Psalm 22 -Deliverance of the King -Pt1

Psalm 20-21 - David record in song for God’s people how to respond to their Lord before a battle and after a battle

Now we see David in another type of Battle.

Two weeks in Ps 22

The Lord and His people are delivered from Anguish to Joy by the steadfast love of God.

Lament Psalm

From Anguish to Joy - v.1-21

My God, My God, Why?

From Lament to Thanksgiving - v.22-31

Yet you are enthroned as the holy One!

Learning to lament is critical for your spiritual, emotional and psychological health.

@ the same time:

David real life experiences points to someone greater who is to come

Ps 22 = 5th gospel - more explicit details of the cross than anywhere in Scripture.

Two points and well look at one this week and one next week:

The Lord and his people Experience Anguish Despite the Steadfast love of God

The Lord and his people are Delivered to Joy by the Steadfast Love of God

Psalm 22:1-5

Psalm 22:1–5 ESV

1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. 3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. 4 In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. 5 To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.

Pray

The Lord and his people Experience Anguish Despite the Steadfast love of God

Three laments in anguish of the Lord and his people (1 lament in three stanzas/sections)

First lament - vv.1-5

I feel abandoned - Psalm 22:1-2

Psalm 22:1–2 ESV

1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.

The aguish of feeling forsaken - v.1

“The word forsaken (Heb. azab) means ‘to abandon, leave behind, let go, depart.’

In Isaiah 54:7, God stated concerning Israel, ‘For a brief moment I abandoned (Heb. azab) you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back.’

Isaiah 54:7 ESV

7 For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you.

The aguish of silence - V.2 - divine silence

Davids continual, dependent prayers - day and night

No answer = no rest

Yet You Are - V.3-5

David’s contrast of God versus his feelings

God has forsaken me -

V.1a God is enthroned/king/Sovereign -Psalm 22:3

Psalm 22:3 ESV

3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.

God’s silence is not God abdicating his position as sovereign ruler over the affairs of men

The history of redemption reveals a God who is loyal and able to save

God is far from saving - v.1b

God is holy - V.3b

God is unresponsive to my crying - v.1c

God receives the praise of his people - v.3c

Psalm 22:4 - What is David doing? -

Psalm 22:4 ESV

4 In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them.

David realizes the past faithfulness of God to His people points to his hope for future deliverance

David Points us to Another who was abandoned:

The Lord was abandoned yet trusted

“The greatest proof that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God is fulfilled prophecy” (Lawson, 113).

V.1 - 4th statement uttered from the cross

Matt 27:46

Matthew 27:46 ESV

46 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?”

While on the cross, God forsook Jesus as he placed on him the divine wrath reserved for his people as Jesus acted as a substitute for those who would believe (Isa. 55:4-6,10; 2 Cor. 5:21).

This separation was the greatest Hell known by Christ.

Silence from heaven.

Something Jesus had never known. John 11:41-42

Three hours of darkness - Night Jesus was referring to

2 - Isa 53:10 - 1st anguish then joy

Isaiah 53:10 ESV

10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

Second Lament - vv.6-11

But I am - Psalm 22:6-8

Psalm 22:6–8 ESV

6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. 7 All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; 8 “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”

God is enthroned “but I” am a worm

A worm is corrupting and corrupted.

Worms spoil the things that they consume.

Their association with the grave and with dead bodies also highlights the fragility and temporariness of life.

God is Holy but I am scorned - v.6

V.7-8 - The enemies apply their theological measuring stick to his suffering.

If you were really obedient this God would take this away.

They mock his trust in God and the fact that he claims that God delights in him.

If that were the case, they reason, God would have rescued him already

Yet you are - vv.9-11

Psalm 22:9

Psalm 22:9 ESV

9 Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts.

David’s eyes move from the enemy to his Lord with “yet you”

Cov love from birth is by God’s promise to Abraham and his offspring.

If you delivered Abraham and Moses how can you now abandon their children?

