FORSAKEN-Psalm 22
** All lament psalms express a sense of abandonment by God to some degree or another.
- How could the Father just watch and not do anything when he hears his Son screaming in agony, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Ps 22:1; Mt 27:46; Mk 15:34)
- How do you respond to divine silence or delay when feeling abandoned and forsaken?
- Are there benefits to suffering in agony?
- What hope for the future do faithful sufferers have when deliverence or relief does not come?
The most profound mystery. When Jesus screamed in excruciating agony, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Ps 22:1; Mt 27:46; Mk 15:34), was God not present since Jesus says he was forsaken? But God was present. He simply chose not to do anything. That is the mystery of the crucifixion.
God suffered as Jesus suffered, for he was watching as Jesus was crucified. How unbearable for any father to watch his lovely son be tortured and not stop it when he could! In essense God heard Jesus screaming on the cross, “Why have you forsaken me?” and does not do anything (Jn 11:42).
Thoughts and reflections on Psalm 22:
- When in agony/anguish, divine silence is painfully unbearable (Ps 22:1).
- The faithful sufferer feels forsaken by God (Ps 22:1-2), yet waits for deliverance from God (Ps 22:20-21).
- Ddespite the pervasiveness of evil and injustice, and though deliverance may not come to the faithful sufferer (Ps 22:19), yet God rules the world (Ps 22:28) and will accomplish his will (Ps 22:31).
Enemies dehumanize their victim and oppressors dehumanize the oppressed, so that they become less than human, even a worm (Ps 22:6; Isa 52:14).- But powerful oppressors also dehumanize themselves to become like beasts—bulls, lions, dogs (Ps 22:12, 13, 16, 20, 21).
- Apart from Jesus, even innocent sufferers are sinful.
- Being forsaken by God (Ps 22:1) is the way to being found by God (Ps 22:31).
- The worst of times precedes the best of times.
- Jesus had to go through the worst of the worst, so that we can experience the best of the best, even during the worst of times.
- The way to make sense of sadness, sorrow and suffering is to give very careful thought to Jesus‘ God–forsakenness.
- Jesus had to be dehumanized as a worm, so that we can become truly human and not live as a brute beast.
- Jesus had to be forsaken so that we can be forgiven.
- Jesus had to die horribly so that we can live heroically.
Is it good to suffer? No/Yes. Why?
“In general the soul makes greater progress in the spiritual life…when it is losing everything…for the way of suffering is safer, and also more profitable than that of rejoicing and of action. In suffering God gives strength… And in suffering, the soul practices and acquires virtue, and becomes pure, wiser, and more cautious.”—St. John of the Cross. [Full quotation below.]
Can man attain holiness necessary for union with God?
“Until a soul is placed by God in the passive purgation of that dark night…it cannot purify itself completely… No matter how much an individual does through his own efforts, he cannot actively purify himself enough…for the divine union… God must take over and purge him in that fire that is dark for him.” – St. John of the Cross. [Full quotation below.]
What does each word of Psalm 22:1 mean?
- “My God, my God“: He keeps his hold on God. Imitate his cleaving to an afflicting God. “El” siignifies strength.
- “why“: Why was he abandoned/forsaken?
- “have“: It is done. He has to endure it.
- “you“: Traitorous Judah/timid Peter is understandable, but you, my God?
- “forsaken“: Chasening is bearable, but why must I be utterly forsaken?
- “me“: I’m your innocent, obedient, faithful, suffering Son, why would you leave me to perish?
Is Psalm 22 just a prediction of events surrounding Jesus’ death?
No. Psalm 22 reflects a model of response to abandonment and divine delay with which Jesus could identify with (Ps 22:2, 19). This opens windows for others into Jesus’ own spirifual conflict. It illustrates the struggle of the faithful sufferer who waits for deliverance from God (Ps 22:20-21). Even the N.T. writers read Psalm 22 as encouragement to Christians in their contexts of suffering (Rom 5:5; Phil 3:2; 2 Tim 4:17).
Does our present world coincide with the will and purposes of God?
No. It admits the that faithful living may not result in deliverance (Ps 22:1)–that suffering and death, even prematurely, are painful realities for the faithful (Ps 22:15). But present suffering and evil will not ultimately prevent the fulfillment of God’s plans, for God still rules over his creation (Ps 22:28). Even in the face of divine absence, the faithful psalmist remains loyal and takes solace in the knowledge that regardless of the personal outcome, God’s will will be done.
What hope is there for the future for the present sufferer?
The verbs suddenly shift to the future and remain there until the end of the psalm (Ps 22:22, 25-27, 29-31). The universal and eschatological tone invades his hopes, involving the poor (Ps 22:26) and the rich (Ps 22:29), the “ends of the earth” and “all the families of the nations” (Ps 22:27) submitting to God’s rule (Ps 22:28).
What of the worm and the repeated mention of dogs, lions, and bulls / oxen (Ps 22:6, 12, 13, 16, 20-21)? How does oppression dehumanize both the oppressed and even the oppressor themselves?
