Psalms

Chapter 22

The Psalm of the Cross

This psalm begins in the agony of felt abandonment, as the speaker cries to God from the depths of mockery, bodily collapse, and surrounding violence. Yet the lament turns with startling force into answered praise and worldwide proclamation, so that the one who seemed forsaken becomes the herald of a kingdom in which future generations will hear that the LORD has acted.

Psalm 22 is one of the Psalter's most searching laments and one of its most far-reaching songs of redemption. It holds together innocent suffering, covenant memory, urgent deliverance, public thanksgiving, and the universal reign of God, making it a foundational text for understanding how deep affliction can become the doorway to worldwide praise.

1 section·215 words·~1 min read

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Psalms 22

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vv. 1-31

The Psalm of the Cross

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F¹or the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Doe of the Dawn.” A Psalm of David. ²I cry out by day, O my God, ³Yet You are holy, ⁴In You our fathers trusted; ⁵They cried out to You and were set free;

⁶But I am a worm and not a man, ⁷All who see me mock me; ⁸“He trusts in the LORD, ⁹Yet You brought me forth from the womb; ¹⁰From birth I was cast upon You; ¹¹Be not far from me, ¹²Many bulls surround me; ¹³They open their jaws against me ¹⁴I am poured out like water, ¹⁵My strength is dried up like a potsherd, ¹⁶For dogs surround me; ¹⁷I can count all my bones; ¹⁸They divide my garments among them

¹⁹But You, O LORD, be not far off; ²⁰Deliver my soul from the sword, ²¹Save me from the mouth of the lion;

²²I will proclaim Your name to my brothers; ²³You who fear the LORD, praise Him! ²⁴For He has not despised or detested ²⁵My praise for You resounds in the great assembly; ²⁶The poor will eat and be satisfied;

²⁷All the ends of the earth ²⁸For dominion belongs to the LORD ²⁹All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; ³⁰Posterity will serve Him; ³¹They will come and proclaim His righteousness

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01vv. 1-31The Psalm of the CrossThe psalm opens with the cry of abandonment and moves through memories of God's faithfulness, the humiliation of mockers, the violence of enemies, and the wasting weakness of near death. From that extremity comes a plea for deliverance, and once answered the song widens into praise in the assembly, worship among the nations, and proclamation to future generations that the LORD has done it.