Psalm 22
Notes
Transcript
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Main Point: The Lord does not neglect the righteous sufferer.
Aim of the text: For the singer, though they feel abandoned, to take heart in a faithful God who will not turn his face away. His rescue and praises must be declared to the ends of earth and time!
Introduction
Introduction
· <hook>
· Remember Psalms are poetry; where the language is illustrative rather than definitive. (i.e “the sun set” vs. “That glorious golden ball gently caressed the horizon before slipping into the earth”
· Psalm of David. A psalm of anguish and praise. Presumably written at a low point in David’s life, and echoed by the people of Israel in the days of their distress, yet like so many Psalms, it only finds its truest fulfilment on the lips of Jesus.
· Psalms are the Hymn Book of God’s people, in which we are led to sing by Jesus. So many of the new Testament writers put the Psalms in Jesus mouth, or find quotations that they say are about Jesus. Let’s follow their example.
· We too can sing this Psalm, or pray it in our lowest moment because we’re are united to Christ in his suffering and his redemption. This Psalm reminds us that the singer, though they feel abandoned, to take heart in a faithful God who will not turn his face away. His rescue and praises must be declared to the ends of earth and time!
· The Lord does not neglect the righteous sufferer.
Why don’t you hear me? (v1-11)
Why don’t you hear me? (v1-11)
The psalm begins with a soulful cry:
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish?
My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, but I find no rest.
From the start this Psalm sets the scene of someone who feels abandoned. This person is crushed under the weight of their circumstances, yearning for rescue, yet it seems like there is only silence.
I want you to experience what the Psalmist experiences here. Put yourself into his shoes. Imagine his experience: You have known the comfort and joy of God! You have had experiences where it seems as if you’re in God presence and enjoying his blessings, yet before you know what has happened, you’re in the depths of despair.
It’s as if the sun has been eclipsed, and the light is fading. The golden light of the Lord is disappearing from your sight and darkness surrounds you.
You know something is wrong. You feel as if you are falling deeper into the depths of darkness, so you cry out!! Save me! Save from this pit that threatens to swallow me!! Turn your face to me!! I long for your presence and for your rescue.
But all you hear is silence.
You hear nothing.
All the while your despair increases and the darkness grows. Like a bad dream you’re falling without end, yet try as you might, you cannot wake up.
Though the sun may rise in the morning, the cloud of darkness follows you, and the silence of God thunders in your ears. Yet in the evening you return to your bed, but not to rest, rather to wonder why you have been left… alone…
Like the Psalmist in verse 3 to 5, you will likely try and call to mind the great God whom you serve. After all, He is Good and Righteous! He is worthy of praise and honour! In the past he has heard the troubles of others and saved them! Who could forget how God gave Abraham great promises, delivered him from his enemies and blessed him with a Son of Promise? Who could forget how Israel cried out under the yoke of Pharaoh and God delivered them? What about the cries of Hannah and Rebekah as they longed for children? God gave them the desire of their heart when they called on his Name.
What about me? Do I not trust in the Lord? Haven’t I believed that he is able and willing to deliver me?
Why don’t you hear me?
Why do my prayers seem futile?
Why do you not answer?
From verse 6, even though the Psalmist knows in his head that God answered those who have called out to him in times past, he feels low, so much so that he doesn’t even feel human. He is belittled and despised by those who see his problems and offer no comfort. In fact they taunt and mock, saying “If your God is so great why doesn’t he help you? If you’re one of God’s people why doesn’t he help you? Where is the object of your trust/faith now?”
The psalmist is disoriented. “They mock me for trusting you, yet you taught me to trust you from birth. You have been working in my life to build my faith and to cast myself on you. You have taught me not to rely on myself, yet it feels as though I have been left to fend for myself.”
Putting ourselves back in his shoes, imagine his desperation. It may not be hard for you to imagine; you may have experienced it yourself. You’re at the end of your rope, and you are conflicted and confused about what God is doing, and why he is not working the way you thought he was supposed to work. You are tired and weak under the crushing weight of sleepless nights and oppressive troubles, and all you can manage to plead is this: “Be not far from me.”
Why don’t you hear me? Why have you left me alone? Why do I cry out in vain? You’re Good. You’re merciful. You’re kind. Please show me that. Please be near me in my distress.
You could also imagine this to be the prayer of Job <elaborate>. He has lost his family, his livelihood, his investments, his health. He has only ever sought to do what is right in God’s eyes, yet he has been brought to ruin! He knows not why, yet he also knows his only hope is in God. He is confused and distraught, but knows there is no one else to turn to.
As does the psalmist. He cries out is despair, but he knows his only hope is that God might hear him and come near. It’s almost as if he has given up hope of deliverance by verse 11, and the only thing he can hope for is that God may at least comfort him by his presence: “Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help.”
