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.

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The Cry of Abandonment

¶ To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.

But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

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.

But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,

He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

But thou art he that took me out of the 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.

¶ Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.

Surrounded by Enemies and Suffering

Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.

They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.

My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.

They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.

Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.

Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.

Vow to Praise and Universal Deliverance

¶ I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.

Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.

For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.

My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.

The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.

All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.

For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations.

All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.

A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.

They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.

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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