Background Scripture: Psalm 22: Daniel 3
Lesson Context: By one estimate, there are six types of psalms in the Old Testament book of Psalms: laments, thanksgiving, wisdom, praise, psalms of Zion, and imprecatory. Some say that Psalm 22 is both a lament psalm and a praise psalm. The psalm can be divided into two parts: a lament psalm (22:1-21) and a praise psalm (22:22-31). Some have called this psalm “The Psalm of the Cross” because of its connections to Jesus’ suffering and the lament He expressed to His Heavenly Father while on the cross. Some may be drawn to interpret Psalm 22 only in the light of Christ’s suffering-and understandably so! (International Sunday School Lessons, KJV 2024-2025).
l. Petition by David (Psalm 22:1-5):
A. God’s Distance (vv. 1-2). la. “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
This psalm begins abruptly, with a disturbing scene: someone who knows and trusts God is forsaken, and cries out to God in agony.
i. This is a Psalm of David, and there were many instances in the life of David where he might write such an agonized poem. Before and after taking the throne of Israel, David lived in seasons of great danger and deprivation.
ii. While this psalm was certainly true of King David in his life experience, it-like many psalms-is even truer of Jesus the Messiah than of David. Jesus deliberately chose these words to describe His agony on the cross (Matthew 27:46). (David Gutz’s Bible Commentary). While suffering on the cross, Jesus quoted this half-verse in Aramaic: “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? Which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46) (International Sunday School Lessons, KJV 2024-2025)
lb. “Why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?”
David knew what it was like to feel the presence and the deliverance of God and had experienced such many times before. Every prior time of help made this dramatic absence of God’s help more devastating. Worse yet, there seemed to be no explanation for the lack of God’s help; thus the question, “Why?” (David Gutz’s Bible Commentary) The phrase the words of my roaring reflects the depths of David’s despair. He was left to groan and cry out for any means of rescue. (International Sunday School Lessons, KJV 2024-2025)
2. “O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.” David’s cries for rescue were not a one-time occurrence; he petitioned God in the daytime and the night season for deliverance.
B. God’s Deliverance (vv. 3-5): 3. “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” But You are holy: The Forsaken One remembered God and His greatness, even when immersed in suffering. He did not curse or blaspheme God, and he knew that his present agony did not change God’s holiness (You are holy) or greatness (Enthroned in the praises of Israel). (David Gutz’s Bible Commentary).
4-5. “Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.” David remembered how God had answered and delivered many times before. Strangely, this would add measures of both comfort and despair: comfort, knowing that he cried to the same God who had delivered before and who could deliver again; despair, knowing that the God who had delivered before now seemed so distant and silent. (Enduring Word Bible Commentary)
ll. Insult from Enemies (Psalm 22:6-8):
A. Despised (v. 6). “But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.” The intensity of the conflict made David feel not only ignored, but insignificant. God seems to help other men, but seems to give no help to worms. The low standing he had in his own eyes and in the eyes of others simply added to his agony. It was dramatically fulfilled in the greater Son of David, that on the cross He was a reproach of men, and despised by the people. (Enduring Word Bible Commentary)
B. Mocked (vv. 7-8). “All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying” It was if they said, “It seemed that he trusted in the Lord, but we all know that the Lord rescues those who trust in Him. It seemed that he delighted in God, but that must be false because he is not delivered.” Jesus identified with the opening words of Psalm 22 with his great cry from the cross (Matthew 27:46) (Enduring Word Bible Commentary)
lll. Presence of God (Psalm 22:9-11): “But thou art he that took me out of my mother’s womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts. I was cast upon thee from the womb: Thou art my God from my mother’s belly.” David understood-both for himself and, prophetically speaking, for the later-to-come Messiah-that in the depth of agony and the sense of abandonment, one could still appeal to God in remembrance of better times. (Enduring Word Bible Commentary)