The Savior’s Psalm of Suffering
Psalm 22
WAIT TO READ
In a few minutes we will be observing the Lord’s Supper.
That night almost 2,000 years ago, our Lord took the simple elements of bread and wine and left us with a reminder of what He was about to do for us.
He broke bread – a picture of His physical suffering – and gave to His disciples to eat.
He passed the cup – a picture of the blood that He shed – and gave His disciples to eat.
These simple objects remind us of the price of our redemption.
Christ does not want us to forget or even neglect His sacrifice for our sins.
He told the disciples – “Do this is remembrance of me.”
That is what we are doing today.
I want to speak for a few minutes on what we are remembering.
We can read the historical accounts of the Gospels and see the fact of the Christ’s death on the cross.
We can read in the epistles of Paul and others the importance of Christ’s death on the cross.
We read here in Psalm 22 the internal agony of Christ’s death on the cross.
The psalms are poems – works of art.
They take truth and present it in a beautiful and striking way.
Sometimes art is more moving than fact.
King David wrote this psalm of his own suffering, but through the inspiration of God it is also a prophecy of Christ.
I think it and Isaiah 53 are the prophesies that move my heart the most.
How do we know it is prophecy?
How do we know this is about Christ?
Well, there are numerous reasons and I will give you a few.
First, Christ quotes from vs. 1 while on the cross.
He said in Aramaic – “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”, that is, “My God, My God, why has thou forsaken me?”
Actually, I think I need to rephrase what I said.
I do not think Christ quoted Psalm 22, I think Psalm 22 quoted Christ.
Think about that for a little while.
Second, Matthew 27:35 says that Christ’s clothes were gambled on as prophesied in vs. 17.
Third, note the final phrase of vs. 16 – “they have pierced by hands and my feet”.
How many other forms of execution do that?
Remember, the Jews usually stoned people to death.
This goes counter to their culture.
Fourth, Hebrews 2:12 quotes vs. 22 as speaking about the effect of Christ’s sacrifice.
Those are just a few reasons.
Now, I want us to quickly run through this psalm.
I want us to note the picture painted by its words of our Lord’s sacrifices.
Try to make a mental image of it.
Let it move your heart.
Let it cause us to remember.
I. The Crucified Christ
Psa 22:1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
Psa 22:2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
This is the agony of Christ as our sins were placed upon Him.
Psa 22:3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
Christ left Heaven and humbled Himself to the cross.
God the Father remained exalted on His throne.
That is the distance Christ came to save us.
Psa 22:4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
Psa 22:5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
Psa 22:6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
How many times had God delivered His children from trouble?
But Christ became a pariah to God and man to pay for our salvation.
Psa 22:7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
Psa 22:8 He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
Read the Gospel accounts.
They stood around and mocked Him.
No one encouraged Him in His task.
Psa 22:9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts.
Psa 22:10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother’s belly.
I think these verses are even more poignant when you consider that Christ came and was born of a virgin.
Psa 22:11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
Christ and Christ alone had to do the work.
No one else could aid in the least.
It had to be Him, lifted high on a cross between God and man.
II. The Cruel Crowd
Psa 22:12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
Psa 22:13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
We forget just how fearsome animals could be.
In the ancient world wild bulls and pigs were some of the meanest, deadliest threats to our safety.
Here the agony of the cross is described as vicious beasts tearing at Christ.
Psa 22:14 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.
Psa 22:15 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.
I have that this is an accurate description of the slow and painful death of the cross.
Most people died from not being about to breathe, not from blood loss.
Psa 22:16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
Can you see Christ surrounded by a jeering crowd that mocked Him as He suffered?
Imagine too the spiritual world around that scene as the demons joined in.
Again, note the accurate descrption of crucifixion – “they pierced my hands and my feet.”
Psa 22:17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
Psa 22:18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
Christ, stripped of His clothes, exposed to all.
Adding to the mockery the soldiers gamble for His last shred of dignity.
Psa 22:19 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
Psa 22:20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
Psa 22:21 Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
The KJV says unicorn – I don’t want to waste time on this, but that is probably a rhinoceros.
A prayer for deliverance from the agony, pictured as ravening beasts that maul Him.
III. The Crucifixion’s Consequences
Psa 22:22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
Psa 22:23 Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
Psa 22:24 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.
Psa 22:25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.
The Cross was not a defeat – it was a victory!
Today we honor the Cross for what Christ did for us.
Christ is praised forevermore for that victory.
Psa 22:26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
Psa 22:27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
Psa 22:28 For the kingdom is the LORD’S: and he is the governor among the nations.
Christ died for all men, now all men may find salvation in Him and join in His everlasting praises.
In giving HIs life for mankind, He further establishes Himself as our Sovereign.
Psa 22:29 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.
Psa 22:30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
Psa 22:31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.
The news of the Gospel is the lifeline for mankind.
From generation to generation it remains the Greatest Story Ever Told.
It’s power is just as real today as ever.