MEDITATIONS IN THE PSALMS [An outline of the Psalm: A good devotional study when using the scriptures indicated] Psalm 22: Part 1 The Psalm of the Cross
A Psalm of David, a prophetic Psalm of Christ crucifixion; the next three psalms are a trilogy, Ps 22 the Ps of the “Good Shepherd” giving His life for His sheep: Ps 23 the Ps of the “Great Shepherd” caring for and watching over His sheep: Ps 24 the Ps of the “Chief Shepherd” who has ascended on high and waits the day of His return for the sheep. “I am the Good Shepherd: the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep” John 10:11. “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant” Heb 13:20. “And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away” 1 Pet 5:4. Note the title of Psalm 22, “To the Chief Musician”. The most excellent of the temple singers were used, and as Mr. Spurgeon says, “The Chief among ten thousand is worthy to be extolled by the Chief Musician.” “We must see to it that we call up our best abilities when Jesus is the theme of our praise.” The Psalm is divided into two parts, vs 1-21 is a cry for help; vs 22-31 a foretaste of deliverance. The scene is the cross; it is supposed that Christ uttered the entire Psalm, an appeal based on a covenant. Verse 1 prophetic, we hear its fulfillment in Matt 27:45-46 “…there was darkness over all the land” Why? His soul was making a sin offering for my sin. “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani” “Nailed to the tree Jesus cried this exceeding bitter cry, and while the Jews mocked the angels adored. Wonder of wonders! God forsaking God!” (Luther) What a marvelous cleaving, “Oh that we could imitate this cleaving to an afflicting God.” The scene is dark on dark Golgotha’s brow, yet there are flashes of blinding light amid the darkness. First, our LORD’S faith beams forth that we might be granted imitating power. “Eli” signifies strength, the name of the Almighty. He did not cry “El-roi” the God that seeth me, for He had turned His back on Him. He cried “Eli” my Strong One who will not let me go. He did not cry “El-Shaddai” the God of Almighty terribleness. He cried “Eli” my Strong One deliver me from the storm of El-Shaddai’s fierce wrath. Second the Son interrogates the Father, “Why hast thou forsaken Me?” Here let us lay “line upon line, precept upon precept.” What is the great cause of this strange factual scene? Why should the Father leave the Son to such a time and plight? There was no cause in Him, why was He deserted? 2 Cor.5:21; Isa.53:4-6; legally bound on the cross as my sin bearer the Father forsook the Son that He might not forsake me, Isa.59. “Hast”, note the tense, it was done and our Savior was feeling its dread effect. He was not threatened with it, it was done. Every being outside of Christ is threatened with abandonment, but is not utterly forsaken of God until death. Luke 16:19-31, you may escape the reality of it until the reality comes; then there will be no escape. ~~Terry Worthan, 1938-2022
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