Psalm 22

This blog should have been posted yesterday 12 February.  I had part of it written but was so tired did not finish it til this morning.  So now I am a day behind.  I do hope you are blessed reading this Psalm.

This Psalm is a picture of the coming Messiah. Both a prayer by David & quoted by Jesus.  I looked to see if there was any music put to this Psalm and found this one which I think could be sung as a prayer.  In fact, as I was looking for a song of the Psalm, I found this which is a dramatization of the chapter.

This Psalm can be sectioned off into 3 parts, each part containing a desperate plea for help [lament] along with an affirmation of praise [confidence].

Verses 1-2 ~ (complaint/lament-spiritual desertion) In these two verses David cries to God in despair because God does not answer him; the questions dramatically express David's desolation and hopelessness. He cannot understand why God has abandoned him. But even in his suffering he still addresses God as My God, my God, thereby affirming his own faith in and dependence on God, who seems so distant and silent. He feels that God has forsaken him, that he doesn’t pay any attention to his loud groans, to his cries of pain. Why hast thou forsaken me? is often expressed as “why have you left me?” or “why have you gone away from me?”

Bratcher, R. G., & Reyburn, W. D. (1991). A translator’s handbook on the book of Psalms (p. 214). New York: United Bible Societies.

Even their complaint of these burdens is a good sign of spiritual life and spiritual senses exercised. To cry out, “My God, why am I sick? Why am I poor?” would give cause to suspect discontent and worldliness. But, Why has thou forsaken me? is the language of a heart binding up its happiness in God’s favour.  When we are lamenting God’s withdrawings, yet still we must call him our God, and continue to call upon him as ours. When we want the faith of assurance we must live by a faith of adherence. “However it be, yet God is good, and he is mine; though he slay me, yet I trust in him; though he do not answer me immediately, I will continue praying and waiting; though he be silent, I will not be silent.”

Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 770). Peabody: Hendrickson.

Jesus cried these words on the cross [Mt. 27:46].  Why does He not say "My Father, My Father"? Because those 3 hours on the cross, God was judging Jesus for our sins.  He is our sin-bearer.

Verse 3 ~ enthroned-conquered & rules over see Ps. 29:10, 11 
Verses 4-5 ~ This verse, I believe is good reason for testimonies...David’s ancestors, put their trust in the Lord, prayed in their distress and were delivered by Him. So David was encouraged to keep on praying.  Our testimonies bring encouragement to others to "keep on, keeping on".
Verses 6-8 ~ The expressions used here were adapted by those who mocked at Jesus’ cross (Mat. 27:42–43), not realizing that they were fulfilling this prophecy and that He was the suffering Messiah.  David looked to God for help but was instead forsaken by Him. The religious leaders repeat these words as they mock Jesus on the cross (Matt 27:43).   As Jesus hangs on the cross, people pass by wagging their heads in ridicule or mockery.
Verses 9-10 ~ From the time he was an infant he was taught to trust the Lord so his confidence was drawn from that training.  From the womb God has taken care of him.  The KJV says, in verse 9, "didst make me hope" which literally means made me secure.  He says that "God is his God; He shows himself to be his father.
Verse 11-26 ~ These verses are about Christ suffering on the cross & the people involved in arresting and condemning Jesus were only beasts attacking their Creator.  "It is remarkable David should describe crucifixion because it was not a Jewish means of capital punishment, and it’s unlikely that he ever saw it occur. David the prophetic psalmist (Acts 2:30) saw what would happen to Messiah centuries later."

Wiersbe, W. W. (2004). Be worshipful (1st ed., p. 91). Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries.

Now David turns from complaining to thanksgiving & praise.  Matthew Henry, in his commentary said, "The same that began the psalm complaining, who was no other than Christ in his humiliation, ends it here triumphing, and it can be no other than Christ in his exaltation." 
Verse 22 is quoted almost verbatim in Hebrews 2:12 as Jesus’ praise for deliverance.

Ross, A. P. (1985). Psalms. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 811). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Verses 27-31 ~

The scope of the psalmist’s praise extends beyond faithful Israelites as he invites all the earth to remember and turn to Yahweh. He shows that Yahweh is not just God over Israel, but over all the nations. The rule of God’s divine kingship extends beyond Israel.

The verbs remember, turn to, and worship express the actions of repentance and adoration, in which “to remember” means to call Yahweh to mind, to acknowledge him, in acts of confession and praise.

The psalmist then turned his attention to the world at large. He anticipated that the world would turn to and worship (bow down before) the LORD (v. 27) because He is the sovereign King, the One who rules over the nations (v. 28), including the rich and the dying. From generation to generation the people of the earth will be told that the LORD answered his prayer and rescued him, so therefore the Lord can be trusted. Of course applied to Jesus Christ, these words became more significant. When people would hear how God answered His prayer by raising Him from the dead (Heb. 5:7), many would turn to Him in trust and worship.

Ross, A. P. (1985). Psalms. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 811). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Psalm 54 & Psalm 7 are the next two in chronological order.  Praying that God's Word penetrates hearts [including my own] today.