Psalms 22:1

¶ 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?

To the chief Musician {H5329} upon Aijeleth {H365} Shahar {H7837}, A Psalm {H4210} of David {H1732}. My God {H410}, my God {H410}, why hast thou forsaken {H5800} me? why art thou so far {H7350} from helping {H3444} me, and from the words {H1697} of my roaring {H7581}?

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

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou sofar from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?

Commentary

This verse is the opening line of Psalm 22, a profound and poignant lament attributed to King David. It immediately plunges the reader into a scene of deep distress and perceived abandonment.

Context

Psalm 22 is a psalm of lament, expressing the intense suffering and anguish of the psalmist. The title, "To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar," is a musical direction, possibly referring to a tune or instrument ("Doe of the Morning"). Authored by David, it likely reflects a time of extreme personal hardship, perhaps during persecution or illness. However, its language and imagery are so vivid and specific regarding suffering that it has long been interpreted not only as a historical account of David's pain but also as a powerful prophecy concerning the suffering Messiah, Jesus Christ. The opening cry sets the tone for a psalm that moves from the depths of despair to ultimate trust and praise.

Key Themes

  • Feeling Forsaken: The central cry is one of perceived abandonment by God, despite a lifetime of faith.
  • Deep Suffering: The verse speaks of being "far from helping me" and the "words of my roaring," indicating intense pain and distress that is vocalized.
  • Questioning God: The psalmist directly questions God's apparent distance and lack of intervention.
  • Lament and Appeal: While a lament, it is also an appeal, a raw cry directed towards God Himself.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" is a direct translation of the Hebrew אֵלִי אֵלִי לָמָה עֲזַבְתָּנִי (Eli, Eli, lamah azavtani). The repetition of "My God" emphasizes the personal relationship and deep shock of feeling cut off. The word for "forsaken" (עֲזַבְתָּנִי - 'azavtani) implies being left alone, abandoned, or deserted. The "words of my roaring" (דִּבְרֵי שַׁאֲגָתִי - divrei sha'agati) conveys the deep, guttural cries of extreme anguish, like the roar of a lion.

Significance and Application

This verse is perhaps most famously significant because it was quoted by Jesus while He was suffering on the cross (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34). This connection highlights the prophetic nature of the psalm and the depth of Christ's identification with human suffering, even to the point of feeling separation from the Father during the carrying of sin. For believers today, this verse validates the experience of feeling distant from God or abandoned during times of intense trial. It shows that even the most faithful, including David and ultimately Christ, experienced such feelings. It encourages honesty in prayer and reminds us that crying out to God in our deepest pain is a biblical response. While we may feel abandoned, God's presence is ultimately assured (Hebrews 13:5), and the psalm itself moves towards a declaration of trust and God's faithfulness.

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Cross-References

  • Mark 15:34 (46 votes)

    And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

  • Matthew 27:46 (34 votes)

    And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

  • Hebrews 5:7 (20 votes)

    Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

  • Psalms 22:16 (10 votes)

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

  • Job 3:24 (7 votes)

    For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters.

  • Luke 24:44 (6 votes)

    And he said unto them, These [are] the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and [in] the prophets, and [in] the psalms, concerning me.

  • Psalms 43:1 (5 votes)

    ¶ Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.