Psalm 22:16-24 “For dogs have surrounded me. A company of evildoers have enclosed me. They have pierced my hands and feet. I can count all of my bones. They look and stare at me. They divide my garments amongst them. They cast lots for my clothing. But don’t be far off, LORD. You are my help. Hurry to help me! Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog. Save me from the lion’s mouth! Yes, you have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen. I will declare your name to my brothers. Amongst the assembly, I will praise you. You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify him! Stand in awe of him, all you descendants of Israel! For he has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, neither has he hidden his face from him; but when he cried to him, he heard.”

I made a slight error with yesterday’s passage. I juxtaposed the second part of Psalm 21 with the second part of Psalm 22 and had verses 8-13 instead of 9-15. It has now been remedied, but I’ll mention verse 15 here to comment on it:

“My strength is dried up like a potsherd. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have brought me into the dust of death.”

The Psalmist reminds us of God’s sovereignty here. God either decrees or allows. Either way it’s because he wants us to grow and mature as a result of our life experiences. And here we see the Psalmist’s response. There has been doubt and fear coupled with trust and acceptance. But ultimately there is joy and praise, with a cry for all to glorify God and stand in awe of him, because God hears prayer!

Jesus’ initial cry on the cross should be taken seriously. He was in pain and experiencing great torment. However, we can’t separate it from the context of the rest of the Psalm. Psalm 22 is a reminder of the ups and downs of life, and the need to cry out to God in the midst of it. It is a reminder that God is always with us, that there is purpose in all things, and that He always hears our prayers!

“For he has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, neither has he hidden his face from him; but when he cried to him, he heard.“

Did you catch the references to the crucifixion in this portion of the Psalm?

“They have pierced my hands and feet.“

“They divide my garments amongst them. They cast lots for my clothing.“

For additional worship: When I Survey The Wondrous Cross Lyric – Keith & Kristyn Getty