Agony and Audacious Hope

Michael Howard

Good Friday 2026 • Sermon • Submitted 2 months ago • Presented 2 months ago

Psalm 22

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Text—these are the very words of God

Psalm 22 ESV

To the choirmaster: according to The Doe of the Dawn. A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts. On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God. Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet— I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. But you, O Lord, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid! Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog! Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen! I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him. From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him. The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord! May your hearts live forever! All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations. All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive. Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.

Introduction

Agony and Hope are not two terms we normally associate with one another.

Agony: extreme mental or physical suffering

David seems to be dealing with both on some level in this Psalm

And yet, in the midst of such agony, David has an audacious hope.

He has a bold confidence in the future of God’s Kingdom

He has a bold confidence in the future of his throne

He audaciously looks past midnight to dawn and says, “I see hope on the horizon,” even though there seems to be no light in sight.

How can these two things both be represented in David’s Psalm?

How can the agonizing King be so hopeful?

We will find the answer in One who is to come from David’s line.

Context

Psalm 22 is written by King David.

We are not sure of the occasion or where this falls in the timeline of David’s life

Some think it is during the time of his being hunted by Saul

Others think it is during the time of Absalom’s rebellion

Or maybe it is just some unknown season of suffering in David’s life we are not aware of

It is a Psalm of Affliction, not a Psalm of Confession

David is not in the Psalm 22 crucible because of his own sin

He is in the crucible because he is being treated unjustly and unfairly

The Psalm traces the agony of a man suffering, even though he is righteous.

And it traces the audacious hope of a man who trusts the God who rules the nations.

Big Idea

Agony and audacious hope meet at the Cross of the Son of David.

Outline

1. David’s Agony (v. 1-18).

2. David’s Audacious Hope (v. 27-28).

3. The Cross of David’s Son.

1. David’s Agony (v. 1-18)

The first 18 verses tell us about the agony of David.

We do not have time for a deep dive.

This will be more of a fly over.

A. David is in agony because he feels separated from the presence of God (v. 1-2)

David feels abandoned (v. 1)

We know he feels that the presence of God has forsaken him because he finds “no rest.” (v. 2)

Rest is found in God’s presence

Think of Adam walking with God in the Cool of the Garden in Genesis

But when the presence of God seems to have fled from you, there is no peace.

There is no rest.

David is not silent.

He groans in prayer, but help seems far away

B. David is in agony because he is being mocked mercilessly (v. 6-8; 17-18).

Verses 6-8

The suffering has brought David to a place where he feels sub-human

Like a little earthworm crushed underfoot and pressed down into the dirt

David is scorned—insulted (v. 6)

David is despised—held in contempt by his enemies (v. 6)

He is mocked—scoffed at and derided (v. 7)

They make mouths at him

Hebrew literally means to “shoot out the lip”

Idiom for making faces (juvenile, mean, hateful mocking)

Wag their heads

Shake their head in a taunting manner

The focus of the mockery is the fact that David supposedly trusts in the Lord, but the Lord is not delivering him from his enemies. (v. 8)

If you are God’s anointed One, then why doesn’t He rescue you?

Verses 17-18

People gawk at him and gloat over his agony (v. 17)

They treat him like an object to be discarded, gambling for his clothes (v. 18)

Trial and Tribulation

Some may wonder if David is being dramatic...

...After all “Sticks and stones break the bones, but the words will never hurt,” right?

WRONG.

That is the nursery rhyme of children who haven’t lived long enough to be pierced by the tongue

Octavius Winslow taught that even a sideways look from a good friend can be a trial for the soul—

—Certainly the mocking words of enemies is a trial as well!

C. David is in agony because he is being physically pulverized (v. 12-17).

There seems to be a serious physical element to David’s suffering.

Verses 12-17 reveal it.

David is Surrounded by Enemies (v. 12-13, 16)

David compares his enemies to vicious animals with sharp teeth or sharp horns.

Bulls (v. 12)

Lion (v. 13, 21)

Dogs (v. 16, 20)

Oxen (v. 21)

David is the hunted.

His enemies surround him like a mob

They are hungry for his death and demise

They want to rip him apart and run him through

Verse 16 specifically says they encircle David and pierce his bands an feet

The Hebrew means “pin down”

They pin down my hands and feet

The image is of an innocent man being held down for harm

David Uses the Language of Death (v. 14-15, 17)

Poured out like water (v. 14)

His strength is nearly gone, like the last bit of water circling the drain

Bones are out of joint (v. 14)

He has been physically stretched

His bones are starting to separate

He is coming apart at the seams

Heart is like wax; Melted within the breast (v. 14)

Have you ever seen a candle at the end of its life?

