# Overview Psalm 22 is a profound and prophetic psalm of #David, capturing a dual theme of deep personal anguish and triumphant hope. The chapter begins with a cry of desolation, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"—words echoed by [[Jesus Christ (Multiple)|Jesus Christ]] on the cross, highlighting the messianic nature of this psalm (Matthew 27:46). David expresses a sense of abandonment, surrounded by enemies and scorned by those who ridicule his faith in #God. He vividly describes his suffering, likening it to being encircled by ferocious bulls and ravenous lions. This imagery foreshadows the physical and emotional torment that Jesus would endure during His crucifixion, as David's lamentation transitions from personal suffering to a prophetic vision of the #Messiah's passion. Yet, amid the despair, the psalm transitions into a proclamation of hope and deliverance. David reaffirms his trust in God's faithfulness, recalling past acts of divine intervention and expressing confidence in future salvation. The latter half of the psalm depicts a remarkable shift from isolation to a communal celebration of God's deliverance, not just for the psalmist, but for all nations. David envisions a time when all the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, fulfilling God's promise to bless all nations through Abraham (Genesis 12:3). This universal call to worship foreshadows the global impact of Jesus' redemptive work, ultimately culminating in a congregation of believers from every tribe and tongue praising the Lord for His steadfast love and salvation. ## Theological Insights Psalm 22 is a profound prophetic psalm that vividly anticipates the #suffering and #triumph of the #Messiah, exemplified in the life, death, and resurrection of [[Jesus Christ (Multiple)|Jesus Christ]]. The psalm opens with a cry of abandonment, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1), which Jesus Himself quotes on the cross in [[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 27|Matthew 27:46]], highlighting the depth of his suffering and his fulfillment of prophecy. The chapter vividly describes the physical and emotional suffering of the psalmist, paralleling the #passion narrative of Jesus. Verses 6-8 reflect the scorn and mockery faced by the psalmist, which is echoed in the mocking of Jesus by the crowd and religious leaders during his crucifixion as seen in [[Mark/Mark Chapter 15|Mark 15:29-32]]. The psalmist’s description of being surrounded by enemies, with his hands and feet pierced (Psalm 22:16), prefigures the crucifixion, a form of execution unknown at the time of writing, yet fulfilled in the New Testament accounts. Furthermore, Psalm 22 transitions from despair to a declaration of trust and praise, demonstrating the theme of #redemption. In verses 22-31, the psalmist’s deliverance leads to a proclamation of God’s name among the assembly, which can be seen as a foreshadowing of the resurrection and the spreading of the #Gospel. The psalm concludes with a vision of God's kingdom being acknowledged by all nations, aligning with the Great Commission found in [[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 28|Matthew 28:18-20]]. This psalm thus serves as a powerful testament to the fulfillment of #prophecy and the unfolding of God's salvific plan through Jesus, offering a message of hope and trust in God’s ultimate deliverance and #victory. The suffering of the psalmist, ultimately turning into praise, mirrors the resurrection narrative, providing a theological foundation for understanding the #passion and #resurrection of Christ as central to the #Christian faith. ## Thematic Connections ### Messianic Prophecy Psalm 22 is often recognized as a prophetic psalm that foreshadows the suffering of [[Jesus Christ (Multiple)|Jesus Christ]] on the cross. The opening verse, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" is quoted by Jesus on the cross in [[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 27]] and [[Mark/Mark Chapter 15]], highlighting a direct connection to the New Testament account of the crucifixion. This theme underscores the prophetic nature of the #Psalms and their role in pointing to the future #Messiah. ### Suffering and Deliverance The psalm vividly describes the anguish and suffering of the speaker, which parallels the experiences of many biblical figures who endured trials but were ultimately delivered by God. This theme resonates with the stories of #Joseph in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 37]] where he suffered betrayal and imprisonment, and #David in [[1 Samuel/1 Samuel Chapter 19]] fleeing from #Saul. Despite intense suffering, the psalmist's plea for deliverance echoes the faithfulness and hope in God's salvation. ### Divine Abandonment and Trust The sense of divine abandonment expressed in the psalm is a powerful theme that reflects moments when individuals feel distant from #God. This theme is prevalent in the experiences of #Job, who questioned God during his sufferings as seen in [[Job/Job Chapter 3]]. Despite feeling abandoned, the psalmist maintains trust in God’s ultimate deliverance, a theme that encourages believers to persist in faith even when God seems silent. ### Praise and Proclamation The latter part of the psalm transitions from despair to praise, as the psalmist vows to declare God’s name. This theme of praise amidst trials is evident in the life of #Daniel, who continued to worship God despite facing persecution in [[Daniel/Daniel Chapter 6]]. The psalmist's commitment to proclaiming God's faithfulness serves as a reminder of the importance of worship and testimony, even in challenging circumstances. ### Universal Worship and Kingdom Psalm 22 concludes with a vision of all nations turning to the Lord, which connects to the theme of God’s universal kingdom. This vision is echoed in the promises made to #Abraham in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 12]], that through his offspring, all nations would be blessed. It also aligns with the Great Commission in [[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 28]], where Jesus commands His disciples to make disciples of all nations, emphasizing the global scope of God's redemptive plan. ## Prophetic Fulfillments ### The Suffering Messiah Psalm 22 is profoundly prophetic in its depiction of the #SufferingMessiah, reflecting the crucifixion of [[Jesus Christ (Multiple)|Jesus Christ]] with remarkable detail. The opening cry, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Psalm 22:1), is directly quoted by Jesus on the cross in [[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 27|Matthew 27:46]] and [[Mark/Mark Chapter 15|Mark 15:34]], underscoring the fulfillment of this prophecy in Jesus' experience of abandonment. ### The Mockery of Christ The