It caused the psalmist to feel less than human–even a worm (Ps 22:6). He felt dehumanized by the attacks of the enemies–reduced to a despised worm, mocked, scorned, and insulted by all who see him (Ps 22:6-7). Their ridicule twisted the devastating experience of divine abandonment into a proof of God’s lack of care for him (Ps 22:8) with no intention to deliver. As a worm, he truly felt beyond the care and concern even of God.
Do the oppressors escape their own scathing cruelty on the oppressed?
By tearing at the psalmist (Ps 22:13), they throw off the last vestiges of the divine image that exalts humanity and adopt the image of carnivorous/vicious beasts. They give up their divine distinctives to become like the beasts. In their violent pursuit of him they dehumanize themselves along with their prey and bring down divine condemnation on their own heads.
Do we view others as less than human?
In our sinful relationships with others, we are tempted to view them as less than human. In lust we make others objects to satisfy our desires. In our ambition we use others as rungs to be stepped on to move “up.” When we use others we give up our exalted status as the image of God (tarnished though it may be by sin) and descend to the place among the beasts. As one is not able to restrain an attacking lion, violence must be resorted to in order to break the enemy’s death grip and save the life of the one attacked (Ps 3:7; 58:6).
2 distinct parts that are very different in tone (1-21; 22-31):
|
Torture of the Cross (1-21) [A lament psalm] |
Triumph of the Cross (22-31) [A praise psalm] |
|
| 1. | All prayer and persecution. (Ps 22:1-2, 6-8, 12-13, 16-18) | All praise. (Ps 22:22-23, 25-27, 29-31) |
| 2. | All suffering. (Ps 22:14-16) | All supremacy. (Ps 22:28) |
| 3. | Focus on agony. (Ps 22:14-15, 20-21) | Focus on accomplishment. (Ps 22:31) |
| 4. | The grim facts of the present. | The glorious facts of the future. |
| 5. | Speaker feels deserted by God. (Ps 22:1) | Speaker is delivered by God. (Ps 22:24) |
| 6. | One is dehumanized. (Ps 22:6) | Many are humanized. (Ps 22:23) |
| 7. | The forsaking of one. (Ps 22:1-2, 6-8, 12-18) | The forgiveness of many. (Ps 22:27) |
| 8. | The suffering of one. (Ps 22:1-2, 6-8, 12-18) | The salvation of many. (Ps 22:26-31) |
| 9. | One dies horribly. (Ps 22:15-21) | Many can live heroically. (Ps 22:27-28) |
Psalm 22 has 3 expressions, 3 experiences, 3 segments of the Cross:
- The abandonment at the Cross (22:1-5).
- The anguish on the Cross (22:6-21).
- The accomplishment of the Cross (22:22-31).
Psalm 22:1 is not a cry of disbelief but a cry of disorientation.
- The crucifixion of Christ (1-21).
- The silence and absence of God (1-11). Perplexity in suffering (1-10).
- Vicious attacks by the enemies (12-21). Prayer for divine nearness (11-21).
- The resurrection of Christ (22-29). Praise on a universal scale (22-31).
- The commission of Christ to the church (30-31).
Theme: Suffering, Abandonment, Praise. 1,000 years before it happened, David not only foresaw suffering, but the suffering of one executed by crucifixion.
Proof of authenticity of the Bible:
- Ralph Muncaster, a former atheist, pointed out 23 specific details from Psalm 22 that were fulfilled in the New Testament in his book “Evidence for Jesus. Discover the facts that prove the truth of the Bible.”
- From the United Bible Societies’ Greek New Testament (UBS GNT). According to the UBS GNT, quotations, allusions and verbal parallels in Psalm 22 are referred to some 24 times in the NT with 4 direct quotations and 20 allusions or verbal parallels (14/20 are in the narratives of Jesus’ passion and crucifixion).
- Psalm 22:5. “And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (Rom 5:5).
- Psalm 22:16, 20. “Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh” (Phil 3:2).
- Psalm 22:13, 21. “But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth” (2 Tim 4:17).
Psalm 22 is a well-known psalm in the Bible, and it is often cited or alluded to in the New Testament. Here are some key quotations, allusions, and verbal parallels from Psalm 22 that are referenced in the New Testament:
- Psalm 22:1 – “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
- Jesus quotes this verse while on the cross in Mt 27:46 and Mk 15:34.
- Psalm 22:7-8 – “All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads: ‘He trusts in the Lord; let the Lord rescue him.'”
- This is referenced in Mt 27:39-43 and Mk 15:29-32, where bystanders mock Jesus on the cross.
- Psalm 22:16 – “Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet.”
- This verse is often associated with the crucifixion of Jesus. The piercing of hands and feet is reflected in the crucifixion narrative in the Gospels, particularly Jh 19:18 and Lk 24:39-40.
- Psalm 22:18 – “They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.”
- This verse is directly quoted in Mt 27:35, Mk 15:24, Lk 23:34, and Jn 19:24 during the crucifixion scene.