Psalm 22:11 - A plea for closeness

Psalm 22:11 ESV

11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help.

The Lord was scorned as he trusted & because he trusted

Scorned and mocked:

Unrecognizable - Isa 52:14

Isaiah 52:14 ESV

14 As many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—

Spat upon - Matt 26:67

Struck - Matt. 26:67-68

blasphemed - Luke 22:65

Flogged - Matt. 27:26

Beaten w/ a staff - Matt 27:30

David didn’t lament just once but three times he cries out honestly to his Lord.

Third lament - vv.12-21

Ex: Rowdy encircled by three other dogs - picked apart and then ripped open

I am

Psalm 22:12 - surrounded

Psalm 22:12 ESV

12 Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me;

This was an area known for their large cattle

The enemy is characterized by their strength, pride and intent

Psalm 22:16

Psalm 22:16 ESV

16 For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet—

Psalm 22:14-15 - Poured out - Physically and psychologically

Psalm 22:14–15 ESV

14 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; 15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death.

Anxiety = v.14 “water” and “Wax” =inner feelings

V.15 - physical weakness - thirsty

David feels weak, unable to defend himself, left to the dogs

Where does David turn first? -

Ex: Who are you lamenting to? There are some who are burdening people you love because you are treating them like God.

David’s first laments to God, He tells Gods honestly how he feels. Not only that, he writes it in Israels hymnbook to ensure they will properly lament in the future.

I am .....

But you Psalm 22:19-21

Psalm 22:19–21 ESV

19 But you, O Lord, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid! 20 Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog! 21 Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen!

David Strength and hope was not in a human nor in a prescription but it was in his Lord

David desperate Plea: Come quickly!

The desperate imperatives: Come quickly -Rescue me -save me

Save me = you have heard me

He sees God as the only resource that can help him with his enemies who come at him with the sword.

V.21 - turning point - Where David goes from - Your have rescued - I will tell

The Lord was encircled by the powerful (religious & warrior)

Psalm 22:17-18 - written 1000 years before Christ

Psalm 22:17–18 ESV

17 I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me; 18 they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.

Luke 23:33-38

Luke 23:33–38 ESV

33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. 35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”

Jesus is on the cross stripped naked right off the ground

soldier casting lots for his clothes

The religious circles around mocking (powerful religious and powerful warriors both surrounding him both mocking him)

Public shame came before Public praise - Make no mistake joy will come in the morning!

Isa 53:5-8 - The purpose behind the pain

Isaiah 53:5–8 ESV

5 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. 6 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. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?

So What?

Do you know how to lament?

Listen to David but look to Christ

Relate to David but find rest in Christ

Lament like David but find hope in Christ

Remember God’s promises and worship Jesus Christ

Listen to David but look to Christ - It is ok to ask God Why? It is ok to tell God honestly how you feel!

We can all relate to David! But David rested in the promised of God especially when he did not understand the plan

Lament like David

Believers stop regurgitating your frustrations on FB

David -Why Lord… But this I know!

Job 19:25-27

Job 19:25–27 ESV

25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. 26 And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, 27 whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!

Lament to the the Lord and behold your God

Will you behold your God?

Heb 4:14-16 - I fear we’ve heard this verse and are not impacted by it because we remove it from its context.

The context is how do people find abiding rest? - Answer faith in the Lord alone.

Israel would not and never found it.

Hebrews 4:14–16 ESV

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

The plea from the author is behold Christ, your great high priest who entered into the Holy Presence and made full and final sacrifice for you with his own blood.

Jesus shares your feeling - sympathizes

The abiding rest we need in the midst of times of anxiety and confusion comes through an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ and his blood bought people.

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Next week: We do not understand so let us gather the people of God and Praise the name!

The Lord and his people are Delivered to Joy by the Steadfast Love of God

Will you cry out to him in your need today - will you at the same time declare your trust in his unchanging grace?

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!