Psalm 22

Psalm 22 is a prophetic psalm attributed to David, expressing profound suffering and ultimately pointing to hope. It vividly describes feelings of abandonment and intense anguish, paralleling the experiences of Jesus on the cross. The psalm moves from despair to faith and victory, showing how God's deliverance can turn sorrow into praise. It is a powerful depiction of both personal suffering and messianic prophecy, fulfilled in Christ.

Psalm 22:1-10 (NKJV)
1 My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning?
2 O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; And in the night season, and am not silent.
3 But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel.
4 Our fathers trusted in You; They trusted, and You delivered them.
5 They cried to You, and were delivered; They trusted in You, and were not ashamed.
6 But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the people.
7 All those who see Me ridicule Me; They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8 “He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!”
9 But You are He who took Me out of the womb; You made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts.
10 I was cast upon You from birth. From My mother’s womb You have been My God.

These verses capture the heart-wrenching cry of abandonment, which Jesus quoted on the cross (Matthew 27:46). David expresses profound anguish, feeling forsaken by God in his time of need. Yet, even in this despair, he acknowledges God's holiness and recalls how God delivered Israel's ancestors. The ridicule from onlookers and the mockery directed toward trusting in God reflect Jesus’ experience during His crucifixion. David also acknowledges God's involvement from birth, showing trust despite the overwhelming suffering.

Psalm 22:11-21 (NKJV)
11 Be not far from Me, For trouble is near; For there is none to help.
12 Many bulls have surrounded Me; Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me.
13 They gape at Me with their mouths, Like a raging and roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water, And all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It has melted within Me.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death.
16 For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet;
17 I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me.
18 They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.
19 But You, O Lord, do not be far from Me; O My Strength, hasten to help Me!
20 Deliver Me from the sword, My precious life from the power of the dog.
21 Save Me from the lion’s mouth And from the horns of the wild oxen! You have answered Me.

David uses vivid metaphors of bulls, lions, and dogs to describe his enemies and the overwhelming distress he faces. The imagery of his bones being out of joint and his heart melting parallels the intense physical suffering of crucifixion. The prophetic description of pierced hands and feet, as well as the division of garments, directly points to the events of Jesus' crucifixion. In his cry for deliverance, David pleads for God's nearness and help, showing how faith persists even in dire circumstances.

Psalm 22:22-31 (NKJV)
22 I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.
23 You who fear the Lord, praise Him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, And fear Him, all you offspring of Israel!
24 For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from Him; But when He cried to Him, He heard.
25 My praise shall be of You in the great assembly; I will pay My vows before those who fear Him.
26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied; Those who seek Him will praise the Lord. Let your heart live forever!
27 All the ends of the world Shall remember and turn to the Lord, And all the families of the nations Shall worship before You.
28 For the kingdom is the Lord’s, And He rules over the nations.
29 All the prosperous of the earth Shall eat and worship; All those who go down to the dust Shall bow before Him, Even he who cannot keep himself alive.
30 A posterity shall serve Him. It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation,
31 They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, That He has done this.

The tone shifts from despair to victory as David anticipates declaring God's name and praising Him among the people. He affirms that God does not ignore the afflicted but hears their cries. The psalm broadens in scope, envisioning a time when all nations will turn to the Lord in worship. David sees God's kingdom extending over all people, and future generations continuing to proclaim His righteousness. The final statement, "He has done this," echoes the completion of God's deliverance, resonating with Jesus' words on the cross, "It is finished" (John 19:30).