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Psalms 22

World English Bible

WEB

1For the Chief Musician; set to “The Doe of the Morning.” A Psalm by David. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning? 2My God, I cry in the daytime, but you don’t answer; in the night season, and am not silent. 3But you are holy, you who inhabit the praises of Israel. 4Our fathers trusted in you. They trusted, and you delivered them. 5They cried to you, and were delivered. They trusted in you, and were not disappointed. 6But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people. 7All those who see me mock me. They insult me with their lips. They shake their heads, saying, 8“He trusts in Yahweh. Let him deliver him. Let him rescue him, since he delights in him.” 9But you brought me out of the womb. You made me trust while at my mother’s breasts. 10I was thrown on you from my mother’s womb. You are my God since my mother bore me. 11Don’t be far from me, for trouble is near. For there is no one to help. 12Many bulls have surrounded me. Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me. 13They open their mouths wide against me, lions tearing prey and roaring. 14I am poured out like water. All my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax. It is melted within me. 15My strength is dried up like a potsherd. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have brought me into the dust of death. 16For dogs have surrounded me. A company of evildoers have enclosed me. They have pierced my hands and feet. 17I can count all of my bones. They look and stare at me. 18They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing. 19But don’t be far off, Yahweh. You are my help. Hurry to help me! 20Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog. 21Save me from the lion’s mouth! Yes, you have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen. 22I will declare your name to my brothers. Among the assembly, I will praise you. 23You who fear Yahweh, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify him! Stand in awe of him, all you descendants of Israel! 24For he has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, neither has he hidden his face from him; but when he cried to him, he heard. 25My praise of you comes in the great assembly. I will pay my vows before those who fear him. 26The humble shall eat and be satisfied. They shall praise Yahweh who seek after him. Let your hearts live forever. 27All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to Yahweh. All the relatives of the nations shall worship before you. 28For the kingdom is Yahweh’s. He is the ruler over the nations. 29All the rich ones of the earth shall eat and worship. All those who go down to the dust shall bow before him, even he who can’t keep his soul alive. 30Posterity shall serve him. Future generations shall be told about the Lord. 31They shall come and shall declare his righteousness to a people that shall be born, for he has done it.

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Psalms 22 is a profound and poignant psalm attributed to King David, expressing deep anguish and despair while simultaneously affirming faith in God. The chapter begins with the haunting cry, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Psalm 22:1), a phrase that resonates powerfully in the New Testament as Jesus uttered these words on the cross (Matthew 27:46). This opening sets the tone for a lament that reflects feelings of abandonment and suffering, illustrating the intense emotional struggle faced by the psalmist. David vividly describes his physical and spiritual torment, feeling surrounded by enemies and mocked by those who do not believe in God’s deliverance (Psalm 22:6-8). Yet, amidst this despair, he recalls God’s faithfulness in the past, reminding himself of the covenant relationship and the deliverance experienced by his ancestors (Psalm 22:3-5).

The psalm transitions from lament to a declaration of hope and trust in God. David expresses confidence that God will not despise the suffering of the afflicted but will come to their aid (Psalm 22:24). The latter part of the psalm shifts to a tone of praise and proclamation, as David anticipates the future worship of the Lord by all nations (Psalm 22:27-28). This prophetic vision points to the universal reign of God and the ultimate victory over suffering and death, which is fulfilled in Christ. Thus, Psalms 22 serves as a powerful reminder of the depth of human suffering while also pointing to the hope and redemption found in God’s faithfulness, culminating in the promise of salvation through Jesus Christ.
#Psalms #David #MessianicProphecy #Suffering #Faith

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Referenced by

  1. Job 16:10v13Job 16:10 describes how people gape at him with their mouths, similar to the imagery in Psalm 22:13 where the psalmist describes being surrounded by enemies who open their mouths wide against him. Both passages convey a sense of being overwhelmed by adversaries.
  2. Job 30:20v2In Job 30:20, Job cries out to God but feels unheard, paralleling Psalm 22:2 where the psalmist also cries out day and night without an answer. This connection underscores the theme of feeling abandoned by God in times of distress.
  3. Psalms 10:1v1Both verses express a feeling of abandonment by God, a common theme in the Psalms where the psalmist cries out in distress, seeking God's presence and intervention.
  4. Psalms 13:1v1Both verses express a feeling of abandonment by God. Psalm 22:1 is famously quoted by Jesus on the cross, highlighting the depth of human despair and the cry for divine presence.
  5. Psalms 67:7v27Psalm 67:7 envisions all the ends of the earth fearing God, similar to Psalm 22:27 where all families of the nations will worship before Him.
  6. Psalms 77:2v2Both verses express a deep sense of distress and a feeling of unanswered prayer, highlighting the psalmist's struggle with God's silence.
  7. Psalms 88:1v2Both verses express a cry to God for help, highlighting the psalmist's sense of abandonment and persistent prayer despite feeling unheard.
  8. Psalms 102:1v1Both verses express a deep cry for help and a sense of abandonment, highlighting the psalmist's distress and need for God's intervention.
  9. Matthew 27:35v18Matthew 27:35 describes the soldiers casting lots for Jesus' garments, fulfilling the prophecy in Psalm 22:18.
  10. Matthew 27:46v1Matthew 27:46 records Jesus' cry from the cross, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' directly quoting Psalm 22:1, highlighting His suffering and fulfillment of messianic prophecy.
  11. Mark 15:24v18Mark 15:24 describes the soldiers casting lots for Jesus' garments, fulfilling the prophecy in Psalm 22:18, which foretells the Messiah's suffering and the division of His clothes.
  12. Mark 15:34v1In Mark 15:34, Jesus cries out, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' directly quoting Psalm 22:1, highlighting His identification with the suffering and abandonment described in the psalm.
  13. John 19:24v18John 19:24 recounts the soldiers casting lots for Jesus' garments, fulfilling the prophecy in Psalm 22:18, which foretells the Messiah's suffering and humiliation.

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