Abandonment: When You Feel Alone

When has your faith been tested? What are the low times? Abandonment? Alone?

David’s psalm - 1,000 years before his descendant, Jesus...

I. The Good Shepherd - The Crucifixion

Psalm 22:1 NET 2nd ed.

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? I groan in prayer, but help seems far away.

Our Good Shepherd - cries out...

Matthew 27:46 NET 2nd ed.

At about three o’clock Jesus shouted with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Psalm 22:2 NET 2nd ed.

My God, I cry out during the day, but you do not answer, and during the night my prayers do not let up.

Our Good Shepherd’s lament, even light becomes dark...

Matthew 27:45 NET 2nd ed.

Now from noon until three, darkness came over all the land.

Psalm 22:3 NET 2nd ed.

You are holy; you sit as king receiving the praises of Israel.

Psalm 22:4 NET 2nd ed.

In you our ancestors trusted; they trusted in you and you rescued them.

Psalm 22:5 NET 2nd ed.

To you they cried out, and they were saved; in you they trusted and they were not disappointed.

Psalm 22:6 NET 2nd ed.

But I am a worm, not a man; people insult me and despise me.

Psalm 22:7 NET 2nd ed.

All who see me taunt me; they mock me and shake their heads.

Psalm 22:8 NET 2nd ed.

They say, “Commit yourself to the Lord! Let the Lord rescue him! Let the Lord deliver him, for he delights in him.”

Our Good Shepherd, “Sheep bite,”...

Matthew 27:39–40 NET 2nd ed.

Those who passed by defamed him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who can destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are God’s Son, come down from the cross!”

Matthew 27:41–42 NET 2nd ed.

In the same way even the chief priests—together with the experts in the law and elders—were mocking him: “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! He is the king of Israel! If he comes down now from the cross, we will believe in him!

Matthew 27:43–44 NET 2nd ed.

He trusts in God—let God, if he wants to, deliver him now because he said, ‘I am God’s Son’!” The robbers who were crucified with him also spoke abusively to him.

Psalm 22:9 NET 2nd ed.

Yes, you are the one who brought me out from the womb and made me feel secure on my mother’s breasts.

Psalm 22:10 NET 2nd ed.

I have been dependent on you since birth; from the time I came out of my mother’s womb you have been my God.

Psalm 22:11 NET 2nd ed.

Do not remain far away from me, for trouble is near and I have no one to help me.

Psalm 22:12 NET 2nd ed.

Many bulls surround me; powerful bulls of Bashan hem me in.

Our Good Shepherd, abandoned by all...

Matthew 26:45 NET 2nd ed.

Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is approaching, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Matthew 26:46 NET 2nd ed.

Get up, let us go. Look! My betrayer is approaching!”

Psalm 22:13 NET 2nd ed.

They open their mouths to devour me like a roaring lion that rips its prey.

Psalm 22:14 NET 2nd ed.

My strength drains away like water; all my bones are dislocated; my heart is like wax; it melts away inside me.

Psalm 22:15 NET 2nd ed.

The roof of my mouth is as dry as a piece of pottery; my tongue sticks to my gums. You set me in the dust of death.

Psalm 22:16 NET 2nd ed.

Yes, wild dogs surround me— a gang of evil men crowd around me; like a lion they pin my hands and feet.

Our Good Shepherd, a thousand years before the Cross, knew the realities...

Matthew 27:35 TPT

Then they crucified Jesus, nailing his hands and feet to the cross. The soldiers divided his clothing among themselves by rolling dice to see who would win them.

Psalm 22:17 NET 2nd ed.

I can count all my bones; my enemies are gloating over me in triumph.

Our Good Shepherd, made a garish spectacle...

Luke 23:35 TPT

A great crowd gathered to watch what was happening. The religious leaders sneered at Jesus and mocked him, saying, “Look at this man! What kind of ‘chosen Messiah’ is this? He pretended to save others, but he can’t even save himself!”

Psalm 22:18 NET 2nd ed.

They are dividing up my clothes among themselves; they are rolling dice for my garments.

Our Good Shepherd, even dignity robbed of Him...

John 19:23–24 NET 2nd ed.

Now when the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and made four shares, one for each soldier, and the tunic remained. (Now the tunic was seamless, woven from top to bottom as a single piece.) So the soldiers said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but throw dice to see who will get it.” This took place to fulfill the scripture that says, “They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they threw dice.” So the soldiers did these things.

Psalm 22:19 NET 2nd ed.

But you, O Lord, do not remain far away! You are my source of strength! Hurry and help me!

Psalm 22:20 NET 2nd ed.

Deliver me from the sword! Save my life from the claws of the wild dogs!

Psalm 22:21 NET 2nd ed.

Rescue me from the mouth of the lion and from the horns of the wild oxen! You have answered me!

II. The Good Shepherd - The Resurrection

Psalm 22:22 NET 2nd ed.

I will declare your name to my countrymen! In the middle of the assembly I will praise you!

The explanation:

Hebrews 2:11–12 TPT

Jesus, the Holy One, makes us holy. And as sons and daughters, we now belong to his same Father, so he is not ashamed or embarrassed to introduce us as his brothers and sisters! For he has said, “I will reveal who you really are to my brothers and sisters, and I will glorify you with praises in the midst of the congregation.”

Psalm 22:23 NET 2nd ed.

You loyal followers of the Lord, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! All you descendants of Israel, stand in awe of him!

Psalm 22:24 NET 2nd ed.

For he did not despise or detest the suffering of the oppressed; he did not ignore him; when he cried out to him, he responded.

Our Good Shepherd understands...

Hebrews 5:7 TPT

During Christ’s days on earth he pleaded with God, praying with passion and with tearful agony that God would spare him from death. And because of his perfect devotion his prayer was answered and he was delivered.

Psalm 22:25 NET 2nd ed.

You are the reason I offer praise in the great assembly; I will fulfill my promises before the Lord’s loyal followers.

Psalm 22:26 NET 2nd ed.

Let the oppressed eat and be filled! Let those who seek his help praise the Lord! May you live forever!

Psalm 22:27 NET 2nd ed.

Let all the people of the earth acknowledge the Lord and turn to him! Let all the nations worship you.

Psalm 22:28 NET 2nd ed.

For the Lord is king and rules over the nations.

Psalm 22:29 NET 2nd ed.

All of the thriving people of the earth will join the celebration and worship; all those who are descending into the grave will bow before him, including those who cannot preserve their lives.

Psalm 22:30 NET 2nd ed.

A whole generation will serve him; they will tell the next generation about the sovereign Lord.

Psalm 22:31 NET 2nd ed.

They will come and tell about his saving deeds; they will tell a future generation what he has accomplished.

Our Good Shepherd’s great work...

John 19:28–30 TPT

Jesus knew that his mission was accomplished, and to fulfill the Scripture, Jesus said: “I am thirsty.” A jar of sour wine was sitting nearby, so they soaked a sponge with it and put it on the stalk of hyssop and raised it to his lips. When he had sipped the sour wine, he said, “It is finished, my bride!” Then he bowed his head and surrendered his spirit to God.