Psalm 22

What Am I Called to Share? Psalm 22:22-31

/ Anthea Kotlan / Leave a comment

I spent Sunday afternoon and evening in an emergency room with an elderly family member. God showed up in the kindness of pre-warmed sheets, wrapping us in care. As the hours inched passed, all reports and test results provided much-needed reassurance. Finally, long after sundown, the doctor graciously wrote prescriptions to relieve the most troubling symptoms. We left grateful and giving thanks for a good outcome but worn out in the waiting.

Keeping company with affliction wears heavy on the mind, body, and soul.

Psalm 22 takes the reader on a journey from the opening lines of anguish and isolation on the cross to this final section (verses 22-31) of hope-filled praise in the assembly with the family of believers. Worship and testimonies overflow and alter the atmosphere. However, the Lord still acknowledges suffering, and He never turns away from the afflicted.

22 I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:
23 You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!
24 For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he had not hidden his face from him but has heard when he cried to him. 
(Psalm 22:22-24 ESV)

Testimonies

We are called to share our stories of God’s faithfulness. These stories must be communicated in spaces and places where believers can encourage one another. Our testimonies bring glory to God. Just as suffering can way us down, sharing praise reports in the assembly uplifts us. The examples of God’s faithfulness lift us onto our feet, and our hands are raised to praise Him.

Affliction

Even as we are joining together to give God praise, He reminds us about how He does not turn away from our suffering. Verse 24 says that God hears us, God sees us, and He does not turn away from our affliction. Because God does not turn away from our suffering, we must also be willing to keep company with the afflicted. This call to action cannot be accomplished in our strength. We can draw near to some of the most challenging situations by asking the Holy Spirit to strengthen us. In a society that so often refuses to see, hear or acknowledge suffering, believers have a sacred obligation to be fully present with suffering and the affliction of those He calls us to love.

Keeping company with the afflicted causes us to face our weaknesses and our inability to fix things. No amount of positive thinking or affirmations can create adequate relief when our loved ones are suffering or if we are afflicted.

Who is God calling me to keep the company in a season of suffering?

25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him.
26 The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD! May your hearts live forever!
(Psalm 22:25-26 ESV)

Praise

Verse 25 points to how our praise comes from God and is turned back to Him. We respond to God with praise and thanksgiving because He is the giver of all we have.  

Is it possible that the “great congregation,” verse 25 mentions, refers to the ultimate praise party we all will gather together for when Jesus returns to rule the earth? I believe the Lord kindly gives us previews of this ultimate praise party every time we gather with fellow believers for prayer and praise.

Verse 26 promises that those suffering and afflicted will experience future healing, nurturing, and satisfaction. There will be no lack in the new heaven and new earth.

27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.
28 For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.
29All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive.
(Psalm 22:27-29 ESV)

Every Tribe and Every Nation

All the families of the nations shall worship –every knee shall bow and worship King Jesus. God has called us to go to the ends of the earth to tell every tribe and nation of the good news of Jesus Christ. In the next fifteen years, Bible translation organizations worldwide are joining forces to translate the Bible into every language. People must hear the gospel in their mother tongue to know Jesus cares for them.

Verse 28 reminds us that, “Kingship belongs to the LORD.” He rules and has authority in my life and over the nations. Whether every tribe and nation acknowledge Him or not, He still rules. I know I need that reminder. Every single day the news trumpets all the chaos of this world. A steady diet of those headlines could lead us to give up hope. So how do we counter that?

For every minute spent watching the news, can I spend an equal amount reading my Bible?

30 Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation;
31 they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn,
    that he has done it.
(Psalm 22:30-31 ESV)

Stories To Be Told

The final verses of Psalm 22 proclaim the privilege we have. We will be honored to tell babies about what the Lord has done. My stories will be passed down from one generation to another. Ask the Lord about this “next generation.” How can you love them well? Who are the young women with young children God has placed around you? Do you have grandchildren to share stories with? Do you have nieces or nephews? Or grandnieces or nephews? Do you have neighbors with little ones? Has the Lord sent little ones who need to be loved well to your church?

What stories can you share of God’s faithfulness today? Who has God placed in your path? Who is in your sphere of influence?

He has done it….

Finally, the Lord reminds us that, “He has done it.”  

This psalm begins in the depth of despair and ends with a powerful reminder.

