Psalm 22

My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?

Read Matthew 27:34-50

Chapters and verses of the bible are something of man’s work. Chapters and verses divisions were added much later on to the Scriptures. Chapter divisions were added around A.D. 1227 and verses were added to the Old testament in the 1400’s and the New Testament verses were added in the 1500’s.

The Geneva Bible was the first bible to have the chapter and verse divisions, and then the King James will come out in 1611.

Before then, how did you know the references? How did you call out a text to know where to start from?

It would say: “It is written...” Hebrews 2:6 - “But one testified in a certain place saying...” “For He has spoken in a certain place...” “Elsewhere it is written...”

Or… you would quote the first verse:

“My God, My God, Why Have Your Forsaken Me?”

What is Jesus pointing the people to? What is He pointing us to?

He is pointing His audience to the beginning of a Psalm. Now, because of the chapters that we have, we know that Jesus is pointing us to Psalm 22.

“Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?”

Now, those standing by Jesus hear Him call out and misunderstand. Jesus’ call to God in Aramaic sounds like the Hebrew name for “Elijah”… So, they believe that Jesus is calling out for the prophet to come save Him.

This is not what Jesus is doing.

What is Jesus doing? Fulfilling prophecy. Experiencing the horror of Psalm 22. And pointing the people to God’s promises that He made almost 1000 years before Christ was born.

My God, My God, Why Have Your Forsaken Me?

Commentators break the Psalm down in this way:

This psalm presents the crucifixion of Christ in vv. 1–21 and His resurrection in vv. 22–31.

Verses 1-21 - What do we see? Jesus being abandoned. Jesus being cut off from the favor and fellowship of the Father. Jesus is bearing the sins of the world.

Beyond the physical torment, their was a real spiritual torment that is unseen to us.

He who knew no sin became sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God. Jesus became the curse and was cursed. Therefore, He was experiencing a real hell on that Cross… a pain that surpassed the physical.

This pain, I believe, is the pain that caused Jesus to sweat drops of blood in the Garden.

You read the anguish of the prayer to the Father. The bulls and the dogs, which depict the vicious beasts that surrounded Jesus, Roman soldiers (Gentiles) and Religious beasts. They are yelling and sneering, mocking, and ridiculing.

In and through the flesh of the “bulls and dogs,” are the “lions” of Satan, satanic forces working.

Verses 6-8 - The humiliation of the cross was real. This is disgrace. He is disfigured. He is laughed at and scorned.

Verses 14-18 - Jesus is poured out. Emotions are great and courage is gone. They have pierced My hands and My Feet; I can count all my bones… (The whips have removed the flesh to expose the bones)They divide My garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots...

Death (Sheol)is near...

The Jews did not know of crucifixion back in David’s time. This is hundreds of years before crucifixion in invented.

This vivid description of Christ’s death on the cross could only have been penned by inspiration of the Spirit.

And it is written to point us to Christ. But the Jews cannot see or hear this. They are so blind and deaf to the Word of God, they cannot experience the truth that is in front of them.

Oh… what is truth? Truth is hanging on a tree but you will never partake of His fruit. You will never taste and see that the Lord is Good. The Tree of Life is in front of you and all you see is an execution device… and a fool.

This is what Jesus was sweating drops of blood over. This is what Jesus knew was coming… All of this.

And now… He will go into the place of the dead, Sheol, (Look at Luke 16:19-31), but as Psalm 16 says, “The Father will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will He allow the Holy One to see corruption...

In vv. 1–21 we see Christ’s suffering and crucifixion, while in vv. 22–31 we see His glory and resurrection.

The first passage depicts pain and prayer; the second passage depicts praise and promise.

The first shows Christ in the midst of His enemies; the second, Christ in the midst of the church.

So, look at this: Jesus prays… and concludes in verse 21… Jesus cries out, “It is finished; Father into Your Hands I commit My Spirit,” and then we see and hear the transition...

“You have answered Me.”

The Father has turned. The Father has poured out all the sin and wrath upon the Son. The Father has remained silent as the Son of God is crushed for our iniquities.

Verses 22–31- Now we see the Father responding, answering His Son’s prayer, and His glory and resurrection is now on display.

Read Hebrews 5:5-11 - Jesus was heard and has become the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. He is now the Author and Finisher of our faith, our Great High Priest.

This final section is filled with praise: in the church (v. 22), in Israel (vv. 23–26), and among the Gentiles (vv. 27–31).

Thanksgiving was to be offered in the assembly to evoke praise from the people of God. This was the responsibility of anyone whom the Lord rescued, so that the entire community could rejoice in God’s acts of deliverance (66:16). Whereas the psalmist praised God for being delivered from death, Jesus the Messiah brought glory to God through his death and resurrection.

The psalm ends by broadening to the most universal purpose of God’s kingdom over the earth. Israel’s purpose was to be a testimony to other nations so they would bow down before the Lord and serve him (67:2; 72:11, 17; 86:9).

The growth of the kingdom throughout time is demonstrated in the phrase a people yet to be born (future generations).

The inclusion of those who go down to the dust who would pay homage to the Lord (v. 29) is unusual, since in other psalms it is clear that the dead cannot praise him (6:5; 88:10–12).

This is more likely a reference to the final stage of God’s kingdom when even the dead are brought back to life to recognize the Lord’s authority over all things (Dn 12:2).

What is it called when the dead come back to life? Resurrection.

Verse 31 (NKJV) ends, “He has done this,” paralleling Jesus’ words, “It is finished.”

Because of Christ’s work on the cross, salvation has been accomplished and all who come to Him by faith will be saved.

Jesus is on the Cross pointing to this reality: To what is and what is to be.

What you are seeing is real. What you are seeing was foretold. In and through this God is going to deliver Me, and I am going to finish the Father’s work in this world.

And the Kingdom of God has arrived on earth. And all the nations of the earth shall now hear and come to the Lord.

They shall eat and drink, and worship in Spirit and in Truth.

This Person and Promise is for all who will come to Him, in this generation and the generation to come… To whosoever will call out upon the name of the Lord...

And His righteousness shall be upon them.

Jesus has done this.

Now: We break out in song, in Chapter 23, “The Lord is Me Shepherd… I Shall Not Want...”

Amen.