OUR LORD'S SUFFERING

David had likely suffered a great deal during a trial that had come on him, but by the grace of God, had gained victory. The Holy Spirit moved him to write ("speak") these prophetic truths that describe the sufferings of Christ in ways that are found nowhere else in the Bible. The words of the first verse are words of perplexity that are occasionally experienced by the children of God, and were by David, and the words of the last verse are words of power when looking back at all the suffering, but particularly the results of that suffering.

When we read the words of this messianic psalm as the inner thoughts, spoken words, and urgent appeals of our Lord Jesus Christ, we find ourselves on holy ground, in holy solemnity, thinking and praying with holy reverence because of the descriptions of physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering found in these words. The minute descriptions of the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus and the anguish of His soul are unfolded more than in any other place in the Bible. This messianic psalm, even though it was written hundreds of years before the events at Calvary, accurately tells us what was going to happen and "that the scriptures might be fulfilled." It was on the cross when He was "made sin for us," and He "bare our sins in His own body on the tree" that the words of this psalm were referring to. It was on the cross that "by His stripes, we are healed," and so many other scriptures of the Old Testament were fulfilled.

The first eighteen verses of the psalm tell of His Personal Suffering. The words, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" were the words of an urgent appeal, not of questioning in doubt as to why that cross- work was put on Him. The next three verses are His Plea for Deliverance. "Be not Thou far from Me." Then the five verses that follow are a statement of His Public Thanksgiving. "I will declare Thy name to My brethren." What a wonderful statement of assurance that we have from His own words the fact of an accomplished redemptive work. The concluding verses are His Joyful Anticipation as He looks ahead to "all the ends of the earth" being brought into blessing because of the fact that "He hath done this," - "Finished!"

In this psalm, each of the "Seven Sayings of Christ on the Cross" is found. In the awfulness of a silent heaven, the words, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" were heard after three hours of fearful darkness were about over. This cry is given in such a plaintive but loud voice that a sense of fear would have stirred the consciences of those who heard it echo over that awful place of the skull. In His human suffering, He was forsaken as divine justice was carried out on the innocent, sinless victim, who died on behalf of the guilty. Why was He forsaken? Verse three tells us. "Thou art holy." God could not overlook sin and still be just. So, the Sufferer of Psalm 22 was "made sin for us, He who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." Verse six reminds us that in order for our Lord to say, "I am a worm and no man," He had reached the lowest point where "He was despised and rejected of men." Rejection and degradation make a person feel like a worm. We may feel like that on occasion, but we can remember that God's concern and care for us goes back to before we were born and continues through eternity. "His love is without limit; His grace is without measure."

The mocking from the soldiers, the religious leaders, the people, and even from the malefactors who were crucified with Him, instead of provoking Him to anger and retaliation, brought from His heart and lips a prayer, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Ridicule comes from rebellious hearts. Words of grace, mercy, and love came from One who is absolutely perfect. What grace there is in these wonderful words!!

In verses nine and ten, we are reminded of the words of our Lord on the cross when He saw His mother and John there and said, "Woman, behold thy son." Then to John, "Behold thy mother." He would remember His birth, the marriage at Cana of Galilee, and likely a lifetime of a mother's love for her firstborn. All around Him, as stated in verses twelve and thirteen, were "bulls of Bashan" and "roaring lions," who were Roman soldiers and deceptive religious leaders who were determined to see Him die. They were tormenting our Lord Jesus in any way they could. In verse fourteen, there is a description of His physical condition.

"I thirst" were words Jesus spoke when He "[knew] all things were now accomplished." My tongue cleaveth to my jaws" [v.15]. The Gentiles had pierced His hands and His feet [v.16], and the humiliation of physical exposure is expressed in verses eighteen and nineteen.

"Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit" indicates "My Only One" of Matthew 3:17 is the "my darling" which the Lord commended to His Father. The “horns of the unicorn” is likely a reference to the cross itself which simply means "a tree." At the end of this section is the fact that this whole event is a testimony of the Gospel that will be witnessed by Him to His brethren, and then from them would go into all the world. The five figures of speech: "pierced hands, look and stare, divide, my garments, cast lots" - are all references to what happened to our Lord at Calvary.

