Psalm 22-23 Eulogy

Eulogy

Psalm 22:1–21 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. 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!” 9 Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts. 10 On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God. 11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. 12 Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; 13 they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. 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. 16 For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet— 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. 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!

This is a psalm of David, but as we know, this psalm also points forward to Jesus.

So, in these verses, we see some of what our Lord went through on the cross, and there is only one word to describe it: despair.

He feels as if God has forsaken him. He cries out, but God doesn’t answer. 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.

He looks back and remembers how God saved the Israelites when they cried out in Egypt, but he feels like God doesn’t hear him. Psalm 22:4-6.

Psalm 22:4–6 ESV

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. 6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people.

He looks around, and all he sees are his enemies. Psalm 22:6-8, 16-18.

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!”

Psalm 22:16–18 ESV

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

It’s evident from this psalm that the cross was a horrible experience for Jesus. Could you imagine going through this?

Could you imagine being surrounded by people who hate and spit on you?

Could you image watching your mother suffer as she watches your last moments?

Could you imagine watching one of your best friends betray you?

Could you imagine going through all of this for people who are disloyal to you?

Thinking about these things, it makes me wonder why Jesus does it. Why did Jesus decide to go through this for us? Why does Jesus make the ultimate sacrifice for a sinful mankind?

Well, part of the answer is in this psalm.

Psalm 22:28 ESV

28 For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.

God is king, and that’s part of the answer.

But another part of the answer is found in the next psalm as well.

Psalm 23 ESV

A Psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Jesus can endure Psalm 22 because of Psalm 23.

Jesus sacrificed his life because he trusts in Jehovah is his loving shepherd.

It reminds me of what is said in the garden.

Matthew 26:39 ESV

39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

Jesus didn’t want to drink the cup, but he does it anyways.

Conclusion

Even though we were created in God’s image, we tried to become like God, and the result was that we became less like him and were driven from his presence.

In order to save us, God became more like us so that we could become more like him…

He did what we could not do. He saved us from our sins.

Let’s never forget this.