My God Why Have You Forsaken Me? - Psalm 22
Introduction
We live in a sinful world. We also live in a painful world. We live with loved ones randomly dying in their sleep with no warning. We live in a world with diseases that seem to pass from generation to generation causing us anxiety as we age. We live in a world of cancer that respects no person. We live in a world of shame where middle schoolers are embarrassed with video evidence. We live in a world where men are wrongfully accused of crimes so their reputation tarnishes. We live in a world where everyone’s addicted to something. We live in a world where broken homes, divorce, adultery, and abuse are commonplace. Obviously, this isn’t like the good world God made. But God doesn’t ignore our pain and suffering either.
David’s Prayer and Prophecy
David penned this Psalm as a legitimate prayer during a time of intense persecution and pain in his life. Where the previous two psalms expected God’s victory, this one experiences defeat. He had many to choose from whether fleeing from Saul, fighting the Philistines, unifying a divided kingdom, fighting his rebellious son for the throne. During one of his intense persecutions, he wrote this Psalm set to the tune of Dawn Help.
But he also wrote this under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit foretelling the suffering of Jesus. On the cross, Jesus cries out with verse 1. The early church believed he recited the psalms in sequence until reaching Psalm 31:5 “into your hands I commit my spirit.” This Psalm preaches the prayer, pain, praise, and prize of Christ on the cross.
Christ’s Prayer and Pain (vv. 1-21)
This Psalm begins with immense pain. There’s no introduction, just a question. “Why?” Why the shame (vv. 6-8)? The soldiers pierce His skin with thorns like a fisherman hooks a worm (v.6). The crowd mock Him saying if God was really on His side, God would save Him (vv. 7-8; Mark 15:29; Matthew 27:43). Why the pain from wild beasts (vv. 12-13,16)? The Sanhedrin were like predators toward Him from the beginning. Now they have their prey cornered and salivate like hungry lions. The soldiers, the dogs (a term used for Gentiles), pierce His hands and feet nailing (John20:25) Him to the cross like a trophy nailed to wall (v. 16). Why the pain in His body (vv. 14-15)? The tough carpenter has no more strength. He’s a pot of water with no water (v. 15). He’s discarded in the dust like trash. Why the pain in His spirit (vv. 17-18)? They strip his clothes off him so that anyone can count the bones in His body (v.17) while the soldiers gamble over the clothes His mom probably hand-made for Him (v.18; Matthew 27:35).
Jesus prays “My God, My God why have you forsaken me” because He trusts in God. Notice, how personal His prayer is. My God. His prayer and His pain mix into a roar (groaning lit. “roaring;” v.1). Despite the immense pain He suffers, His prayer is based on trust (vv. 4-5, 9-10). Notice His trust in God comes from His ancestors (vv. 4-5). Because God saved Israel from Egypt, David should trust Him, we should trust Him, and Jesus did trust Him. Jesus also trusted God because His trust began from infancy (vv. 9-10). (As Baptists, we need to reconsider our understanding of personal trust in God if it contradicts God’s teaching on it like these verses.) It’s in the middle of His prayer for deliverance from his attackers, that He knows God answers Him (v.21).
Christ’s Praise and Prize (vv. 22-31)
The psalm begins with the question, “My God, My God why have you forsaken me?” Now we see God has answered Him (v.21). The remaining Psalm explains what God’s answer was—that God placed Jesus in the dust of death for the salvation of many worshippers. Jesus is our new worship leader because He made new worshippers. As leader traveled through death into life, so does He lead His congregation from death to life. When it looks like God abandoned Jesus (or even you), He heard (v.24). Jesus took on our sin and died in our place so He could give us His holiness and His place in God’s throne room (Romans 8:16-17; Hebrews 2:10-18; verse 12 quotes verse 22). Jesus takes us afflicted by sin, poor in faith, and oppressed with trial and offers us a supper that satisfied our souls (v.26). When we gather to sing praises to God, Jesus, the victorious king, sings with us. We should sing victoriously. Why do some of you sing like hostages? Those who fear God will stand and sing in awe of Him (v.23). Why do some of you stand in worship like you’re standing in line at the DMV? We worship with the victorious king so our worship should have bold praying, victorious preaching, triumphant singing, and celebratory fellowship around the Lord’s supper.
Notice also how Christ’s victory expands to all generations and all corners of the earth (v.27). We pray for God’s kingdom to come on this earth, and He answers that prayer. Jesus rules over the nations (v.28) and promises that all nations will worship God like we worship Him now. Jesus’ victory expands from Jerusalem to America to Romania. It also expands from generation to generation (vv. 30-31). Do we tell our children and grandchildren that Jesus will receive the reward of His suffering? Do we believe the savior who defeated death will also defeat unbelief? Scripture says Jesus will win the nations. Will future generations look back to us and see our faith or will they see our doubt?
Conclusion
Jesus wins. He is Christus Victor. In His affliction, He alleviates. Yes, Jesus was in great despair on that cross. His faith was a despairing faith, but it was still faith, nonetheless. It was a faith that defeated despair, empowered the weak, resurrected the dead, and alleviated the afflicted. Our savior suffered for you so that you would sing with Him.