My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. 3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. 4 In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. 5 To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. 7 All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; 8 “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” 9 Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother's breasts. 10 On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother's womb you have been my God. 11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. 12 Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; 13 they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. 14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; 15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. 16 For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet— 17 I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me; 18 they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. 19 But you, O Lord, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid! 20 Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog! 21 Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen! 22 I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: 23 You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! 24 For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him. 25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him. 26 The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord! May your hearts live forever! 27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. 28 For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations. 29 All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive. 30 Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; 31 they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it. Meditation God’s Word is remarkably beautiful and seeing the structure of Psalm 22 will deepen your gratefulness for both the work of Jesus and the word of God. Psalm 22 is rightfully noted as the Psalm proclaimed by Jesus while He was suffering on the cross when he screamed, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” (22:1; Matthew 27:46) The structure of Psalm 22 is a “V” following the trajectory of Christ’s work and it will resurrect hearts for praise. The “V” structure descends rapidly from the suffering of verse one to crying in the night, (2) noting the absence of God in the present, (4-8) feeling abandoned in times of trouble, (9-11) and the presence of wild beasts contrasted with the question of the presence of God. (12-19) The depth of despair, the bottom of the “V” structure, is the silence of God to the questions of 20-21. Will the Lord save? Will the Lord deliver? Has God abandoned us in our moment of greatest need? God is working redemption through suffering. The “V” structure ascends rapidly from the depth of verses 20-21 to the crying of praise from God’s people and congregation, (22-25) praise from the afflicted, suffering, and poor, (25-26) praise covering all the earth, (27-29) and praise from all generations (even those unborn! 30-31). The victory of God is birthed from the depth of suffering and struggle, through death comes light. The response of God’s Victory is praise and resurrected hope. Will we believe? Richly Dwelling -Do you see the “V”? Suffering and struggle descending to death will rise in hope, resurrection, and praise! Do you have resurrection hope in the Lord? -Jesus uses the lyrics of this Psalm for His suffering. How can you use the lyrics of this Psalm (and others) for your life? They will empower hope. -Meditate on the cross. Meditate on the empty tomb. God brings life from death, He births praise from the pain of suffering. Meditate on this reality allowing the truth to move from your head to heart. Your sovereign God loves you and He is working all things for your good and His glory. Key Verse 27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. Comments are closed.
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AuthorPastor Mitchell celebrates twenty-four years of marriage with Lisa and together they have four adventurous children. Mitchell is a pastor at First Presbyterian Church in San Antonio, TX. |