PSALM 22 (part 1): “My God, my God!” (Psalm 22:1-5)

Psalm 22 is a detailed accurate prophecy describing a righteous man executed by crucifixion, written 800 years before it existed. Nothing in Ps 22 was fulfilled by David, either in the details of his suffering or the world-wide consequences of his death. Rather David spoke by the Spirit of Prophecy (Acts 2:30), enabling him to describe Messiah’s suffering on the Cross. Whereas the Gospels record outward events, Messianic Psalms (like 22) also reveal His inner experience. It’s wholly messianic, a prophecy of His death & resurrection, followed by the Gospel going to the world (confirmed by New Testament quotes from Ps 22, claiming Jesus is the fulfilment). It's written in 2 Parts corresponding to (1) Christ’s SUFFERINGS (v1-21), and (2) the GLORIES to follow (v22-31), 1Pet 1:10-11. The 1st Part is a Lament, in which an isolated man, surrounded by enemies, suffers & prays on the altar of sacrifice (v1-21a). He describes his sufferings, but also turns to God & declares his faith, requesting God to draw near to save Him. Then it moves from travail to triumph in v21b, when he declares: “You have answered me.” The 2nd Part is Thanksgiving, where He rejoices in his victory, thanking God for accepting his sacrifice and delivering him from death, and for all the blessings released as a result. He’s no longer alone, but praises God in the midst of his brethren. He declares the Gospel of His finished work will be declared around the world & down the ages, resulting in the salvation of all nations, and God’s Kingdom established over all. Part 1 consists of 3 Laments: (1) His spiritual suffering & desolation (v1-2), followed by a declaration of faith in God (v3-5). (2) His mental suffering & humiliation as a social outcast (v6-8), followed by a faith-declaration & request to God (v9-11). (3) His physical suffering - the torture of crucifixion (v12-18), followed by a faith-declaration & request (v19-21). Each time, He 1st expresses His feelings and describes His suffering (‘I’ & ‘ME’), then turns his focus to God: “BUT YOU.” So, it’s fine to express feelings to God, but don’t stop there. Go on to declare the truth of God, who has the final word. Lament 1 describes his spiritual suffering, as he felt totally forsaken by God: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me (v11,19) and from the words of My groaning (roaring)? O My God, I cry in the DAYTIME, but You do not hear; and in the NIGHT season, and am not silent” (v1-2). He knew and walked with God all His life (v9-10,31), yet now fellowship was broken, experiencing total separation from His Presence. Ps 22 starts with him asking ‘Why?’ The answer (v31) unlocks the meaning of Ps 22 - He was bearing the sin of mankind, and so experienced Hell for us. Thus, the result of this one man’s suffering is salvation for the world (v22-31). He suffered separation from God, so we might be restored to His Presence. During the supernatural darkness on the Cross, Jesus quoted v1 in Matt 27:45 & Mark 15:33-34. By quoting the start of Ps 22, He pointed to the whole Psalm, saying He was fulfilling it all: ‘if you want to know what I am experiencing and the outcome - read Ps 22’. He prayed it all, ending with the proclamation: “He has done (finished) it” (v21). So, just before He died, He quoted the last verse saying: “It is finished!” (John 20:30). As v2 predicted, Jesus suffered on the Cross during the day (9am – noon), as the burnt offering, and during at night, as the sin offering (in the darkness, noon to 3pm, Amos 8:9, Joel 2:31, Acts 2:20). During this whole time, He called on God in faith to help Him. The physical pains did not cause Him to roar v1 in agony, for He only did this in the dark, when He experienced God’s wrath on our sin & the spiritual darkness of total separation from His Presence, as predicted by v1-2, fulfilled in Matt 27:45. We discuss the secular evidence for the darkness & prove it was indeed a night (v2, Gen1:5,14-18), and how this solves the paradox of the 3 days & 3 nights between His death & resurrection, and how it confirms He died in AD 33. In v3-5 Christ moves from His 1st Lament to a faith-declaration: “BUT You are HOLY”, showing He knew the answer to his question in v1. When he became sin, God’s holiness required Him to pour His wrath on him, and separate Himself from him. Thus, he praised God & vindicated His righteousness. Then he fortified his faith by remembering past experiences of God’s faithfulness to His people. Whenever they praised Him, He was enthroned in their praises and took the leadership in their situations (v3). Whenever they trusted Him & cried to Him, He delivered & exalted them (v4-5). Thus, he expressed His confidence in his unchanging God, that He’d respond to his praises & cries to help, for he trusted Him. Likewise, after lamenting to God, we should praise Him, remember His proven faithfulness and declare our faith that He'll hear our cry & help us.