Are you talking about what the Lord has done?

Prayer

Lord, thank you that you have done it. You have done it all. Thank you that even when I don’t feel it, you rule. Send your Holy Spirit to help me tell others about you and be present in suffering with those I love. Thank you for the sacred calling of sharing both stories of goodness and Your grace in times of affliction. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

How do I sit with suffering? Psalm 22

/ Anthea Kotlan / Leave a comment

How does the world respond to suffering?

We medicate it.

We dismiss it.

We deny it.

We try to explain it away.

We even blame the victim sometimes.

Jesus has a different way of sitting with suffering.

Psalm 22 invites believers to sit at the foot of the cross with Jesus and bear witness to many aspects of His suffering. Each verse takes the reader deeper into His pain and isolation.

When I come so close to suffering, if I am being honest, I want to look away, fix it, or find a way to stop it. To lean in and be fully present with someone we love experiencing a storm of suffering is agony. I want to take three steps back and create some comfortable distance.

My heart and mind feel desperate to escape. It feels far too much for me to handle.

Jesus warned us about this.

33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
(John 16:33 ESV)

How does Jesus model “taking heart” while suffering?

He cries out to God.

He prays scripture aloud.

He speaks truthfully about His suffering.

He surrenders to God’s will on repeat.

He continues to look for His rescue.

Last week on the blog, I looked at the first part of Psalm 22 through the lens of Queen Esther. I examined the pain and isolation she must have felt when faced with an almost impossible decision to risk her life to save her people.

Where do I find God in a desperate situation? Psalm 22

Another way to look at Psalm 22 is to see it as a prophecy about Jesus’ death on the cross.

Psalm 22 fulfills many prophecies about the Messiah

Jesus quotes Psalm 22 from the cross.

Those who stood by watching would have recognized the text immediately. The bits and pieces of the text He shared would have brought the entire Psalm to their minds.

Psalm 22 begins with a haunting line,

1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?
2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.
(Psalm 22:1-2 ESV)

Jesus cries out to God

 

These words highlight the scene of Jesus hanging on the cross surrounded by a hostile crowd and knowing His death is near. His ordeal has included beatings, humiliation, and a barrage of accusations. He has willingly submitted Himself to this torture, motivated by a fierce and sacrificial love for each of us.

He prays scripture aloud

6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people.
7 All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads;
8 “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”
(Psalm 22:6-8 ESV)

Here Jesus describes the utter humiliation of being displayed before a crowd as an example of failure. In verse 8, Jesus even quotes some of the harshest things that were said as the crowd mocked Him for His belief in God. However, Jesus continues to cling fiercely and audibly to His belief.

He speaks truthfully about His suffering

9 Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother's breasts.
10 On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother's womb you have been my God.
11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help.
(Psalm 22:9-11 ESV)

Jesus responds to the mocking of His belief in God by recounting his birth on Earth, from Mary’s womb, and His utter reliance on God. He expresses the agony of the impending but brief separation He is about to experience. He and God have always walked hand in hand, but now He faces a moment of separation as He can see His death is imminent.

12 Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me;
13 they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion.
(Psalm 22:12-13 ESV)

Jesus speaks honestly about how desperate a state He is in. When He could have escaped this agony, He remained inside the suffering storm.

He surrenders to God’s will on repeat

14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax;
    it is melted within my breast;
15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death.
(Psalm 22:14-15 ESV)

Jesus surrenders again and again to the Lord’s will as He pours His strength out and becomes weak.

16 For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet
(Psalm 22:16 ESV)

Jesus acknowledges His state of being. His honesty in the face of peril is real and raw.

17 I can count all my bones—they stare and gloat over me;
18 they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.
(Psalm 22:17-18 ESV)

In this moment of being stripped naked on the cross, Jesus’ humiliation is on display. The authorities give Him no room for dignity. God allows us to glimpse the devastating force of our sin.

Even His clothing, the last earthly objects Jesus could call His own, became something to be won by casting lots. The soldiers were operating in utter certainty of his impending death.

He continues to look for His rescue

19 But you, O LORD, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid!
20 Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog!
21 Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen!
(Psalm 22:19-21 ESV)

Jesus cries aloud to the Lord before a watching crowd. Even in His desperation, He points to the only source of reliable help because He wants the world to know. Jesus had a direct line to His heavenly father, so speaking aloud would not have been necessary. And yet, He continues to narrate His journey so all will understand the destination He seeks. He wants to be near the Lord.

