MEDITATIONS IN THE PSALMS [An outline of the Psalm: A good devotional study when using the scriptures indicated] Psalm 22: Part 1 The Psalm of the Cross
A Psalm of David, a prophetic Psalm of Christ crucifixion; the next three psalms are a trilogy, Ps 22 the Ps of the âGood Shepherdâ giving His life for His sheep: Ps 23 the Ps of the âGreat Shepherdâ caring for and watching over His sheep: Ps 24 the Ps of the âChief Shepherdâ who has ascended on high and waits the day of His return for the sheep. âI am the Good Shepherd: the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheepâ John 10:11. âNow the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenantâ Heb 13:20. âAnd when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not awayâ 1 Pet 5:4. Note the title of Psalm 22, âTo the Chief Musicianâ. The most excellent of the temple singers were used, and as Mr. Spurgeon says, âThe Chief among ten thousand is worthy to be extolled by the Chief Musician.â âWe must see to it that we call up our best abilities when Jesus is the theme of our praise.â The Psalm is divided into two parts, vs 1-21 is a cry for help; vs 22-31 a foretaste of deliverance. The scene is the cross; it is supposed that Christ uttered the entire Psalm, an appeal based on a covenant. Verse 1 prophetic, we hear its fulfillment in Matt 27:45-46 ââŚthere was darkness over all the landâ Why? His soul was making a sin offering for my sin. âEli, Eli, lama sabachthaniâ âNailed to the tree Jesus cried this exceeding bitter cry, and while the Jews mocked the angels adored. Wonder of wonders! God forsaking God!â (Luther) What a marvelous cleaving, âOh that we could imitate this cleaving to an afflicting God.â The scene is dark on dark Golgothaâs brow, yet there are flashes of blinding light amid the darkness. First, our LORDâS faith beams forth that we might be granted imitating power. âEliâ signifies strength, the name of the Almighty. He did not cry âEl-roiâ the God that seeth me, for He had turned His back on Him. He cried âEliâ my Strong One who will not let me go. He did not cry âEl-Shaddaiâ the God of Almighty terribleness. He cried âEliâ my Strong One deliver me from the storm of El-Shaddaiâs fierce wrath. Second the Son interrogates the Father, âWhy hast thou forsaken Me?â Here let us lay âline upon line, precept upon precept.â What is the great cause of this strange factual scene? Why should the Father leave the Son to such a time and plight? There was no cause in Him, why was He deserted? 2 Cor.5:21; Isa.53:4-6; legally bound on the cross as my sin bearer the Father forsook the Son that He might not forsake me, Isa.59. âHastâ, note the tense, it was done and our Savior was feeling its dread effect. He was not threatened with it, it was done. Every being outside of Christ is threatened with abandonment, but is not utterly forsaken of God until death. Luke 16:19-31, you may escape the reality of it until the reality comes; then there will be no escape. ~~Terry Worthan, 1938-2022