We may know Psalm 22 as that prophetic Psalm that relates Jesus’ experience on the cross. He cried out the first verse while He hung on the cross: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” It tells that He was despised and rejected by men, how those who passed by shook their heads and said, “He trusted in the LORD, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!” It tells that all His bones were out of joint, His heart melted like wax (when blood and water flowed), His tongue clung to His jaws, His hands and feet were pierced, His executors divided His garments among themselves and cast lots for His tunic. But, the story would be retold to generations afterward in the context of God’s faithfulness.
I want to quickly cover two facets of this Psalm, the first being what Jesus cried out on the cross, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” It seems we usually read this and somehow just focus on the idea that Jesus knew He was quoting this prophecy, and not consider that Jesus cried these words out from the depth of His soul, and that was the fulfillment of prophecy. This was Jesus, who had always been assured that His Father was with Him, the same Jesus who had the Spirit of God descend on Him like a dove, while hearing, “This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased!” This was the One who said, “I and the Father are One.” Think about it!
A question often asked by the deep sufferer is this: Lord Jesus, when You were on this earth, did You ever wonder what Your Father was doing? Did You ever wonder why? Were You ever left there in the dark without an answer, only sharp criticism and ridicule?
Yes, He did. On the cross He cried out so that the crowds could hear Him, “My God! My God! Why have You forsaken Me?” We all know this is a verse in Psalm 22, a prophetic passage about the Messiah, and sort of assume Jesus was simply quoting it as He hung there. But it was a cry of despair from the depths of His heart; He asked why; He wondered. And they mocked Him.
He bore the sins of the world! We ask if He ever felt guilty and wondered what He did wrong. He bore the sins of you and I! He suffered God’s wrath on our behalf! He was counted guilty for us, and His Father had to look away! And the people mocked Him! How our Savior suffered for us! Yes, He truly suffered with us in many ways. Think of the wonder! He was equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, and became obedient to the point of death… even such a death as this! He cried out in the Garden of Gethsemane three times: “If it’s possible, Father, deliver Me! BUT… Your will be done, not Mine.” He suffered. He died. But now He’s alive! He has made us right with God, and now lives to make intercession for us!
I also think of this passage from the perspective of the human writer. Yes, this is a prophetic passage inspired verbatim by the Holy Spirit, covering in shocking detail what happened to Jesus when He was crucified, but think of it… it was written by David for a reason. He most likely wasn’t just spontaneously writing stuff that he’d never thought of before. He penned these words in the midst of his own suffering! I mean, take a look at the way this chapter reads:
David says,
“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Why are you so far away when I groan for help?
2 Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer.
Every night you hear my voice, but I find no relief.3 Yet you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4 Our ancestors trusted in you,
and you rescued them.
5 They cried out to you and were saved.
They trusted in you and were never disgraced.6 But I am a worm and not a man.
I am scorned and despised by all!
7 Everyone who sees me mocks me.
They sneer and shake their heads, saying,
8 “Is this the one who relies on the Lord?
Then let the Lord save him!
If the Lord loves him so much,
let the Lord rescue him!”9 Yet you brought me safely from my mother’s womb
and led me to trust you at my mother’s breast.
10 I was thrust into your arms at my birth.
You have been my God from the moment I was born.11 Do not stay so far from me,
for trouble is near,
and no one else can help me.
I mean, take a look at the pattern here: David cries out, “Lord, why have You left me alone, why don’t You hear me?” But in the same breath he says, “Yet You are Holy.” David is very up-front about his suffering, but still praises God for His holiness! David recounts how God delivered people in the past, then continues to pour out his heart about his own suffering. Then he says that He knows that God has always been good in his own life, and pleads again for help. He continues to cry out to the Lord, and then says this:
22 I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters.
I will praise you among your assembled people.
23 Praise the Lord, all you who fear him!
Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob!
Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy.
He has not turned his back on them,
but has listened to their cries for help….30 Our children will also serve him.
Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord.
31 His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born.
They will hear about everything he has done.
Check it out! David, in the midst of his sufferings, even though he is not yet delivered, praises the Lord! He may not have been doing it with nearly as much energy as he did in Psalm 150, but maybe that makes it more beautiful. Real faith is praising the Lord and declaring His goodness even when we are in deep darkness, wrenched by suffering! Yes, we cry out and detail our suffering to the Lord. Yes, we ask to be delivered. Yes, we ask why He has left us all alone. But we still declare His goodness and His faithfulness, and know that someday, all suffering will be over, and we will finally understand.
Closing thought: here is a reason to give thanks to God in the midst of our suffering when we don’t understand; it’s a confirmation we’re on the narrow road.
I read a fantastic article on suffering today, and would like to pass it on. Check it out:
If God, Why Evil? at In Defense of the Christian Faith.