Barely anything left to burn.

A guttering, sputtering little flame.

The wax is just about see through.

This is the state of David’s inner-man.

He is flickering.

For the Jews, they understood that the spiritual impacts the physical.

If David’s heart is flickering, his body is soon to follow.

Strength dried up like a potsherd (v. 15)

David is dry and broken like a busted piece of poverty

His tongue sticks to his jaws—his gums (v. 15)

His mouth is dried out, desperate for a drink of water

He is laid in the dust (v. 15)

David is returning to the very dust that Adam was formed from

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust—David feels he is dying.

He is emaciated to the point that you can count his bones if you really wanted to (v. 17)

The problem is NOT the character of David, but the sin of others (v. 9-11).

Why is David suffering like this?

Sometimes we suffer because we have sinned.

Doesn’t seem to be the case with David

No hint of confession in the Psalm

Verses 9-11

David looks to God as His Maker and Sustainer (v. 9-10)

He has relied upon God since he nursed from his mother (v. 9)

Even in his mother’s womb God was sustaining him (v. 10)

Later in the Psalm he is:

Telling of God’s name (v. 22)

Calling for God’s praise (v. 23)

Acknowledging God’s gracious ear (v. 24)

Committed to perform his vows (v. 25)

Far from being a man suffering due to his sin, David’s heart is set on the Lord in Psalm 22

David is suffering because of the sin of others

The problem is NOT the character of God, but the sin of others (v. 3-5).

If David is not at fault for David’s suffering, we may be tempted that God is at fault and that He is unfair for letting David suffer.

But David does not feel this way.

He extols and magnifies God’s good and pure character.

Verses 3-5

God is holy (v. 3)

He is perfect in power, love and purity.

No sin. Not even an evil impulse.

Thoroughly, dreadfully, wonderfully perfect.

God is majestic (v. 3)

He sits on a throne made of the praises of his people

God is proven (v. 4-5)

He has delivered His people before—like when His mighty arm outmatched Pharoah

He has heard their prayers and rescued them

Any who truly trust in Him will not end up embarrassed about it

Transition to Point #2

The problem is not with God or David.

The problem is the sin of others.

But the sin of others has placed David in true agony.

Emotional

Spiritual

Physical

His whole life is engulfed by agony

And yet, if we look to verses 27-28...

2. David’s Audacious Hope (v. 27-28)

David’s hope can really be highlighted in verses 27-28.

He looks off to the horizon and he SEES something with the eyes of his heart.

A. All the nations will turn to the Lord and worship Him (v. 27)

Before the Great Commission...

Before Jesus’ Acts 1:8 promise about the Spirit making the church a witness to the nations...

Before Satan is bound by the work of the Cross and the Resurrection...

David looks out and sees a time when the non-Jewish, Gentile nations will all turn to the Lord

Notice David uses God’s covenant name “Yahweh” (indicated by the capital L-O-R-D in your English Bible)

This was the name God gave His people to know Him by...

...Pagan Gentiles will know Him by this name!

He sees a time when all the families of earth (every tribe, every tongue) will fall on their faces and worship Him.

B. The Kingship belongs to the Lord (v. 28)

David is sure of this because “Kingship belongs to the Lord”

This is just another way of saying, “The Kingdom belongs to the LORD.”

“Yahweh” used again to show that God is not just the King of Israel, but ultimately the King of Humanity

He is the true Ruler of the nations

C. The Abrahamic Promise of Genesis 17

David is in agony.

But as he writhes, he looks out to the horizon and says, “God will be King over the nations and they will all worship Him!?

David has audacious hope!

What gives him the idea that this reality will come to pass?

He knows his Bible.

The nations will be blessed through Abraham’s people

Genesis 12:2–3 ESV

And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

A great nation is to come from Abram, whose name means “Exalted Father”

In Abram and the nation that comes from him, all the families of the earth are blessed

Notice same language from Psalm 22:27

But not just this—Kings would come through Abram’s people

Genesis 17:5–6 ESV

No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you.

No longer called Abram, but Abraham, which means “Father of a Multitude”

He will be a father of a multitude of nations—not just the nation of Israel

Kings shall come from his line

So Abraham will be a father of many nations—Jew and Gentiles all a part of Abraham’s family

all the families of the earth will be blessed!

And it seems this will be executed through kings coming from Abraham

Fast-forward to Genesis 49 and Abraham’s grandson is blessing his sons and listen to what he says for his son Judah:

Genesis 49:10 ESV

The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.

So Abraham’s family will be widened to include Jews and Gentiles

Abraham’s family will be made up of many nations

And the Kings over Abraham’s people will come from the line of Abraham’s great-grandson, Judah

D. David’s hope is in God’s promise to bless the nations through Israel’s King

I think David anticipates all of this as he writes this Psalm.

