Friday, 10 April 2020 Psalm 22
“My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” - Psalm 22:1
This is a Psalm of David written during one of his many trials. The suffering of David slowly fades away from the mind of the reader and is replaced by the prophetic imagery of the darkest hours faced by Jesus on the cross and the final victory. The key elements also show that this Psalm alludes to Christ, the mocking of the men, (Psa 22:6-8), nurture of God at Christ's birth (Psa 22:9-10), the suffering on the cross (Psa 22:14-15), the piercing of His hands and feet (Psa 22:16), dividing and casting lots for the garments (Psa 22:18), the final victory (Psa 22:19-31).
Charles H. Spurgeon called it the ‘Psalm of the Cross.’ It starts with a call, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” Throughout the Bible we can see that when GOD wanted the full attention of man, He called out their names twice.
Exodus 3:4: “…. Lord saw that Moses was coming closer, he called to him …, “Moses! Moses!”
Genesis 22:11: But the angel of the Lord called to him …., “Abraham, Abraham!”
Genesis 46:2: God spoke to Israel in visions…. said, “Jacob, Jacob.”
1 Samuel 3:10: And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!”
In Luke 22:31: Jesus says, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat;”
Acts 9:4: “...and Saul fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
Jesus at the cross was separated from God because of the sins of the world. He was totally dependent on the presence of God throughout his life. Never before did he feel this separation. In the darkest hour of his human existence, we can see His divine nature take over as He called out in a like manner, "My God, My God….”
When Jesus through whom we were created went through suffering patiently, shouldn’t we also who are in Him do the same? What shines through when we are broken/discouraged? Is it anger for anger, hatred for hatred, revenge for revenge, etc. or like Jesus do we carry the cross till the end knowing that struggles are given to perfect us? Even Jesus was made perfect through suffering (Hebrews 2:10). 1 Peter 2:21 says, "For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:"
Jesus demonstrated in His lifetime another aspect of suffering- being humble and obedient. In John 13, we see Him washing the disciples’ feet in an act of humility and love. Phil. 2:8 says: “…he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!” He obeyed the Father’s will in going to the cross for the salvation of mankind. What unrivalled example!
As we meditate on Christ’s suffering and death, what is our response? If you haven’t given your life in the response to such love displayed, may you take time today to commit your life by receiving Him into your life. To others who have understood His suffering on your behalf, may you lift your grateful hearts to Him today. Let His example bring endurance to bear patiently all that you go through life and see God’s reward in the end.
To meditate on:
And can it be that I should gain
An int’rest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me? – Charles Wesley
Listen: ‘Amazing love!’