The Victorious Sufferer
Lessons From The Psalms • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
Greetings…
Sunday night theme lately has been, “Lessons From The Psalms.”
The psalms provide us with so much information about our attitude toward worship, and how we ought to pray and sing.
Many of the psalms are also prophetic in nature such as the one we are going to look at this evening, Psalm 22.
There is no doubt David was the inspired writer just as there is no doubt that Jesus is the one being discussed.
This is obvious by the different references in the New Testament to this psalm connecting it to the cross of Christ.
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?”
37 And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”
Brother Coffman makes an interesting observation as well concerning this psalm’s prophetic nature.
“There is another important reason why Christ alone is depicted here. The words here are free of any consciousness whatever of sin; there is no hint of confessing wrongs; there is no call for vengeance against enemies, only unfaltering trust and faith in God.” 1
With this all in mind let’s examine our lesson this evening.
Where’s The Solution?
Where’s The Solution?
Why Doesn’t God Do Something?
Why Doesn’t God Do Something?
As humans we not only want solutions, we also have in mind how we want them solved.
It appears to Jesus, at first, that God has forgotten him.
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.
Why isn’t God doing anything to help his only begotten son hanging on the cross?
Sometimes it can feel like God is not near us, that he chosen others to help and not us.
However, we must remember what Jesus knew.
God was with him.
28 So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. 29 And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”
We know God will always take care of his people.
10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Summary
Summary
History shows us that God was always there to deliver his son, as he will always be there for us if we are doing his will.
Still, it doesn’t make the trials we are going through any less severe.
It doesn’t make the suffering less painful.
However, knowing God is there makes this suffering bearable and manageable.
As I said we often not only are seeking solutions to trails but wanting to give the solution as well.
When we go through these things, we must not lose sight of God.
Even Jesus, with all this torment, really knew God was there and put his trust in him.
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.
Though Jesus trusted the Father completely, as I said, it didn’t make the suffering less painful.
And to make things worse his own creation, whom he came to save was causing more pain, which brings us to our next question…
What’s With These People?
What’s With These People?
People Can Pile On.
People Can Pile On.
There is a tendency with mankind to kick the guy who is down, or pile on the one suffering.
As Jesus suffered on the cross people mocked him relentlessly.
39 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads 40 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.”
41 So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, 42 “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. 43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ”
Even though Jesus trusted in God and knew he would deliver him, it was still hard to take.
Jesus, the creator of the universe and all that is in it, felt more like an animal than man.
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!”
People can be cruel and as we said when the chips are down it’s not just those close to you that will let you down but your enemies will have a hay-day.
People Can Be Evil.
People Can Be Evil.
When it comes to our time to leave this earth, I think most of us would choose family and close friends to be by our side.
Those whom we love and cherish.
When Jesus hung on the cross, he had some, like his mother and John, there by him, but he had far more enemies than friends.
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.
Yet, like again Jesus knew, when all others forsake us there is one who will not, our God.
5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
28 For the Lord loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
Summary
Summary
When we are down, and people are piling on our misery “knowingly or not” our God is there for us.
16 At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.
So what is the solution to our troubles and when we are feeling like the world is crashing down around us?
What Can Be Done?
What Can Be Done?
Praise God.
Praise God.
Though it might feel like it’s going against every emotion we might have at the moment we need to praise God, and not just to him but to everyone who will listen.
This is exactly what Jesus declared here in our psalm in Psalm 22:22-26.
22 I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: 23 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! 24 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.
25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him. 26 The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord! May your hearts live forever!
Therefore, when we are going through all these trials, we are to look at the outcome, like Jesus did, instead of the momentary heartache.
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Summary
Summary
Reality is, it is only after the trail and tribulation is over and we have overcome will “we” see the full blessing of such and how God never left us.
Praising God during our most difficult of times is the best medicine for our emotions just like it was for our Christ.
Because Jesus dealt with all of this perfectly…
What Was The Impact?
What Was The Impact?
All Will Remember.
All Will Remember.
When Jesus suffered for righteousness’ sake he did so, in order that all would hear of his news and remember his trial and tribulation.
27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.
The impact of what Jesus did shook the entire world.
The “whole world” heard of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection and was turned upside down.
6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,
When we suffer for the sake of Christ (2 Timothy 3:12) we will have an impact on others lives who see our faithfulness.
Our willingness to praise God even when we are struggling will have a lasting impact on others both inside and outside the church.
6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.
Summary
Summary
Our impact at praising God when we are at our lowest, will reverberate to outermost and impact others lives to be faithful as well.
After all isn’t that what Hebrews 11 is meant to do for us today?
Conclusion
Conclusion
Nearly 1,000 years before Jesus was to come to this earth David wrote this psalm.
It records accurately Jesus’ thoughts while on the cross.
It describes a crucifixion before crucifixions were developed.
It records the very words people would utter and actions people would take.
And almost 3,000 years later it still has an impact on the faithful today.
It lays out the same path we can take through the hardships of life so that we, like “The Victorious Sufferer,” can be “A Victorious Sufferer.”
Brothers and sisters, this Psalm is the absolute best place to help people deal with difficulties.
And if you are struggling, at the moment with trials, let the church here help.
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
Endnotes
Endnotes
Coffman Commentary from studylight.org on Psalm 22.