"My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?": An Exposition of Psalm 22

"My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?": An Exposition of Psalm 22

The words, "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?" echo from the cross of Calvary, a cry of profound agony uttered by our Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34). These are not merely words of human suffering, but a direct quotation from Psalm 22, a prophetic masterpiece penned by David, yet speaking with uncanny precision of the Messiah's crucifixion centuries before its occurrence. This psalm is unique in its stark contrast: beginning with the deepest lament and feeling of abandonment, it transitions to a glorious crescendo of praise and global triumph. It is a vivid portrait of Christ's substitutionary atonement, revealing both the horror of sin's penalty and the ultimate victory secured by His sacrifice.

The Cry of Dereliction: Bearing the World's Sin (Psalm 22:1-2)

The psalm opens with the very words Jesus cried:

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

Psalm 22:1

This is the most agonizing question in all of scripture. For the Son of God, who eternally enjoyed perfect communion with the Father, to experience "forsaking" is unfathomable. It was not a breach in the Trinity or a cessation of the divine nature, but a profound separation in terms of fellowship and the Father's turning away from the Son as He bore the full wrath of God against sin. On that cross, Jesus, "who knew no sin, was made to be sin for us; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). He became the ultimate sin-bearer, and in that moment, the Holy God could not look upon the sin being judged. The darkness that covered the land from the sixth to the ninth hour (Matthew 27:45) symbolized this spiritual darkness and the Father's withdrawal of countenance. It was the moment the Son experienced the hell that humanity deserved, a unique and unparalleled suffering that no mere mortal could ever comprehend or endure.

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

Psalm 22:2

This verse emphasizes the continuous, agonizing nature of the psalmist's (and prophetically, Christ's) distress. The feeling of being unheard, of crying out without respite, underscores the depth of His suffering as He bore the full weight of humanity's transgressions.

The Depth of Suffering: A Prophetic Portrayal of the Cross (Psalm 22:3-21)

The psalmist then contrasts God's past faithfulness with his present perceived abandonment, painting a vivid picture of the Messiah's humiliation and suffering.

David acknowledges God's holiness and His history of delivering those who trusted Him:

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.

Psalm 22:3-5

Yet, the psalmist's personal experience is starkly different:

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.

Psalm 22:6-8

This portrays the utter humiliation of Christ. He became "a worm, and no man," stripped of all dignity, reviled and mocked by those He came to save. The taunts described here are precisely those hurled at Jesus on the cross (Matthew 27:39-43). They challenged His divine sonship and His trust in God, a direct fulfillment of this ancient prophecy.

The psalm further emphasizes God's sovereign hand in the psalmist's very birth, highlighting the divine purpose behind his existence, even in suffering:

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.

Psalm 22:9-11

This speaks to Christ's unique divine origin and His preordained mission, yet in His hour of greatest need, He feels utterly alone and helpless, crying out for God's presence.

The details here are chillingly accurate descriptions of crucifixion, centuries before its invention:

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.

Psalm 22:12-13

These "bulls of Bashan" represent powerful, relentless enemies surrounding the victim, like the chief priests, scribes, and Roman soldiers who encircled Christ.

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.

Psalm 22:14-15

These verses describe the physical effects of crucifixion: extreme weakness ("poured out like water"), dislocated joints (from being stretched on the cross), extreme dehydration and thirst ("my strength is dried up," "my tongue cleaveth to my jaws"), and the profound internal agony ("my heart is like wax"). Christ's cry, "I thirst" (John 19:28), directly fulfills this. The phrase "thou hast brought me into the dust of death" speaks of the near-fatal state and the imminence of death.

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

Psalm 22:16

The "dogs" symbolize vicious, unholy individuals. The most striking prophecy is "they pierced my hands and my feet," a direct and specific description of crucifixion, occurring long before this method of execution was common. This verse alone is a powerful testament to the psalm's divine inspiration.

I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

Psalm 22:17-18

The emaciation of the body on the cross, making bones visible, and the public spectacle of the crucifixion are depicted. The prophecy of dividing garments and casting lots for clothing was fulfilled by the Roman soldiers at the foot of the cross (John 19:23-24).

Despite the overwhelming suffering, the psalmist's prayer remains, a desperate plea for God's intervention:

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.

Psalm 22:19-21

This desperate cry for help, even from the brink of death, reflects Christ's submission to the Father's will and His trust in God's ultimate deliverance, even as He faced the full force of spiritual and physical assault.

The Triumph and Global Proclamation: The Resurrection and Its Aftermath (Psalm 22:22-31)

Abruptly, the psalm shifts from the depths of despair to a glorious declaration of praise and future triumph. This dramatic change signifies the resurrection and the subsequent impact of Christ's finished work.

The psalmist declares his intent to praise God among his brethren:

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.

Psalm 22:22-24

This is a direct prophecy of Christ's resurrection and His subsequent appearance to His disciples, whom He now calls "brethren." The writer of Hebrews applies this directly to Christ: "Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee" (Hebrews 2:11-12). The "congregation" refers to the church, the assembly of believers. The suffering servant, once forsaken, is now vindicated, and His praise is heard because God "hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted." The Father did hear Him and delivered Him from death.

The scope of the triumph expands to encompass all nations:

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.

Psalm 22:26-28

This is the ultimate outcome of Christ's suffering and resurrection: the salvation of a multitude from every tribe, tongue, and nation. The gospel,