Psalm 22:1-31
22:1-2 This Psalm is special in that it is the Psalm of David Jesus chose to recite on the cross. This Psalm expresses the journey of faith: un-trust to trust; doubt to understanding; fear to peace; weakness to strength, independence to dependence, danger to safety; indifference to praise; irreverence to worship.
Jesus chose this Psalm because it is the journey all children of God are able to take when they choose Him. The journey reveals that we are not forsaken but chosen, not alone but advocated for, not unheard but answered.
David learned patience and trust. Desperate situations, early in his faith, caused him to make desperate proclamations of doubt and accusation against God. He misinterpreted his impatience as God's silence. But over a lifetime of steadfast growth in faith, David began to understand God's quiet, timely movements. As His prayers were steadily answered, safety attained and provision received, he learned that God had been listening. More than that, God had been answering, "Yes," all along.
We learn that Jesus spoke this Psalm in Matthew 27:46. We must not misinterpret these words as Jesus' own; indeed these were the words of David. Likely, Jesus recited this entire Psalm. The entire Psalm would have encouraged others in their journey of faith as it moved from fear to peace, and doubt to trust. By the end of the Psalm, all of God's goodness is revealed and therefore the fear at the beginning rendered moot. It is a Psalm that teaches us not to fear, not to feel unheard or unloved, even though we have desperate moments, perhaps confessions, just like David had.
22:3-5 While his faith and trust in God was still under development, David relied on scripture; he relied on God's history with His people. David trusted in the reputation God had earned. His ancestors had trusted in God and were saved because of Him. Like any relationship, our relationship with God is a process, and God understands that. He knows that we take steps, lifelong, into deeper trust.
22:6-8 David was attacked and vulnerable; insecure and humbled by his enemies. They did not believe in him and he did not believe in himself; his internal mindset was fragile, desperate, weak. So many in scripture experienced emotions we still have today; their experience should bolster our fortitude in faith. God was able to rescue David from that despair.
22:9-11 Steadily David came to the realization that God had been present in his life; God was the reason he existed at all. He realized that he could request God's help in his tribulation, and that only God's help would be enough.
22:12-18 He felt surrounded, and nearly devoured. He knew he could not climb out of his situation on his own strength. His only hope was divine intervention, the compassion and intervention of God. It is fitting that Jesus would speak this Psalm on the cross; for often it is in our most desperate times that learn to put out hope and trust in God.
22:19-21 David asked God to be near, to strengthen him, to rescue him and God answered. Our call to God results in an immediate change of course. Our life takes on new direction and higher quality. Just like David, God's can change us from trapped to free; weak to strong; lonely to comforted, directionless to purposeful. There are so many transformations God makes in our lives when we put our faith in him; this Psalm is David's personal account of that truth.
22:22-29 Rescued by God, David expressed gratitude. He boasted of God's goodness and strength and compassion. His relationship with God changed forever; he had learned that it was safe, and even prudent, to trust in God. David sought God and then praised him, because in finding God, he found life. David knew that one day, the whole world would marvel at God. All the earth would worship.
22:30-31 The relationship with God, continues, as David knew it would. For God is absolute, steadfast, omnipresent. David knew that new generations of people would continue to come and learn to love God. That their lives would be transformed and lighted by God when they put their trust in Him. He is worthy of perpetual worship. Jesus spoke this Psalm on the cross and wisely; for the event of God-With-Us was not a merely moment, it began a forever.
