Psalms22

Psalm 22 opens with a profound cry of dereliction from the psalmist, feeling utterly forsaken by God amidst intense suffering and public scorn. He vividly describes his physical and emotional torment at the hands of his enemies, who mock his trust in the Lord. Despite this anguish, the psalm transitions to a declaration of future praise and a prophetic vision of all nations turning to the Lord, acknowledging His universal kingdom.

Listen to this chapter

The Cry of Abandonment

My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving me, so far from my words of groaning?

I cry out by day, O my God, but You do not answer, and by night, but I have no rest.

Yet You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.

In You our fathers trusted; they trusted and You delivered them.

They cried out to You and were set free; they trusted in You and were not disappointed.

But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people.

All who see me mock me; they sneer and shake their heads:

“He trusts in the LORD, let the LORD deliver him; let the LORD rescue him, since He delights in him.”

Yet You brought me forth from the womb; You made me secure at my mother’s breast.

From birth I was cast upon You; from my mother’s womb You have been my God.

Be not far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.

Surrounded by Enemies and Suffering

Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.

They open their jaws against me like lions that roar and maul.

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are disjointed. My heart is like wax; it melts away within me.

My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You lay me in the dust of death.

For dogs surround me; a band of evil men encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet.

I can count all my bones; they stare and gloat over me.

They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.

But You, O LORD, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me.

Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of wild dogs.

Save me from the mouth of the lion; at the horns of the wild oxen You have answered me!

Vow to Praise and Universal Deliverance

I will proclaim Your name to my brothers; I will praise You in the assembly.

You who fear the LORD, praise Him! All descendants of Jacob, honor Him! All offspring of Israel, revere Him!

For He has not despised or detested the torment of the afflicted. He has not hidden His face from him, but has attended to his cry for help.

My praise for You resounds in the great assembly; I will fulfill my vows before those who fear You.

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. 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— even those unable to preserve their lives.

Posterity will serve Him; they will declare the Lord to a new generation.

They will come and proclaim His righteousness to a people yet unborn— all that He has done.

Study Notes for Psalms 22

Verse 1

This opening line is the most famous verse in the Psalm, quoted by Jesus on the cross (Matt 27:46). It expresses the deepest anguish—the feeling of being utterly forsaken by God during suffering.

Verse 2

The psalmist emphasizes the relentless nature of his pain, which prevents him from finding rest or silence, suggesting a continuous, desperate prayer that seems unanswered.

Verse 3

Despite the feeling of abandonment, the psalmist affirms God’s essential holiness. This acknowledgment (confessing God’s character) is the pivot point for hope in the midst of despair.

Verse 4

David appeals to the historical covenant faithfulness of God, reminding the Lord that the ancestors trusted Him and were delivered, contrasting their experience with his current plight.

Verse 6

The image 'I am a worm, and no man' conveys utter humiliation and social degradation, suggesting that the suffering has stripped him of his dignity and status among his peers.

Verse 7

The mockery involves physical gestures of contempt ('shoot out the lip,' 'shake the head'), illustrating the public nature of the psalmist’s shame.

Verse 8

The enemies mock his faith directly, challenging the effectiveness of his trust in Yahweh—a taunt that foreshadows the verbal abuse Christ received while dying (Ps 42:10).

Verse 9

The psalmist pivots to recall God’s sustaining presence from birth, arguing that God has a lifelong commitment to him and should not abandon him now.

Verse 11

This verse concludes the first segment, summarizing the urgent petition for God’s presence, as trouble is imminent and human help is nonexistent.

Verse 12

The imagery shifts to powerful, bestial enemies. 'Strong bulls of Bashan' refers to the large, fierce cattle of a fertile northern region, symbolizing influential and savage opponents.

Verse 14

These verses describe extreme physical distress: 'poured out like water' (loss of strength), bones 'out of joint,' and a heart melted like wax, signifying total physical and emotional collapse.

Verse 15

To be brought 'into the dust of death' acknowledges that the suffering has brought him to the brink of the grave, an outcome perceived as being permitted by God.

Verse 16

The phrase 'they pierced my hands and my feet' is a key messianic verse. Whether interpreted literally as piercing or figuratively as binding, the description aligns precisely with the Roman method of crucifixion.

Verse 18

This verse details the ultimate indignity: enemies dividing his garments and gambling for his clothing, a scene recorded by all four Gospel writers during the crucifixion (John 19:23-24).

Verse 19

The petition is renewed with fervor, shifting the focus from the severity of the suffering back to God’s identity as the source of strength, demanding immediate assistance.

Verse 21

The transition is dramatic: the final cry for deliverance is followed immediately by the declaration, 'for thou hast heard me,' indicating a sudden, faith-based assurance of rescue.

Verse 22

This verse marks the abrupt turn from lament to triumphant praise (the *tehillah*). The psalmist vows to testify publicly before the gathered community ('my brethren').

Verse 23

The restored psalmist calls the entire covenant community, both the 'seed of Jacob' and 'seed of Israel,' to join him in magnifying God for his deliverance.

Verse 24

This provides the theological reason for the praise: God did not despise the afflicted one but heard his cry, directly contradicting the fear of abandonment expressed in verse 1.

Verse 26

The promise that 'the meek shall eat and be satisfied' refers to a communal sacrifice and feast of thanksgiving, signifying restoration, sustenance, and eternal spiritual life.

Verse 27

The scope of the praise expands dramatically beyond Israel to include 'all the ends of the world' and 'all the kindreds of the nations,' introducing a universal missionary vision.

Verse 28

The foundation for universal worship is established in God’s sovereignty; the kingdom belongs to the LORD alone, and He is the ultimate ruler among all nations.

Verse 29

Worship is inclusive of all social classes: the wealthy ('fat upon earth') and the dying ('go down to the dust'). All must submit to God, as no one can sustain life independently.

Verse 30

The focus switches to perpetuity. A righteous 'seed' (descendants/future generations) will serve the Lord, ensuring the continuation of the faithful community.

Verse 31

The final generation will declare God's saving righteousness to a newly born people, ensuring that the story of God's saving act ('that he hath done this') is perpetually remembered.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate

Psalms22

The Cry of Abandonment

Surrounded by Enemies and Suffering

Vow to Praise and Universal Deliverance

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Reading Width 45 chars

Options