This desperation and anxiety in nowhere more clear than in the words of Jesus. As he hung on a Roman cross he was crushed by the weight of the world. He could truly say these words, as Mathew tells us;
Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ”
They mocked, and scorned. They taunted and derided. As that precious man hung there hour by hour, the darkness descended. Not just a darkness of soul, but literal darkness descended upon them. Matthew continues;
From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
The Son of God, the God-man himself with whom the father was well please cried out in pain of soul; “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
The Lord does not neglect the righteous sufferer. So why does he leave his son to suffer on that Cross? Why does he crush him under the weight of our sin? Why does he leave him in his darkest hour feeling alone and helpless?
“Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help.”
I am ruined. (v12-18)
I am ruined. (v12-18)
The Psalmist continues from verse 12; The strong and mighty surround me, seeking to devour me! But I am weak, my life poured out like tipping water from a jar. My body is broken, crushed. There is no room in my life for love and joy, because my heart has melted away, as has my strength.
I thirst! But I thirst in vain. I am delivered to the “dust of death”. You may as well take me to the cemetery, because I will rest among the dead very shortly it seems. After all, evildoers surround me, they injure me, they mock and gloat and divide my belongings amongst themselves even before I have died. I hunger, so much so that you can see all my bones protruding. I am starved of life and death opens its arms to receive me.
I am ruined.
I have no hope.
There is no escape from those that surround me!
The Israelite would have easily echoed these words as they sat in Jerusalem while Babylon marched toward the gates. They had already conquered the rest of the promised land, but for a time Jerusalem stood proud and rebellious against the armies that threatened God’s people. Yet as the siege is laid, the Israelites could cry this out: “I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me”
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
While the Israelite would sing this Psalm of David in times of distress, it ultimately prophesies to us about the experience of Christ.
These words on the lips of Christ find their truest meaning, see verse 12 onwards;
Many bulls surround me;
strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
Roaring lions that tear their prey
open their mouths wide against me.
I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax;
it has melted within me.
My mouth is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
you lay me in the dust of death.
Dogs surround me,
a pack of villains encircles me;
they pierce my hands and my feet.
All my bones are on display;
people stare and gloat over me.
They divide my clothes among them
and cast lots for my garment.
Jesus on the cross said: “I thirst”
Jesus on the cross had his strength dried up as he struggled to raise his battered body to breath a shaky breath.
Jesus on the cross was surrounded by Gentile “Dogs”
Jesus on the cross had his hands and feet pierced by nails.
Jesus on the cross was mocked.
Jesus on the cross watched as the soldiers cast lots for his clothing.
Jesus on the cross called out in despair…
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
The Lord does not neglect the righteous sufferer. So why does he leave his son to suffer on that Cross? Why does He pour out his Son’s life like water? Why does He surround him with evildoers? Why does He allow rebellious men to gloat over the Son of God?! Why does he allow mortal men to pierce the hands of our loving saviour? The hands he used to heal the sick and feed the many?
Graham Kendrick puts it well:
Come see His hands and His feet
The scars that speak of sacrifice
Hands that flung stars into space
To cruel nails surrendered
Please deliver me! (v19-21)
Please deliver me! (v19-21)
If we continue reading from v19, we see a turning point in the Psalm. The Psalmist musters his strength and brings his petition to God. Whereas before he could only muster one small request, now he turns and calls out in a desperate plea;
But you, Lord, do not be far from me.
You are my strength; come quickly to help me.
Deliver me from the sword,
my precious life from the power of the dogs.
Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;
save me from the horns of the wild oxen.
It’s as if he is crying out both to be delivered, but also has already been delivered. In this cry there is assurance and confidence that he will be delivered and he is alreadydelivered.
Note how in the petition, this request to God, the psalmist reverses troubles of before? Before he was feeling distant from God, conquered, encompassed by strong bulls, stalked by a lion and surrounded by dogs, now calls on God to be close, overcome the troubles, deliver from the dogs, save from the lions mouth and be rescued from the bulls.
This turning point changes the tone of the song. While there is still desperation, it is undergirded by a hope and confidence that was missing before. This will act as a springboard for the rest of the psalm. But before we look at that, who could sing these words?
As David wrote this psalm, he was obviously comforted by God, perhaps renewed in strength as he considered the Lord, or perhaps David wrote this retroactively, remembering a time when he was in desperation and God delivered him. But if this is ultimately the prophetic words of Christ, how can we see these words on his lips?
If we are reading the Passion narrative it’s easy to see the preceding verses fulfilled in Jesus words and the circumstances around him, but could Jesus truly cry out these words and yet still die on that cross?
If “The Lord does not neglect the righteous sufferer” how could Jesus pray this prayer and yet still be sent to the grave?
Ponder this as we continue through the Psalm.
I will praise Him! (22-31)
I will praise Him! (22-31)
From v22 the Psalmist launches into praise of God, and makes promises to Him.
He starts by telling his countrymen about God, the Lord who has delivered him. He insists that his fellow brothers Praise their covenant God, Yahweh. What a change in attitude!
He responds with confidence and assurance. Whole heartedly encouraging praise and awe. Why? He tells us in verse 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.”
