Psalm
22 reminds me of seeing some old screen tests in Hollywood, where an
actor was saying lines that were later made famous by someone else.
This psalm of David seems to have two sections; the anguish of
separation from God, followed by the praise of deliverance. The
feeling of being alone can be painful and the knowledge of being
separated from God can be terrifying. The psalm begins, “My
God, my God, why have You forsaken me?“.
Everyone that has read of the crucifixion of Christ recognizes that
verse from Matthew 27:46. Jesus quoted this psalm 600 years after it
was written, at the most critical moment in History. Clearly there
is a link between the two. Sin separates us from God. Over time,
unrepentant sin dulls our awareness of how far we are from His
righteousness. Many people have experienced David’s frustration,
“Why
are You so far from saving me… O my God, I cry out… but You do
not answer“.
The question becomes what to do after you recognize there is a void.
Some ignore it and continue on. Some become angry with God. Some
try “living right” in order to earn God’s favor. David begins
by praising God and recalling His faithfulness. “You
are the praise of Israel… they trusted and You delivered them…
They cried to You and were saved; in You they trusted and were not
disappointed“.
Something interesting happens as we praise God. We begin to see Him
above His creation. Maybe your God is too small?
Suddenly,
in comparison, David is made small before God. “But
I am a worm and not a man… All who see me mock me“.
When we first decide to accept forgiveness by faith in Christ our
old friends are often skeptical, “He
trusts in the Lord; let the Lord rescue him“.
He describes the certainty of knowing he was chosen by God, “You
made me trust in You… from my mother’s womb you have been my God“.
And he accepts his role in representing humility to everyone around
him, “I
am poured out like water“.
James 4:10 explains this unique relationship, “Humble
yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up“.
You are God’s, or you are your own. If you struggle to climb out
of the muck on your own, maybe it is time to reach out to God’s
outstretched hand?
The
psalm ends with a series of images associated with the cross of
Christ. “They
have pierced My
hands and My
feet…
They
divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.”
David
was also looking for Messiah to come. In the psalm David provides a
template. First David calls out to God,
“O
Lord, be not far off…
Deliver
my life … Rescue me”.
Then
he tells others, “I
will declare
Your
Name
to my brothers; in the congregation…
all
who go down to the dust
will
kneel before Him”.
According
to Philippians 2:10,
“That
at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and
of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that
every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord”.
David
Concludes,
“All
the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the
families of the nations will bow down before him… for
He
has done it”.
John
19:29 records the final words of Christ on the cross,
“It
is finished”.
Now it’s your turn. Will you say “Yes Lord?”