Psalm 22:1-8 “For the Chief Musician; set to ‘The Doe of the Morning.’ A Psalm by David. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning? My God, I cry in the daytime, but you don’t answer; in the night season, and am not silent. But you are holy, you who inhabit the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in you. They trusted, and you delivered them. They cried to you, and were delivered. They trusted in you, and were not disappointed. But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people. All those who see me mock me. They insult me with their lips. They shake their heads, saying, ‘He trusts in the LORD. Let him deliver him. Let him rescue him, since he delights in him.’ “

Psalm 22 is Messianic and is both quoted by Jesus and references His time on the cross.

Matthew 27:46 “About the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lima sabachthani?’ That is, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ ”

Luke 23:35-36 “The people stood watching. The rulers with them also scoffed at him, saying, ‘He saved others. Let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, his chosen one!’ ”

Although Jesus’ initial quote of this Psalm does seem to indicate the heartache and despair that he felt, there is more to it than that. The Psalm itself moves between doubt and despair, and we see significant expressions of faith in it. It should remind us of a couple of things. First, that the anguish Jesus experienced on the cross was absolutely real. Second, that even in the midst of incredible pain and suffering, Jesus knew why it was happening and still trusted and believed. And third, that expressing our doubts and fears to God can help us move to faith.

For additional worship: Death of a son (Lyrics) by Michael Card