Psalm 22

(I apologize for how long this post is, hang in there with me.) Every morning I read my bible according the plan I am following on bible.com. Today's section came from Psalm 22. In previous years when I have read through the Psalms I have often glossed over them with little to no thought, believing them to be redundant, inapplicable, and repetitive. But the Psalm today struck me as I was able to relate to much of what David wrote about. As David began the Psalm with "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" two things were brought to mind: 1) Jesus' words as He died on the cross and 2) the unspoken words my heart has been asking of late. The remainder of the Psalm continues to parallel with my own thoughts and feelings that I have been trying to sort through lately as well as reminding me of Christ's own suffering and His ultimate victory. Below I have outlined a 'narrative' or 'commentary' of what I understand the Psalm to be saying in light of my current struggling. You can choose to follow along with these or just skip down to the Psalm I posted below. I hope that you are encouraged by the words that follow and are reminded of these truths: God has not forsaken you, your suffering is not in vain, and victory will be seen. God is good and you will make it through this. 

God bless your reading,

Carissa 

Psalm 22

My God, my God, why have you forsaken

                        Me?

            Why are you so far from saving me,

            So far from my cries of anguish?

My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer me,

            By night, but I find no rest.

Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;

            You are the one Israel praises.

In you our ancestors put their trust;

            They trusted and you delivered them.

To you they cried out and were saved;

            In you they trusted and were not put to

                        Shame.

But I am a worm and not a man,

            Scorned by everyone, despised by the

                        People.

All who see me mock me;

            They hurl insults, shaking their heads.

“He trusted in the Lord,” they say,

            “let the Lord rescue him.

Let Him deliver him,

            Since he delights in Him.”

Yet you brought me out of the womb;

            You made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast.

From birth I was cast on you;

            From my mother’s womb you have

                        Been my God.

Do not be far from me,

            For trouble is near

            And there is no one to help.

Many bulls surround me;

            Strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.

Roaring lions that tear their prey

            Open their mouths wide against me.

I am poured out like water,

            And all my bones are out of joint.

My heart has turned to wax;

            It has melted within me.

My mouth is dried up like a potsherd,

            And my tongue sticks to the roof of my

                        Mouth;

            You lay me in the dust of death.

Dogs surround me,

            A pack of villains encircles me;

            They pierce my hand and my feet.

All my bones are on display;

            People stare and gloat over me.

They divide my clothes among them

            And cast lots for my garment.

But you, Lord, do not be far from me.

            You are my strength; come quickly to

                        Help me.

Deliver me from the sword,

            My precious life from the power of the

                        Dogs.

Rescue me from the mouth of lions;

            Save me from the horns of the wild

                        Oxen.

I will declare your name to my people;

            In the assembly I will praise you.

You who fear the Lord, praise Him!

            All you descendants of

                        Israel!

For He has not despised or scorned

            The suffering of the afflicted one;

He has not hidden his face from him

            But has listened to his cry for help.

From you comes the theme of my praise

                        In the great assembly;

            Before those who fear you I will fulfill

                        My vows.

The poor will eat and be satisfied;

            Those who seek the Lord will praise

                        Him—

            May your hearts live forever!

All the ends of the earth

            Will remember and turn to the Lord,

And all the families of the nations

            Will bow down before Him,

For dominion belongs to the Lord

            And He rules over the nations.

All the rich of the earth will feast and

                        Worship.

            All who go down to the dust will kneel

                        Before Him—

            Those who cannot keep themselves

                        Alive.

Posterity will serve Him;

            Future generations will be told about

                        The Lord.

They will proclaim His righteousness

            Declaring to a people yet unborn:

            He has done it!

Commentary

"I cry out by day, but you do not answer me"-- I fervently pray for God to speak to me, to let me know He is there, but I find no clear answer. 

"Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One"-- Yet I will praise God despite what I am feeling, despite the mystery I have been left in. 

"'He trusted in the Lord,' they say, 'let the Lord rescue him'"-- The words I imagine those around me thinking as I stand here unbeknownst, lost, and lacking in encouragement and love. 

"Yet you brought me out of the womb"--Yet you have given me life for a reason, for a purpose. You have ransomed yourself for my life and loved me from the moment I was born. 

"I am poured out like water"-- I have given all I have to love those around me and to love you, yet I feel so empty. 

"They divide my clothes among them"--Jesus' death is brought to my mind. As the Son of God hung on a cross, the people He came to save stood below Him and gambled for His clothing. While my suffering is not an equivalent to death on a cross, I am comforted to know Jesus knows my suffering all the same. I am reminded of His suffering and am brought back to perspective. 

"Do not be far from me"-- My plea for God to be near and help me through. My only joy, satisifaction, and purpose comes from Him. 

"I will declare your name to my people...from you comes the theme of my praise"-- I will praise the Name of God for His deliverance. God will be the only reason for my praise for He is the only one who worthy of it. 

"All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord"--The hope of the Lord's victory remains. Suffering will not last. Glory will be His. 

"He has done it!" -- Christ has won and I will be okay.