Psalm 22
1My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?
2O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;
and by night, but find no rest.
3Yet you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4In you our ancestors trusted;
they trusted, and you delivered them.
5To you they cried, and were saved;
in you they trusted, and were not put to shame.
6But I am a worm, and not human;
scorned by others, and despised by the people.
7All who see me mock at me;
they make mouths at me, they shake their heads;
8'Commit your cause to the Lord; let him deliver—
let him rescue the one in whom he delights!'
9Yet it was you who took me from the womb;
you kept me safe on my mother's breast.
10On you I was cast from my birth,
and since my mother bore me you have been my God.
11Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.
12Many bulls encircle me,
strong bulls of Bashan surround me;
13they open wide their mouths at me,
like a ravening and roaring lion.
14I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like wax;
it is melted within my breast;
15my mouth is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
you lay me in the dust of death.
16For dogs are all around me;
a company of evildoers encircles me.
My hands and feet have shriveled;
17I can count all my bones.
They stare and gloat over me;
18they divide my clothes among themselves,
and for my clothing they cast lots.
This is easily one of the more recognizable psalms in our Christian tradition. We remember it from Jesus' words on the cross. It leaves a haunting image that I think too many of us are familiar with. We feel that God does not answer us. It seems particularly haunting when we picture Christ on the cross echoing these words.
It seems like a desperate place to be. The good news, however, is that this is not the end of the psalm, or even how the story ends. For while we remember Christ on the cross, we also remember that he did not stay there. He was crucified, but he arose.
Tomorrow we will look at the second part of the psalm. However, as you pray this psalm today, if you are not in a place where you feel far from God, give thanks and pray for someone who may be. If you are in a place where these words strike close to home, know that people are praying for you.
Pray the above portion of Psalm 22.