The whole tenor of the psalm changes in verse twenty-two to a song instead of suffering. Private deliverance often deserves public testimony and public praise. Unborn generations depend on the faithfulness of the generations before them, telling and teaching about our Lord Jesus. In that way, a door is opened for them to put personal faith in Christ themselves. Our faithfulness in present opportunities affects the future of those who learn from us. Our children need to learn from believing parents. Christian education and church life simply reinforce what has been learned at home from parents.

In the last six verses, the Holy Spirit describes the millennium when everyone will have plenty to eat and praise to the Lord will be all over the earth. "Let your heart live forever! will be the blessing given by the Spirit of God. The redeemed shall praise the Lord. "Today thou shalt be with Me in paradise" would have opened the heart of the redeemed thief even when he was on the cross and certainly when he got to paradise that day. Even though the thief was unfit to live on earth, because of his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and the assurance from the words of the Lord, he was fit to be in heaven. Again - what wonderful grace!! The whole world will remember what Christ did for us when He died on the cross and will unite in worship of Him. He will be "The Governor" and will rule in equity. Peace will be the result of justice and righteousness brought to mankind through the King of kings.

In verse thirty-one, "He hath done this" means "It is finished," or more powerfully, the one word "FINISHED!!" This one word describes the fact and impact of redemption. "Finished is the work that saves, once and forever done." We will forever declare His righteousness in this great work He accomplished. People from all parts, from one generation to the next, will pass on the truth with grateful thanks and never-ceasing praise that "He hath done this."

PSALM 22. From suffering to glory. v. 1-3. Why should the holy, sinless Son of God suffer the horrors of hell in the hours of darkness on the cross? God is holy, righteous, and just, and must punish sin. He cannot overlook it. When the Lord took our sins upon Himself, He assumed the responsibility to pay the penalty for them. He was charged with our debt. v. 4-8. The fathers were not forsaken. He was forsaken by God and despised and rejected by the people. There is mockery, taunts, ridicule, and jeering. v. 9-13. He remembers Bethlehem and the love there; then He remembers His countrymen and the hate there. v. 14-18. His physical sufferings were excruciating in every way. The Gentile tormenters were gathered around, jeering and gloating at what He looked like. Then a prophecy is fulfilled in the dividing of His garments. v. 19-21. After a final appeal, there comes a triumphant change as the cross is exchanged for the crown. Between v.21 and v.22, there comes a change from the first Advent to the second Advent of Christ to Olivet.

SOME OF THE MAIN REFERENCES TO CHRIST IN THE PSALMS. Psalms Reference to Christ In the New Testament 2:7 The Messiah will be the Son of God Heb. 1:5-6 16:8-10 He will rise from the dead Lu.24:5-7 22:1-21 He will experience agony on the cross Mat. 26-27 22:18 Evil men cast lots for His clothing Mat. 27:35; Jn. 19:23-24 22:15 He thirsts while on the cross Jn. 19:28 22:22 He will declare God’s name Heb. 2:12 34:20 His bones would not be broken Jn. 19:36-37 40:6-8 He came to do God’s will Heb. 10:5-7 41:9 His close friend would betray Him Lu. 22:48 45:6-7 His throne will last forever Heb. 1:8-9 68:18 He ascended into heaven Eph. 4:8-10 69:9 He is zealous for God Jn.2:17 69:21 He was offered vinegar for His thirst on the cross Mat. 27:48 89:3-4; 35-36 He will be a descendant of David Lu. 1:31-33 96:13 He will return to judge the world 1Thes.1:10 110:1 He is David’s son and David’s Lord Mat.22:44 110:4 He is the eternal priest-king Heb.6:20 118:22 He is rejected by many but accepted by God 1Pe.2:7-8

THE THREE “SHEPHERD” PSALMS. Psalm 22. THE GOOD SHEPHERD, see John 10:11. Psalm 23. THE GREAT SHEPHERD, see Hebrews 13:20. Psalm 24. THE CHIEF SHEPHERD, see 1 Peter 5:4.