Ha! We are assured; The Lord does not neglect the righteous sufferer
We were starting to wonder if The Lord does not neglect the righteous sufferer, but the psalmist sets the record straight. Though he felt distant, though his cries seemed to fall on deaf ears, though he seemed forsaken, God had not abandoned him. God has not ignored his cries and he has not discarded him.
The singer goes forth in celebration v26; he wants to worship with God’s people, he wants to fulfil the promises he made to God! These verses 25-26 seem to imply that the singer will go to the tabernacle and bring a peace offering as part of the completion of his vow. He anticipates joy in participating in the worship of God and once again knowing God’s presence! He looks forward to sharing the peace offering meal with the priests.
The joy not only overflows to encourage his countrymen to worship, but he goes beyond and begins to invite the worship of all the nations! V27-28
All the ends of the earth
will remember and turn to the Lord,
and all the families of the nations
will bow down before him,
for dominion belongs to the Lord
and he rules over the nations.
You may recall that God had disinherited the nations. God had said that Israel was to be his special people, chosen for himself. In doing this he disowned the other nations, yet David here looks forward to a time when the “nations” shall be once again under the kingship of Yahweh and able to worship him.
But why stop there? There’s more!
The singer wants to include not just all people on the earth, but both those who have already died and those who are yet to be born! It is not enough that only those on earth worship Yahweh, but all generations, past present and future must bow down to him!
While David wrote this psalm in the midst of his circumstances and as he was revived from distress to jubilation this scene of worship is established in Christ, in Jesus it finds its fulfilment.
For a time, it seemed as though Jesus was forsaken, and at Calvary as the literal darkness hung over the cross it looked like he had been abandoned. It looked like he was ignored by God, yet this was not the case!
The Lord does not neglect the righteous sufferer
God raised Jesus from the grave!
It looked like he had been abandoned by God to the grave, yet he resurrected Jesus from the dead!!
Remember how I asked how Jesus could pray for deliverance yet still die? This is how!
This was the ultimate deliverance! He was not delivered from death before the fact, but rather he was delivered after the fact! This is the ultimate display of salvation by God, triumphing over death!
He was the righteous man who suffered through death, was not abandoned to Hades but restored to Life through it!
Jesus has the right to stand up and declare the mighty works of God, he has truly experienced the deliverance of the righteous sufferer and can with authority command us to praise and stand in awe of Yahweh.
Christ will bring in all the nations to worship the one true God, because he is given the kingship over all the earth. All nations shall turn to the Lord and bow before him.
Not only that, but all those who have died, all those that are yet to live will serve him too. The rich and poor, the young and old, the man and woman, the slave and free, all shall serve him, the King in the line of David whose reign will never end!
Conclusion
Conclusion
This is all well and good I might hear you say, but the knowledge that The Lord does not neglect the righteous sufferer is of no comfort to me for I am not righteous. I am a sinner. What hope is there for me? Am I condemned to cry out forever
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Will I always walk with no rest? Will I always be pleading for Him to turn his face toward me?
Will this darkness forever rest upon me?
Isaiah tells us of Jesus;
Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
It was God’s plan to send him to that cross and crush Him there. For a time he would be put to grief and be anguished in soul but it was to make many righteous!! Through his anguish he makes us righteous!!
He interceded on behalf of his people, pouring out his life, bearing our iniquity that he might make an acceptable offering for our guilt.
If we come to Christ to be washed clean of guilt and shame, we are made righteous. And The Lord does not neglect the righteous sufferer!!
God will rescue us from our troubles and our despair! He will not leave us there forever.
But my friend do not be misled, you may be asked to do as Jesus did, you may need to carry your despair to the grave. Your burdens may crush you into death, yet… you will like Christ be raised with him! You may stand with Him in the midst of the congregation praising God and standing in awe of him.
You will Glorify Yahweh God of Israel, God of Gods and Lord of Lords!
I wanted to finish with these words written by a band out of Seattle. They capture so well the nature of the Christian lament. Just listen and quiet your heart and contemplate the nature of this life, knowing that The Lord does not neglect the righteous sufferer
I’m living in a land of death
The trees are burnt and gray
There’s a smoldering smoke overhead
And the night looks the same as the day
It seems a miracle that I can stand
When everyone I’ve known
Drifts up in the air with the ash
Every time that the wind starts to blow
Your direction is my delight
Your law secures my roots
I will meditate day and night
And in season You’ll harvest the fruit
Though a poison should threaten to kill
I know my Savior reigns
And when the breezes of death leave a chill
I've got Jesus’ blood in my veins
The kingdoms of man have all decayed
The ruins of progress turn to waste
The gods of greed lay in their graves
Darkness is everywhere
But there’s a path in the dark that has emerged
I can see a great light beyond this curse
A brilliant blaze that is Your word
A beacon of hope that burns
And I focus my captivated gaze
On the radiant light from Jesus’ face
The water of life is all I crave
Only Your word remains
So much more than precious gold
Is the beauty I behold
Give me the glorious reward
Of knowing You, my King, my Lord