David
Psalm 22
To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David.
Scripture (KJV)
1My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
2O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
3But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
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.
6But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
7All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
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.
11Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
12Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
13They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
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.
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.
16For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
17I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
18They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
19But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
20Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
21Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
22I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
23Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
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.
25My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.
26The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
27All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
28For the kingdom is the LORD’S: and he is the governor among the nations.
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.
Summary
Psalm 22 is one of the most remarkable psalms in the Psalter, a lament of abandonment that becomes a hymn of worldwide praise. It opens with the cry Jesus quoted from the cross—"My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"—and descends into vivid physical agony: bones out of joint, heart like wax, tongue cleaving to jaws, hands and feet pierced, garments divided by casting lots. The early church saw in these verses a prophecy of the crucifixion written centuries before the event.
The turning point comes at verse 22: "I will declare thy name unto my brethren." From personal lament the psalm expands to congregational praise, then to global worship—"all the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD." The kingdom belongs to the LORD, and a coming generation will declare His righteousness. The major themes are suffering, abandonment, prayer, deliverance, and praise. Practically, the psalm gives language to those who feel forsaken and points them to the God who does not despise the afflicted. The great lesson is that the path from "why hast thou forsaken me?" to "he hath done this" is the path of redemption itself.
Key Themes
A Prayer from Psalm 22
My God, my God, when I feel forsaken and far from Your help, remember that You are holy and enthroned on the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in You and were delivered; I too will trust. When I am a reproach and despised, when trouble is near and there is none to help, be not far from me. Deliver my soul from the sword and save me from the lion’s mouth. I will declare Your name to my brethren and praise You in the congregation. You have not despised my affliction; when I cried, You heard. Let the ends of the world remember and turn to You, for the kingdom is Yours. Let a generation yet unborn declare Your righteousness, that You have done this. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection Questions
- 1How does Jesus’ quoting of verse 1 on the cross change the way I read this psalm?
- 2Where have I felt forsaken, and how does this psalm give me language to pray?
- 3What does the turn from lament to worldwide praise teach about God’s purposes in suffering?
- 4How can the truth that God "hath not despised the affliction of the afflicted" comfort me today?
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