1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
2 O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8 He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.
10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.
11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a 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 in the midst of my bowels.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
19 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
21 Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
23 Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.
25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.
26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
28 For the kingdom is the LORD's: and he is the governor among the nations.
29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.
30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.
Psalm 22, in the King James Version of the Holy Bible, is a profound piece of scripture that is often associated with the suffering and death of Jesus Christ. This psalm, attributed to King David, contains a direct prophecy about the Messiah and provides a vivid description of His crucifixion hundreds of years before it occurred. The psalm is a poignant blend of deep despair and unwavering hope, of intense suffering and ultimate deliverance, and it offers a compelling glimpse into the heart of a man who, despite feeling abandoned by God, continues to trust in His unfailing love and power.
The psalm begins with a heartrending cry of abandonment: "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Psalm 22:1 KJV). This is a cry of intense anguish, a feeling of utter desolation that resonates deeply with anyone who has ever felt abandoned or forsaken. The psalmist is not just questioning why God has allowed him to suffer, but why God seems to be ignoring his cries for help. The psalmist feels like God is far from him, unresponsive to his cries of distress.
The theme of suffering is a dominant one in Psalm 22. The psalmist vividly describes his physical pain and emotional torment. He speaks of being surrounded by enemies who mock and scorn him, of his strength drying up like a potsherd, and his tongue sticking to his jaws. He describes his hands and feet being pierced, a clear prophecy of the crucifixion of Christ. His suffering is not limited to physical pain; he also experiences the pain of rejection, isolation, and humiliation. This suffering is not random or meaningless; it is part of a larger divine plan. The psalmist's suffering is a foreshadowing of the suffering of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, who would be crucified for the sins of the world.
Despite the intense suffering described in the first half of the psalm, the tone shifts dramatically in the second half. Even in the midst of his despair, the psalmist clings to his faith in God. He recalls how God has delivered those who trusted in Him in the past. He expresses his hope that God will deliver him as well. This hope is not a vague or wishful thinking; it is a confident expectation based on God's character and past faithfulness. The psalmist's trust in God is not shaken by his circumstances; instead, his suffering drives him to rely more fully on God.
The theme of God's sovereignty and deliverance is also prominent in Psalm 22. Despite his feelings of abandonment, the psalmist acknowledges that God is enthroned as the Holy One and that He rules over the nations. He expresses his belief that God will deliver him from his enemies and vindicate him. He envisions a future where 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. This is a powerful declaration of God's universal rule and the ultimate triumph of His justice and righteousness.
Psalm 22 is often referred to as a "Messianic Psalm" because it contains specific prophecies about the suffering and death of Jesus Christ. The psalmist's words, "they pierced my hands and my feet" (Psalm 22:16 KJV), are a clear prophecy of the crucifixion, a form of execution that was not even in existence at the time the psalm was written. The psalmist's description of his garments being divided and lots being cast for his clothing is a direct prophecy of what happened at the foot of the cross (Psalm 22:18 KJV). The opening words of the psalm, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?", are the very words that Jesus cried out from the cross (Matthew 27:46 KJV).
The prophetic significance of Psalm 22 extends beyond the details of Christ's crucifixion. It also foreshadows the resurrection and the ultimate victory of Christ. The psalmist speaks of a future where the poor will eat and be satisfied, where those who seek the Lord will praise Him, where all the ends of the earth will turn to God and all nations will bow down before Him. These are all pictures of the Kingdom of God that Christ came to establish.
Psalm 22 has a deeply personal significance for every believer. It speaks to our own experiences of suffering, abandonment, and despair. It reassures us that even when God seems far away, He is still in control. It encourages us to trust in God's unfailing love and faithfulness, even in the midst of our darkest moments. It reminds us that our suffering is not meaningless, but is part of a larger divine plan.
The psalm also has a universal significance. It speaks to the human condition, to the universal experience of suffering and the universal longing for deliverance. It offers a vision of hope, of a future where God will reign over all the nations and where every knee will bow before Him. It offers a promise of redemption, of a time when God will wipe away every tear and right every wrong.
In conclusion, Psalm 22 is a profound piece of scripture that speaks to the depths of human suffering and the heights of divine love and power. It is a psalm that resonates deeply with our own experiences of pain and despair, and yet offers a vision of hope and deliverance. It is a psalm that reminds us of the suffering of Christ, His ultimate victory over death, and His promise of eternal life for all who trust in Him. It is a psalm that, despite its ancient origins, speaks powerfully to our modern world, offering a message of hope and redemption that is as relevant today as it was when it was first written.
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