Psalms 22
Psalm 22 is a poem where suffering and loneliness intersect with remarkable trust and hope. Amid extreme hardship, the psalmist cries out to God and vividly describes his situation. But toward the latter part of the psalm, a firm confidence in God and an assurance of ultimate salvation come to light.
1verseFor the Chief Musician; set to “The Doe of the Morning.” A Psalm by David. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?
2verseMy God, I cry in the daytime, but you don’t answer; in the night season, and am not silent.
3verseBut you are holy, you who inhabit the praises of Israel.
4verseOur fathers trusted in you. They trusted, and you delivered them.
5verseThey cried to you, and were delivered. They trusted in you, and were not disappointed.
6verseBut I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people.
7verseAll those who see me mock me. They insult me with their lips. They shake their heads, saying,
8verse“He trusts in the LORD. Let him deliver him. Let him rescue him, since he delights in him.”
9verseBut you brought me out of the womb. You made me trust while at my mother’s breasts.
10verseI was thrown on you from my mother’s womb. You are my God since my mother bore me.
11verseDon’t be far from me, for trouble is near. For there is no one to help.
12verseMany bulls have surrounded me. Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.
13verseThey open their mouths wide against me, lions tearing prey and roaring.
14verseI am poured out like water. All my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax. It is melted within me.
15verseMy strength is dried up like a potsherd. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have brought me into the dust of death.
16verseFor dogs have surrounded me. A company of evildoers have enclosed me. They have pierced my hands and feet.
17verseI can count all of my bones. They look and stare at me.
18verseThey divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.
19verseBut don’t be far off, LORD. You are my help. Hurry to help me!
20verseDeliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog.
21verseSave me from the lion’s mouth! Yes, you have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen.
22verseI will declare your name to my brothers. Among the assembly, I will praise you.
23verseYou who fear the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify him! Stand in awe of him, all you descendants of Israel!
24verseFor he has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, neither has he hidden his face from him; but when he cried to him, he heard.
25verseMy praise of you comes in the great assembly. I will pay my vows before those who fear him.
26verseThe humble shall eat and be satisfied. They shall praise the LORD who seek after him. Let your hearts live forever.
27verseAll the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD. All the relatives of the nations shall worship before you.
28verseFor the kingdom is the LORD’s. He is the ruler over the nations.
29verseAll the rich ones of the earth shall eat and worship. All those who go down to the dust shall bow before him, even he who can’t keep his soul alive.
30versePosterity shall serve him. Future generations shall be told about the Lord.
31verseThey shall come and shall declare his righteousness to a people that shall be born, for he has done it.
Structure and Flow
- Verses 1–2: It begins with a deep lament that God has forsaken him. The psalmist cries out in anguish that his prayers are not answered.
- Verses 3–5: Remembering how their ancestors relied on God and were saved, he seeks the foundation of trust.
- Verses 6–8: He openly confesses his plight—being despised and mocked by people around him.
- Verses 9–11: He appeals by recalling God’s care from the time he was born.
- Verses 12–18: The psalmist describes the threats of death and the physical and mental suffering in detail.
- Verses 19–21: A prayer follows that contains a fervent longing for salvation.
- Verses 22–31: The situation turns. The psalmist is confident that salvation will be accomplished, and he resolves to praise God and proclaim God’s name among all nations.
Overall Meaning
Psalm 22 contains a personal journey through suffering and deliverance. Even in moments of despair, the psalmist remembers God’s faithfulness and ultimately moves toward praise and thanksgiving. It shows that trust in God can go beyond human weakness. This psalm offers comfort to those who are experiencing hardship by allowing them to speak honestly about their pain, and at the same time it encourages an attitude of not losing hope.
Points for Reflection
- Even in hardship, am I approaching God honestly?
- Let’s think about whether I’m giving God an honest account of my suffering.
- Take a moment to see whether you have a basis within you for trusting God even during difficult times.
Applying It to Me
- In the face of suffering and loneliness in life, let’s strive to have an attitude like the psalmist of Psalm 22—crying out to God and trying to place our trust in Him.
- Let’s remember that we need a truthful time to honestly lay the reality we are facing before God, without turning away from it or denying it.
