Click here to read PSALM 22 in poetic form.
Background
Enormous physical suffering and intense mental pressure marked the opening and closing of the Messiah’s earthly ministry. Jesus Christ began “in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts” (Mark 1:13), where both his mind and body were under attack. Yet, he responded with “It is written” (Matthew 4:4,7,10) and quoted the scriptures concerning what he was to do.
The same was true during his final temptation of nearly forty hours, being whipped, mocked, paraded, and crucified before those who hated him. Once again, Jesus Christ responded with the Word of God he had memorized and made his own. Psalm 22 contains some of what he said while hanging on the tree. Perhaps he quoted this entire Psalm. Did one of the men dying with him hear him recite Psalm 22 about his coming kingdom? One of them did say, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom” (Luke 23:42).
This Psalm declares the Messiah’s suffering (verses 1-21) and then his glory (verses 22-31). Notice how the New Testament scriptures only include the suffering of Christ if his glory is immediately mentioned. The same is true for born-again believers:
Romans 8:18:
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Philippians 3:10,11:
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.
If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Hebrews 2:9,10:
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
I Peter 1:11
Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
I Peter 4:13:
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
I Peter 5:1:
The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed.
It was the joy and hope of victory set before him that allowed Jesus Christ to endure such horrific torture and death (Hebrews 12:2). He would have learned so much about both by reading Psalm 22. Just imagine the first time he read this Psalm and saw what he was to do. We remember what Christ has done for us, so that we too can claim what our heavenly Father says we are today!
Structure
SUFFERING (Verses 1-21)
(Verses 1-5) Messiah’s prayer and trust in God’s ultimate deliverance
(Verses 6-8) Messiah’s enemies mock his trust in God’s ultimate deliverance
(Verses 9-11) Messiah’s prayer and trust in God’s ultimate deliverance
(Verses 12-18) Messiah’s enemies like beasts (bulls, lion, dogs)
(Verses 19-21) Messiah’s prayer for deliverance from enemies (dog, lion, bull)
GLORY (Verses 22-31)
(Verses 22-27) Messiah leads others in praise to God for His goodness
(Verses 28-31) God’s great authority and His completed work in the Messiah
Key Scriptures
Verse 1—“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Jesus spoke those words from the cross (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34). Matthew 27:45 says there was darkness over all the land from about noon until 3 p.m. It was then that Jesus spoke these words. Perhaps it was at the close of this period of darkness that the Messiah began to quote Psalm 22. For he was in the midst of his wretched sufferings, and knew he would soon (after three days and nights) be in his glory.
Verse 8—“He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.” Verse 7 says they laughed him to scorn, shot out their lips, and shook their heads when they said this. The religious leaders, soldiers, others being crucified, and the crowd all carried out this prophecy (Matthew 27:43-44; Mark 15:29-32; Luke 23:35-37).This was the absolute humiliation that Satan could muster against the Christ. Hebrews 12:3 says that Jesus Christ “endured such contradiction of sinners against himself.” Isaiah 53:3 says that “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”
Verse 16—“they pierced my hands and my feet.” This was fulfilled in John 19:37: “They shall look on him whom they pierced.”
Verse 18—“They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.” This prophecy is shown to be fulfilled in all four gospels (Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:34; John 19:23,24). This specific deed was done by the soldiers who crucified Jesus Christ.
Verse 22—“I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.” This is quoted in Hebrews 2 in the context of the Messiah’s suffering and glory. Hebrews 2:9-11 tell of Christ tasting death for every man and becoming the leader of our salvation, so that he is not ashamed to call us brothers. Then Psalm 22 is quoted.
Next, Hebrews 2:14 says that all people share in flesh and blood (egg and sperm), but Jesus Christ only took part (the egg from his mother). God was his Father. See the blog “Was Jesus in the Beginning?” for additional details.
Hebrews 2:15-18 say that our as our brother, Jesus Christ delivered us from fear of death and made reconciliation for our sins. He suffered temptation so that, by Christ’s help and completed work, we can overcome the Devil’s attacks in this present evil age.
Verse 31—“shall declare…that he hath done this.” John 19:30 declares that Jesus said, “It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” He has “done this”—all that the Father sent him to accomplish. Jesus Christ so loved that he gave himself for us. Psalm 22 opens and closes with Jesus Christ’s bold declarations from the cross.
FOR FURTHER STUDY
All 150 of The Psalms in Poetic Form are available from Amazon in a book, either Large Print or a smaller Bedside Reader. Also available for free with a Kindle Unlimited membership. Enjoy!
The entire blog series is now available in the publication The Psalms: Background & Structure with Key Scriptures Explained.