mocking and scorn described in Psalm 22:7-8, "All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads," parallels the taunts Jesus faced from onlookers and religious leaders during His crucifixion as recorded in [[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 27|Matthew 27:39-43]] and [[Mark/Mark Chapter 15|Mark 15:29-32]]. This striking resemblance highlights the foretelling of Jesus' suffering and the rejection He endured. ### The Piercing of Hands and Feet Psalm 22:16, which describes, "They pierce my hands and my feet," is a vivid foreshadowing of Jesus' crucifixion, where His hands and feet were nailed to the cross. This detail is fulfilled in the Gospel accounts of the crucifixion in [[John/John Chapter 19|John 19:18]] and [[Luke/Luke Chapter 24|Luke 24:39-40]], providing a prophetic connection to the suffering of Christ. ### The Casting of Lots The casting of lots for the psalmist's clothing, mentioned in Psalm 22:18, "They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment," finds its fulfillment in the New Testament narrative of the crucifixion, where Roman soldiers cast lots for Jesus’ garments as recorded in [[John/John Chapter 19|John 19:23-24]] and [[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 27|Matthew 27:35]]. ### The Deliverance and Praise of the Messiah The latter part of Psalm 22 transitions from suffering to deliverance and praise, foreshadowing the resurrection and exaltation of Jesus. Verses 22-24, where the psalmist vows to declare God's name and praises among the assembly, resonate with Jesus’ resurrection and the proclamation of His victory over death, as seen in [[Hebrews/Hebrews Chapter 2|Hebrews 2:12]]. ### The Universal Reign of Christ Psalm 22:27-28 speaks of all nations turning to the Lord and worshipping Him, "for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations." This prophecy is fulfilled in the Great Commission and the spread of the Gospel to all nations as detailed in [[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 28|Matthew 28:18-20]] and the vision of every nation worshipping before the throne in [[Revelation/Revelation Chapter 7|Revelation 7:9-10]]. This passage anticipates the universal reign of #Christ and the ultimate fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. ## Verses - **Psalms 22:1** - "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help?" - Note: Quoted by [[Jesus Christ (Multiple)|Jesus Christ]] on the cross in [[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 27]], [[Mark/Mark Chapter 15]] - **Psalms 22:2** - "Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief." - **Psalms 22:3** - "Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel." - **Psalms 22:4** - "Our ancestors trusted in you, and you rescued them." - Note: References to the faithfulness of God in generations such as with #Abraham, #Isaac, and #Jacob in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 12]], [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 26]], [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 28]] - **Psalms 22:5** - "They cried out to you and were saved. They trusted in you and were never disgraced." - **Psalms 22:6** - "But I am a worm and not a man. I am scorned and despised by all!" - **Psalms 22:7** - "Everyone who sees me mocks me. They sneer and shake their heads, saying," - **Psalms 22:8** - "'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!'" - Note: Similar to the mocking of [[Jesus Christ (Multiple)|Jesus Christ]] on the cross in [[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 27]], [[Mark/Mark Chapter 15]] - **Psalms 22:9** - "Yet you brought me safely from my mother’s womb and led me to trust you at my mother’s breast." - **Psalms 22:10** - "I was thrust into your arms at my birth. You have been my God from the moment I was born." - **Psalms 22:11** - "Do not stay so far from me, for trouble is near, and no one else can help me." - **Psalms 22:12** - "My enemies surround me like a herd of bulls; fierce bulls of Bashan have hemmed me in." - **Psalms 22:13** - "Like lions they open their jaws against me, roaring and tearing into their prey." - **Psalms 22:14** - "My life is poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, melting within me." - **Psalms 22:15** - "My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead." - **Psalms 22:16** - "My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on me. They have pierced my hands and feet." - Note: Prophetic imagery related to the crucifixion of [[Jesus Christ (Multiple)|Jesus Christ]] in [[John/John Chapter 20]] - **Psalms 22:17** - "I can count all my bones. My enemies stare at me and gloat." - **Psalms 22:18** - "They divide my garments among themselves and throw dice for my clothing." - Note: Fulfilled in the crucifixion of [[Jesus Christ (Multiple)|Jesus Christ]] in [[John/John Chapter 19]] - **Psalms 22:19** - "O LORD, do not stay far away! You are my strength; come quickly to my aid!" - **Psalms 22:20** - "Save me from the sword; spare my precious life from these dogs." - **Psalms 22:21** - "Snatch me from the lion’s jaws and from the horns of these wild oxen." - **Psalms 22:22** - "I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people." - Note: Cited in the New Testament in [[Hebrews/Hebrews Chapter 2]] - **Psalms 22:23** - "Praise the LORD, all you who fear him! Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob! Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel!" - **Psalms 22:24** - "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." - **Psalms 22:25** - "I will praise you in the great assembly. I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you." - **Psalms 22:26** - "The poor will eat and be satisfied. All who seek the LORD will praise him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy." - **Psalms 22:27** - "The whole earth will acknowledge the LORD and return to him. All the families of the nations will bow down before him." - **Psalms 22:28** - "For royal power belongs to the LORD. He rules all the nations." - **Psalms 22:29** - "Let the rich of the earth feast and worship. Bow before him, all who are mortal, all whose lives will end as dust." - **Psalms 22:30** - "Our children will also serve him. Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord." - **Psalms 22:31** - "His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born. They will hear about everything he has done." ### Cross-References by Chapter - **Abandonment of Jesus** - [[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 27]], [[Mark/Mark Chapter 15]] - **Mocking of Jesus** - [[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 27]], [[Mark/Mark Chapter 15]] - **Crucifixion Imagery** - [[John/John Chapter 19]], [[John/John Chapter 20]] - **Praise in the Assembly** - [[Hebrews/Hebrews Chapter 2]]