- Psalm 22:22 – “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.”
- Hebrews 2:12: This verse is quoted in Hebrews as evidence of Jesus’ identification with humanity.
- John Stott. Favorite Psalms. 1988. Psalm 22: The Sufferings and Glory of Christ.
- The cry of anguish (1-21).
- The song of praise (22-31).
- Tim Keller. The Songs of Jesus. 2015.
- Gerald Wilson. Psalms Vol 1. The NIV Application Commentary. 2002.
- Thematic introduction (Ps 22:1).
- The silence and absence of God (Ps 22:2-11).
- Vicious attacks by the enemies (Ps 22:12-21).
- Promise to praise (Ps 22:22-31).
- John Goldingay. Psalms for Everyone, Part 1. 2013. Psalm 22: My God, my God, Why? (1-18). On facing 2 sets of facts (19-31).
- Derek Kidner. Psalms 1-72, 1973. Psalms 73-150, 1975. Psalm 27: The Psalm of the Cross.
- The power of darkness (1-21).
- The spread of joy (22-31).
- Alec Motyer. Psalms by the Day. A New Devotional Translation. 2016. Psalm 22: The One and the Many: One Suffering, Many Worshipping.
- A. Perplexity in suffering (Ps 22:1-10).
- B. Prayer for divine nearness (Ps 22:11-21).
- C. Praise on a universal scale (Ps 22:22-31).
- Tremper Longman III & David E Garland. Psalms. The Expositor’s Bible Commentary. 2008.
- Robert Altar. The Hebrew Bible. A Translation with Commentary. 2019.
The Torture of the Cross (Psalm 22:1-21):
1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Mt 27:46; Mk 15:34; Gal 3:13; 2 Cor 5:21; 1 Pet 2:24)
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish [roaring]?
2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, but I find no rest. (Mt 27:45; Mk 15:33)
3 Yet you are [holy] enthroned as the Holy One; (Lk 1:35)
you are the one Israel praises.
4 In you our ancestors put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.
5 To you they cried out and were saved;
in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
6 But I am a worm and not a man, (John 19:5)
scorned by everyone, despised by the people.
7 All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. (Matthew 27:28-31; Mark 15:29; Lk 23:35-37)
8 “He trusts in the Lord,” they say,
“let the Lord rescue him.
Let him deliver him,
since he delights in him.” (Mt 27:43)
9 Yet you brought me out of the womb;
you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast.
10 From birth I was cast on you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God. (Luke 1:31, 35; 2:10-11)
11 Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.
12 Many bulls surround me;
strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
13 Roaring lions that tear their prey
open their mouths wide against me. (John 19:1-3)
14 I am poured out like water, (Luke 22:44)
and all my bones are out of joint.(Mt 27:35; Mk 15:24,25,27)
My heart has turned to wax;
it has melted within me. (John 19:34)
15 My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, (John 19:28)
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
you lay me in the dust of death.
16 Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. (Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24, 25, 27; John 19:18, 37)
17 All my bones are on display;
people stare and gloat over me. (Ps 34:20; Jn 19:36)
18 They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment. (Matthew 27:35; Luke 23:34b; John 19:24)
19 But you, Lord, do not be far from me.
You are my strength; come quickly to help me.
20 Deliver me from the sword, (Mt 26:39; Mk 14:36)
my precious life from the power of the dogs.
21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen. [You have answered me.]
The Triumph of the Cross (Psalm 22:22-31):
22 I will declare your name to my people [brothers]; (Mt 28:10; Jn 17:26) in the [midst of the] assembly I will praise you. (Heb 2:12)
23 You who fear the Lord, praise him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not despised or scorned
the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
but has listened to his cry for help.
25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;
before those who fear you I will fulfill my vows.
26 The poor will eat and be satisfied; (Mt 5:3; Lk 6:20; 4:18)
those who seek the Lord will praise him—
may your hearts live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8)
will remember and turn to the Lord,
and all the families of the nations
will bow down before him, (Revelation 5:9)
28 for dominion belongs to the Lord
and he rules over the nations. (Mt 28:18; Rev 19:15)
29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; (Lk 19:8)
all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—
those who cannot keep themselves alive. (Phil 2:10-11)
30 Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord.
31 They will proclaim his righteousness,
declaring to a people yet unborn: (Acts 1:8)
He has done it! (John 19:20) [“It is finished” [τετέλεσται] (Jn 19:30).]
Is it good to suffer? No? Yes? Why?
“The reason why the soul not only travels securely when in obscurity, but also makes greater progress, is this: In general the soul makes greater progress in the spiritual life when it least thinks so, yea, when it rather imagines that it is losing everything… There is another reason also why the soul has traveled safely in this obscurity; it has suffered: for the way of suffering is safer, and also more profitable than that of rejoicing and of action. In suffering God gives strength, but in action and in joy the soul does but show its own weakness and imperfections. And in suffering, the soul practices and acquires virtue, and becomes pure, wiser, and more cautious.”—St. John of the Cross.
