←Psalm 22→BSB

In This Chapter 3 people 1 place 57 terms 2 themes 7 resources

People

Israel 4 Jacob (Patriarch) 2 Jeshurun (Israel)

Places

    Key Terms

    Trust 9 Awe (State) 5 Salvation 3 Serve 3 Save (Help) 2 Holy 2 Strength 2 Fear 2 Treat With Honor and Respect 2 Vow (Promise) 2 Poor 2 Justice (Right) 2 Salvation (State) Save (Restore) Salvation (Physical) Salvation (Deliverance) Salvation (Rescuer) Save (Rescue) Salvation (Means) Saving (Means) Be Holy Holy (Pure) Holy Thing Most Holy Place Holiness Holy (Devout) Hallow Sanctuary Lot (Object) Fear (State) Fear (Terror) Fear (Reverence) Fear (Awe) Fearful Respect Respect (Among People) Bring Honor and Glory on Oneself Be Worthy of Honor Vow (Act) Vow (Oath) Force to Serve Enslave Hold in Bondage Gain Control Over Be (Or Show Oneself) Just Acquit Righteousness (Standard) Righteousness (Act) Just Put Right With Make Righteous Deserved Justify (Vindicate) Justify Justly Justice Righteousness (Quality)

    Themes

    Psalms of Suffering The Poor and Needy in the Psalms

    Resources

    Aijeleth Shahar Articles Bible, Quotations of the Old Testament in the New Testament Articles Confession Articles Eli, Eli, Lama Sabachthani? Articles Messiah Articles Music Articles Seven Last Sayings of Jesus Articles

    The Psalm of the Cross

    (Matthew 27:32–56; Mark 15:21–41; Luke 23:26–43; John 19:16–30)

    For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Doe of the Dawn.” A Psalm of David.

    ⓘ The psalmist alternates between reflections on his present...

    The psalmist alternates between reflections on his present dire circumstances and memories of the Lord’s past faithfulness; he ends with a prayer for rescue.
    ⓘ A deep sense of alienation from God overwhelms...

    A deep sense of alienation from God overwhelms the psalmist (see 10:1).
    ⓘ All previous laments pale in comparison with this...

    All previous laments pale in comparison with this outcry against the enemy and God’s abandonment. The psalm contains two main sections: the lament (22:1–21) and praise for redemption (22:22–31), which leads naturally to Ps 23. The apostles saw in this psalm an expression of the sufferings of Jesus Christ, who ultimately fulfilled the purpose of David’s humiliation, rejection by people, and divine abandonment (Matt 27:35, 39, 43, 46; Mark 15:34; John 19:23–24, 28; Heb 2:12).
    1My God, my God,why have You forsaken me?†Why are You so far from saving me,so far from my words of groaning?2I cry out by day, O my God,but You do not answer,and by night,but I have no rest.
    3Yet You are holy,enthroned on the praises of Israel.4In You our fathers trusted;they trusted and You delivered them.5They cried out to You and were set free;they trusted in You and were not disappointed.
    ⓘ Both the Lord and people reject the psalmist....

    Both the Lord and people reject the psalmist. He vividly describes his anguish (22:1–2); he lives like a lowly animal.
    6But I am a worm and not a man,scorned by men and despised by the people.7All who see me mock me;they sneer and shake their heads:8“He trusts in the LORD,let the LORD deliver him;let the LORD rescue him,since He delights in him.”†
    ⓘ The psalmist reflects on his past relationship with...

    The psalmist reflects on his past relationship with God (see 22:3–5). The Lord has been his very life.
    9Yet You brought me forth from the womb;You made me secure at my mother’s breast.10From birth I was cast upon You;from my mother’s womb You have been my God.11Be not far from me,for trouble is nearand there is no one to help.
    ⓘ The psalmist returns to expressing his anguish and...

    The psalmist returns to expressing his anguish and suffering (see 22:1–2, 6–8). His trouble comes from human beings who act like beasts.
    12Many bulls surround me;strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.13They open their jaws against melike lions that roar and maul.14I am poured out like water,and all my bones are disjointed.My heart is like wax;it melts away within me.15My strength† is dried up like a potsherd,and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.You lay me in the dust of death.
    16For dogs surround me;a band of evil men encircles me;they have pierced my hands and feet.†
    ⓘ I can count all my bones: The psalmist’s...
    • I can count all my bones: The psalmist’s enemies have utterly shamed him by taking his garments. Jesus also suffered this disgrace (see Matt 27:35).
    • stare at me and gloat: Enemies make the psalmist the object of their scorn (see Pss 35:24, 26; 38:16; 55:3; cp. 59:10).
    • throw dice: Literally cast lots. The casting of lots was sometimes a way for godly people to find God’s direction (Lev 16:8; Num 27:21; Acts 1:24–26). Here, the lots are thrown simply as a game of chance. The soldiers threw dice for Jesus’ clothing after the crucifixion (Matt 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:34; John 19:24).
    17I can count all my bones;they stare and gloat over me.18They divide my garments among themand cast lots for my clothing.†
    ⓘ The psalmist faces his troubles by praying for...

    The psalmist faces his troubles by praying for God’s rescue. Only the Lord has the strength to ward off dogs, lions, and oxen.
    19But You, O LORD, be not far off;O my Strength, come quickly to help me.20Deliver my soul from the sword,my precious life from the power of wild dogs.21Save me from the mouth of the lion;at the horns of the wild oxen You have answered me!
    ⓘ The psalmist praises the Lord and calls for...

    The psalmist praises the Lord and calls for the godly to join him. He tells of God’s goodness to the needy, including himself.
    22I will proclaim Your name to my brothers;I will praise You in the assembly.†23You who fear the LORD, praise Him!All descendants of Jacob, honor Him!All offspring of Israel, revere Him!24For He has not despised or detestedthe torment of the afflicted.He has not hidden His face from him,but has attended to his cry for help.
    ⓘ The psalmist vows to praise the Lord, the...

    The psalmist vows to praise the Lord, the great King of the earth (22:27–28) who cares for the needy. God alone deserves praise.
    25My praise for You resounds in the great assembly;I will fulfill my vows before those who fear You.26The poor will eat and be satisfied;those who seek the LORD will praise Him.May your hearts live forever!
    27All the ends of the earthwill remember and turn to the LORD.All the families of the nationswill bow down before Him.28For dominion belongs to the LORDand He rules over the nations.29All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;all who go down to the dust will kneel before Him—even those unable to preserve their lives.30Posterity will serve Him;they will declare the Lord to a new generation.31They will come and proclaim His righteousnessto a people yet unborn—all that He has done.