Nowhere in the Old Testament is a darker prophecy of Jesus' suffering at Calvary portrayed than by David in Psalm 22.
Some poetic symbolism and metaphor is used, but much of the psalm describes literally the horrors of the cross for the Savior.
When the Spirit of Jesus in David cries out that there is no one to help Him from trouble, and He is surrounded by many strong bulls of Bashan, that is a cry against the power of Rome and the wicked Jewish leaders that is arrayed against Him.
This reminds us of the powerlessness of people against the cruelty and implacable strength of tyrants. Humanly speaking, all the powers of the world were arrayed against Jesus as He hung on the cross, in oppression and cruelty against Him.
He describes those who gaped upon Him, stared and pointed and humiliated Him in His nakedness and exposure before them as a ravening lion, which was fulfilled when they sat down and watched Him there, and speculated what would befall Him, as they waited expectantly for Him to die, as if pounce upon Him in His dying.
Being poured out like water, with bones pulled out of joint, and a heart that melted like wax, and extreme thirst and weakness, all describe the peculiar death by crucifixion, in which the body is strung up by the wrists in such a way as to suppress breathing and the action of the diaphragm. Positional asphyxiation takes hold, and the poor heart pumps harder and harder, desperately trying to circulate de-oxygenated blood, the body growing weaker and weaker, until it finally gives up after a slow death.
Evil surrounded Jesus there like a pack of dogs, as they drove the horrible spikes through His hands and feet into the cross. |