Sitting at the foot of the cross

Am I willing to lean in and be fully present with Jesus as He experiences a storm of suffering and agony in His final moments on the cross?

Take a few minutes today to ask Jesus what He wants you to know about this. In your own life, how do you respond to your suffering or the suffering of those you love? Are you willing to ask Him to show you how to sit with suffering?

Prayer

Jesus, what do you want me to know about suffering? Strengthen my soul to follow You, even in this. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Where do I find God in a desperate situation? Psalm 22

/ Anthea Kotlan / 3 Comments

The book of Esther opens with the swift and forced exit of Queen Vashti, followed by a country-wide search for a new Queen. The King selects a young Jewish orphan named Esther. Just as she is settling into palace life, an enemy of the Jewish people has cleverly manipulated the King to issue a royal edict calling for the murder of her people. Esther’s cousin, Mordecai, has begged her to go to the King. He warned her about the cost of her silence. However, she knows that speaking to the King without an invitation could result in her immediate death.

13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, "Do not think to yourself that in the King's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:13-14 ESV)

Esther responded to Mordecai’s charge.

16 "Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the King, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish." (Esther 4:16 ESV)

Have you ever faced such a difficult decision in your life? Of course, it is unlikely that most of us will face the threat of genocide; however, most of us will face difficult decisions made in rugged and isolated places.

Have you been asked to give up a dream or a great opportunity so that someone you love can pursue their goal?

Have you ever agreed to take on something painful or challenging because it was necessary?

Have you ever been called upon to advocate for someone who is suffering or in need of help?

For such a time as this…. What is God calling you to take on or take off in this season?

Sooner or later, we will all have to rely on our faith in God in a season of hardship. Do you find yourself in a time of difficulty? Or is someone you love walking through a season of suffering?

Psalm 22 was written as a psalm of lament by King David. God provides psalms in the Bible for us to process complicated and passionate feelings. There are psalms for lament or sadness, like this one. Psalms are designed to process anger, betrayal, thanksgiving, joy, and acceptance.

Psalm 22 is often called a prophetic psalm pointing to Jesus’ time on the cross. However, the Jewish people have a different perspective.

The Oral Torah states that King David wrote this Psalm in foreknowledge of the time of Hadassah, also known as Queen Esther.

What does this portion of Psalm 22 say about having faith amid hardship? Take a few minutes to read through this portion of the Psalm and see what the Lord has for you.

1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?
2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.
(Psalm 22:1-2 ESV)

Prayer

Lord, we thank you for being close by even in my suffering. Even when I cannot see or feel you, I will choose to believe you are still there. Thank you for hearing my hard questions and being willing to answer them in your perfect timing and perfect ways.

3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4 In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them.
5 To you they cried and were rescued; in you, they trusted and were not put to shame.
(Psalm 22: 3-5 ESV)

Lord, does how I feel about you, change who You are?

How do I counter the negative voice in my head?

Try reading a psalm of praise or thanksgiving. Then, try reading Psalm 145 or 146.

God is present in the praises of His people. What could you specifically praise God about today? For what could you give thanks?

What do I know is true about me? About God?

You are still on your throne even when it does not seem so. Lord, you have been faithful to generations before me. You are trustworthy to deliver over decades.

Take a moment to close your eyes and ask the Lord, what do you want me to know about you right now?

Prayer

Lord, I thank you for delivering those who went before me. Thank you for answering their prayers. Please help me give thanks and record how you rescued my people and me. Thank you for bringing redemption out of the worst situations. Please help me to see how you will do that for me. If I can’t see those solutions right now, help me to know that your rescue is not based on my understanding.

6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people.
7 All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads;
8 "He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!"
(Psalm 22:6-8 ESV)

Even when I feel like a worm or entirely worthless, these feelings I have do not define me. You say I am beloved, called, and cared for. Even when those around me mock me, Lord and You are still for me.

Take a moment to remember the times God has rescued you, delivered you, and delighted in you.

Prayer

Lord, help to recall times when you have delivered me. Could you help me make a list and give thanks? Fill my mind with examples of Your faithfulness. Help me trust and delight in You. Help me have courage and wisdom in all difficult decisions knowing You are right by my side. Amen