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.

The Cry of Abandonment

For the leader. Set to "Sunrise."A psalm of David: My God! My God! Why have you abandoned me? Why so far from helping me, so far from my anguished cries?

My God, by day I call to you, but you don't answer; likewise at night, but I get no relief.

Nevertheless, you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Isra'el.

In you our ancestors put their trust; they trusted, and you rescued them.

They cried to you and escaped; they trusted in you and were not disappointed.

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

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

"He committed himself to ADONAI, so let him rescue him! Let him set him free if he takes such delight in him!"

But you are the one who took me from the womb, you made me trust when I was on my mother's breasts.

Since my birth I've been thrown on you; you are my God from my mother's womb.

Don't stay far from me, for trouble is near; and there is no one to help.

Surrounded by Enemies and Suffering

Many bulls surround me, wild bulls of Bashan close in on me.

They open their mouths wide against me, like ravening, roaring lions.

I am poured out like water; all my bones are out of joint; my heart has become like wax it melts inside me;

my mouth is as dry as a fragment of a pot, my tongue sticks to my palate; you lay me down in the dust of death.

Dogs are all around me, a pack of villains closes in on me like a lion [at] my hands and feet.

I can count every one of my bones, while they gaze at me and gloat.

They divide my garments among themselves; for my clothing they throw dice.

But you, ADONAI, don't stay far away! My strength, come quickly to help me!

Rescue me from the sword, Or: "They pierced my hands and feet." See Introduction, Section VIII, paragraph 6, and Section XIV, footnote 70. my life from the power of the dogs.

Save me from the lion's mouth! You have answered me from the wild bulls' horns.

Vow to Praise and Universal Deliverance

I will proclaim your name to my kinsmen; right there in the assembly I will praise you:

"You who fear ADONAI, praise him! All descendants of Ya'akov, glorify him! All descendants of Isra'el, stand in awe of him!

For he has not despised or abhorred the poverty of the poor; he did not hide his face from him but listened to his cry."

Because of you I give praise in the great assembly; I will fulfill my vows in the sight of those who fear him.

The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek ADONAI will praise him; Your hearts will enjoy life forever.

All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to ADONAI; all the clans of the nations will worship in your presence.

For the kingdom belongs to ADONAI, and he rules the nations.

All who prosper on the earth will eat and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him, including him who can't keep himself alive,

A descendant will serve him; the next generation will be told of Adonai.

They will come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he is the one who did it.

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.

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Psalms22

The Cry of Abandonment

Surrounded by Enemies and Suffering

Vow to Praise and Universal Deliverance

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