverbs, reminds us that God gives grace to the humble.  We may come up short of grace because we have not humbled ourselves.

·       1 Peter 1:7: Perhaps a longer time of difficulty will grant us more opportunity to glorify Christ by our faithful obedience.  How will we ever praise God as our “refuge” if we are not in need of his protection?

·       Joshua 7:10: Perhaps the answer is already there and we have not recognized it.  Joshua was on his knees, pouring out his complaint to God, when he needed to get up and deal with the sin in the camp.

·       2 Cor. 1:4: Perhaps there is greater comfort to experience and share.  As God comforts us, we are able to comfort others.  God may understand that our ministry will be greater by going through additional trials.

·       Exodus 5:19-6:1: Perhaps there is greater victory to achieve.  God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so Israel suffered more, so God could do greater things.  Would the great Apostle Paul have been saved if Stephen had not died?

·       Phil. 3:10: Perhaps there is more to learn of Christ.  If I am not yet conformed to His death then I should rejoice in extended trials.

·       2 Cor. 5:2: Perhaps we are clinging too tightly to this world.  Increased trouble on earth should only increase our desire to be with Christ.

These things are for our mutual meditation and edification.  But let me say one thing about this list and Psalm 22: NONE OF THESE THINGS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE REASON THAT THE FATHER HAD FORSAKEN THE SON!  The deep, mystical union of the Father and Son was broken by the transgression laid upon the Son, the sins of the world.  While it is true that Jesus was tempted in all points like we are, it is also true that His suffering went far beyond anything we will ever experience.  The holy and righteous One became sin for us!