And I believe it is the source of David’s Audacious Hope.

That all the families of the earth will turn to the Lord

That the Kingdom belongs to the Lord

The Kingdom will include citizens from all the families of the earth

They come and worship and bow down, in subjection a King from Judah’s line

God’s enemies will be vanquished

God’s opposition will be defeated

There will just be submission to God through His King and there will be peace

This is David’s hope in agony...

Depending on when this was written, David may have understood something of his own role in this as Israel’s king

For David himself is one born from the line of Judah

He became Israel’s King

And this is what God said to Him:

2 Samuel 7:16 ESV

And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’ ”

But whether David knew this part yet or not, is neither here nor there...

The bottom line is—David’s hope is in God’s promise.

This is what gives him his bold audacity in the pit of agony

3. The Cross of David’s Son

But hope is the wish of an optimistic fool if it doesn’t come to fruition.

So the question is—Does David’s hope come to fruition?

HAS IT come to fruition?

WILL IT come to fruition?

A. How can the nations come in to worship the Lord?

After all, how can a lost, pagan nation be saved?

How can the unclean be included with the clean?

How can the families of the earth—coated in their slimy sin—ascend the hill of the Lord?

How can enter the Kingdom?

Maybe they can’t?

Maybe we should just WEEP because David was an optimistic fool?

B. The Lion of Judah/Root of David Suffers Like David

Enter Revelation 5:5

Revelation 5:5 ESV

And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Do you see?

One has come who is from the line of Judah

One has come who is from David’s family

A Royal Ruler arrived on the scene and said: “The Kingdom is at hand”

But His people—the ones with Abraham’s blood—did not recognize Him as the King.

They arrested Him.

They put Him on trial.

And they put Him on a Cross

Christ/David Comparisons

He Cried out like David

Matthew 27:46 ESV

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

He was mocked like David

Matthew 27:39–44 ESV

And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.

He Taken to the Dust Like David

Bones out of joint

Crucifixion would dislocate the shoulders of its victims almost immediately

It was virtually instantaneous upon being suspended on the Cross

Water poured out

In order for the victims of crucifixion to breathe, they had to push up with their legs so they could expand their lungs

It was an extremely painful process for the one dying just to get a breath

After the vicious beating that Jesus had endured, His strength would have been sponged out of Him

Dried Up

John 19:28 ESV

After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.”

Pinned Down like David

Isaiah 53:5 ESV

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

Cast Aside for His Clothes to Be Gambled Over like David

Matthew 27:35 ESV

And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots.

C. Why is Jesus in Agony?

Why is this happening?

Why is this One from the Line of Judah suffering?

Why is David’s Root experiencing David’s plight?

Why is Jesus in agony?

Is it a problem with the character of the One who is dying?

Problem is not with Jesus!

His is innocent and sinless—just like David in Psalm 22

We know Psalm 51 exists

We know David is not actually sinless

But Jesus is actually sinless!

Isaiah 53:9 ESV

And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.

In every moment of life, Christ was holy and sinless.

The problem is not with Him.

Is it a problem with the character of God?

Is it God? Is He unfair? Is this why Jesus is suffering?

It is actually just the opposite.

The Suffering of David’s Son speaks to God’s justice—not injustice.

What must be understood about the Agony of the Son of David

See—we must understand something about the nature of the agony of David’s Son.

He volunteered for it.

John 10:11 ESV

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

John 10:18 ESV

No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.

The Kingdom David foresees in Psalm 22:27-28 is filled with Jewish and Gentile sinners.

How can Jewish and Gentile sinners receive blessing from God?

How can they turn to Him when they hate Him and do not desire Him?

How can they worship Him when they do not even know Him?

The agony of Jesus is the answer to these questions!

D. The agony of the Son of David makes it so the nations can come to Him as King.

When Jesus died, God’s wrath and anger toward the sins of Jews and Gentiles, were poured out on Christ.

He received the wrath of God.

Isaiah 53:6 ESV

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53:10 ESV

Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief;

Christ paid the penalty for the sins of all types of people from all types of places, opening the way for them to come to God through Him.

When Christ died in agony at Calvary, He paid for sin so that sinners would not have to.

Jesus took names to the Cross and He cleared their debts with God.

NOW the families of the earth may come to God and worship before Him

God sent His Son, the King from the line of Judah and David, to come and die, ensuring David’s hope would be reality.

God’s Kingdom stands

God’s Kingdom citizens come from the ends of the earth

God’s King rules them forever

Revelation 21:23–26 ESV

And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations.