Psalm 22
1My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
The psalm opens with a wretched cry out to God, intoning ‘My God’, signifying the personal relationship. Why has the great God, his own God, abandoned him? Why isn’t He deigning to help him, why is He physically and mentally far away during the time of suffering, and why isn’t he listening to the agonised cry for help from His own?
Jesus repeats the very words on the cross. Like a forsaken sinner, Jesus cried out to his own Father asking why has He forsaken him? Jesus had to bear the sins of the entire world, without the aid of anyone. He was the traditional sheep which was slaughtered for redeeming the lives of others. Was it cruel of God to desert His son? No, it was the ultimate sacrifice which a Father could do- for it is only by the death of Jesus that we all have been saved.
2O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
The psalmist is persistently appealing (‘crying’) to God- he never ceases his prayers, but it seems as if God isn’t listening.
Perhaps, when we are in trouble and when we do not get an answer from God, we should not stop praying though we might be tempted to do just that… God takes His time in solving our problems, and often we realise that it happened for the best.
3But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
Despite his anguish, the psalmist praises God instead of cursing Him. God is holy.
4Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
5They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
In the past, Israelites had suffered, but they also trusted in God and cried out to Him (again, there is emphasis on heartfelt crying instead of just stating). Because of that trust, God Himself delivered them.
6But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
This refers to Jesus. After being tortured prior to the crucifixion, he was barely recognisable. The fairest of the fair was demoted to resembling a contemptible worm. He was scolded and derided, probably by the very people whom he had healed.
Isn’t it obvious that if Jesus was treated in this manner by those whom he came to help, heal, and save, wouldn’t the world treat us likewise?
7All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
People scorned and mocked at him. His sufferings are providing much delight to the sadistic and ungrateful onlookers..
8He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
They mocked him saying: Since he trusted in God, let God deliver this person.
These people, probably traditional Jews, very likely didn’t believe in the existence of God, or that God could deliver those who cried out to Him. In the case of Jesus, these words were spoken by the mockers who had gathered around the cross.
9But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.
10I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.
The psalmist points out how he was called by and inspired by God, even when he was just a foetus. In fact, it was God who delivered him from the womb and who inspired him when he was a baby.
11Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
The psalmist requests God not to be far away since trouble is close by and there is none to help him. This might resound in our lives when we trust on humans to help us, but eventually, we understand that they can’t.
12Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
One is surrounded by dangerous bulls/people/situations. Is there a way of escape when you know that you cannot outrun them, and when you are likely to face a fate similar to that of Dirce?
13They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
These evil creatures (bulls/lions) are determined to destroy the believer. Their very sight is fearsome. In fact, they are like a hungry and roaring lion- one which cannot wait to tear you apart due to its hunger.
With a zoo nearby, I am all too aware of a ravening and roaring lion: The heavy and muscular body (which can break you into pieces by pouncing over you), the strong paw with sharp claws (which is said to deliver fatal blows, and to tear apart the skin), the brutal teeth (adapted for tearing apart flesh), and the immobilising roar (destined to freeze anyone).
14I 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.
Although this might be relevant to the psalmist, to David (his life was not all that rosy), and to any suffering believer, this is what happened to Jesus. The anguish and torture, which Jesus had to endure, can be summed up by the verse: ‘My life is flowing away like discarded water, and all my bones are dislocated: my heart is melting like wax because of agony’. One might remember that water and blood rushed out when Jesus was stabbed in the chest, after his death on the cross. This is medically true since mental agony can cause the accumulation of pericardial fluid.
15My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
‘My strength is non-existent: all that remains is a husk; and I can barely speak due to thirst (‘my tongue cleaveth to my jaws’); and you have brought me close to death’.
16For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
Apart from bulls and lions, the sufferer is surrounded by dogs (‘the assembly of the wicked’). This again takes us back to where Jesus hung on the cross, with his hands and feet pierced, with the Jews and the clergy standing around, mocking and cursing the one who came to save them. Obviously, the dog is not as exalted as the bull and lion, but still can deliver painful bites, and a pack can certainly seal the doom of an individual.
17I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
The bones are all distinct. The mockers stare at the sufferer (on the cross)
18They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
As seen at the crucifixion, they divided his garments amongst them, and cast lots.
19But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
The psalmist again beseeches God (his ‘strength’): ‘Do not be far away from me, O lord, and hurry yourself to help me’.
20Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
With the sword denoting destruction/mortality, the psalmist requests God to deliver his soul from eternal death. I am unsure about what darling implies, since various translations indicate different meaning. Probably, he wants to be rescued (or his dearest, perhaps his soul?) from ferocious people.
21Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
The psalmist goes on to request God to rescue him when trapped in the lion’s mouth/jaws, or when threatened by the lion (v. 13):
For, the Lord has already heard his prayers and had delivered him from the horns of the unicorns. If we are considering the legendary animal, unicorn possesses a horn which could be a very effective spear. Also, it was a Dirce-ish punishment to tie a person to the horns of the bulls.
22I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
25My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.
Yet, the psalmist will proclaim the Lord’s name unto his brethren and to the congregation since he has been delivered.
23Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
All those who fear the Lord should praise Him; the descendants of Israel/Jacob (Jews) should fear and glorify Him.
24For 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.
For the Lord did not disregard or close eyes to the troubles faced by the afflicted psalmist/believer. But He heard when he cried out to him.
The onus, thus, is on us to cry out to the Lord.
26The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
The psalmist continues to praise the Lord. The humble will eat and be satisfied: those who seek the Lord will praise Him: His heart will endure forever.
(note the use of colons)
27All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
29All 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.
30A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
31They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.
This probably refers to the Second Coming, when all nations and all people (dead or alive) shall remember (because the evidence will be right in front of them) about Jesus, and will confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord. Thus, they will turn unto the Lord, will bow down, and worship Him. No one can save his own soul except through the Lord. The redeemed (His people) will serve Him.
28For the kingdom is the LORD's: and he is the governor among the nations.
For the kingdom/country/Israel/the world/ the universe belongs to the Lord. And he governs the nations and the multitude of people.
Labels: called by God, David, for depression, Passion Week, persecution, praising God, prophecy about Christ's suffering, Psalm 22, suffering of Christ