Nearly 1,000 years before Jesus was crucified, David wrote Psalm
22 predicting the events of the cross with stunning accuracy and in vivid
detail. This prophetic song describes the experience of the cross, in both the
physical world, and the supernatural one.
Rabbi’s frequently made use of the hinting method, quoting the
first part of a passage of Scripture in order to draw the attention of their
disciples to the whole passage. As Jesus hung on the cross, I believe this is
precisely what He did, directing our attention to Psalm 22 beginning by
exclaiming its first line:
“My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?”
This is recorded in Matthew 27:46-47:
And about the 9th
hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, Lama Sabachthani,” that is “My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?”
And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.”
Sabachthani means "left me alone." It’s like saying “Where
are you at?” The original audience clearly understood that this first line was
a cry for help. They thought He was calling for Elijah, whose name means
"Yahweh is God," to come and help him. Let's read on to see if God
was listening and how the Father responded. The next line of the Psalm asks:
Why are you so far from my deliverance and from my words of
groaning?
My God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, by night, yet I have
no rest.
Jesus had languished on the cross all day long and God had not yet
acted to rescue Him. He had labored in prayer the night before to the point
that he was sweating drops of blood, but did not receive a reprieve. Yet, He
still trusted in the Father.
But you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. Our fathers
trusted in you. They trusted and they rescued them. They cried to you and were
set free. They trusted in you and were not disgraced.
God is enthroned on the praises of His people. When we praise Him,
He moves with power in our lives. Here, the original psalmist David, and by
extension His descendant Jesus, touts the faithfulness of God. He praises the
Father by recounting his good deeds toward the children of Israel. He expresses
faith, hope and trust in God's character. We should remember this when going
through difficult things in our own lives. Jesus expressed trust in God while
enduring the suffering of the cross, surely we can remember that no matter our
circumstances, God is trustworthy and deserving of praise and honor. The
psalm then then continues with a very strange statement.
But I am a worm and not a man.
Here, the song references a very special worm. Most of the time,
worms in Scripture represent devourers and destroyers that cause decay. But unlike
the others, the body of this worm, the kermes worm, actually had special
medicinal qualities and healing properties. This reminds us that Jesus is the
Great Physician who heals our souls and will ultimately heal and glorify our
bodies. But there’s more:
The dried bodies of kermes worms were used to make red dye. Some
of the priestly garments and cloths that were used in ceremonies for cleansing,
healing and purification were colored with this red dye. Jesus was on that
tree, providing everything that was necessary for our purification and
cleansing.
But the most special thing about this worm is the manner of its death. The
Kermes worm would affix itself to a tree, covering it’s young, sacrificing it's
own life to protect and give life to its offspring. In the same way, Jesus was
nailed to a tree, sacrificing his life to give new birth and new life to His
children. The worm's body provided covering and protection, Just as Jesus'
blood covers all our sins. Like the kermes worm that dies on a tree to give
life to its children, Jesus gave His life on a tree so that we might live.
These words immediately follow the worm statement to show that Jesus was:
...scorned by mankind and despised by people. Everyone who sees me mocks
me. They sneer and shake their heads. He relies on the Lord. Let Him save him.
Let the Lord rescue him, since he takes pleasure in him.
Matthew 27:39-44 records the way Jesus was mocked on the cross, as the
actions and words of evildoers appear exactly as prophesied in the Psalm above:
And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their
heads....The chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders were mocking
Him....He trusts in God, Let Him deliver him now if he takes pleasure in
Him.
Luke 23:35-37 records And the people stood by, looking on
and even the rulers were sneering at him...and the soldiers also mocked him.
Even one thief on the cross was hurling abuse at him.
The accuracy of David’s prophecy is astounding. Continuing on, he
wrote:
It was you who brought me out of the womb, making me secure at my
mother's breast. I was given over to you at birth. You have been my God from my
mother's womb.
It was the Holy Spirit that made Mary pregnant. Jesus was consecrated at
the temple as a baby. Even in the womb, Elizabeth told her cousin Mary that the
child within her was blessed.
Don't be far from me, because distress is near and there's no one to
help.
First David, and then Jesus is asked God to be close to Him. Take special
note that He longed for the presence and comfort of the Father.
Many bulls surround me. Strong ones of Bashan encircle me. They open
their mouths against me--lions mauling and roaring.
Since bulls, like the wild auroch bull, were a symbol of ancient
cult worship, I tend to think the bulls, called strong or mighty ones, are
evil, demonic forces behind bad people, like a strong man (certain powerful
religious leaders, a king and a governor come to mind). Any time I see lions
used in a way that could be metaphorical in the Bible, I think of youth in
rebellion, since the word for prodigal, na'ar, means “one who is roaring” and
actually comes from the word for a young lion. The word often describes youth
who are separated from their father’s house. Since Bashan is the region West of
the Jordan River OUTSIDE of the Promised Land, to me, this seems to represent
prodigals who have chosen to live outside of the presence of God, separated
from him.
I am poured out like water. All my bones are disjointed. My heart is like wax,
melting within me.
Jesus poured himself out for us. Giving up the rights and
privileges he could have claimed as God and dying for us instead. Philippians
2:6-7 describes Christ in this way:
Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with
God something to cling to. Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form
of a servant...
Jesus gave himself up for us, choosing not to forcibly claim the
glory and honor he was due and instead willingly enduring the excruciating pain
of death by crucifixion. Bones became disjointed during the intense pressure of
a crucifixion. I also believe Jesus’ heart was incredibly sad, He was truly a
man of sorrows in that moment.
After laboring through the evening in prayer, Jesus had been put
on trial all night long before being beaten with rods and striped with whips.
After being forced to carry his own cross and hanging on it throughout the day,
he was physically drained.
My strength is dried up like a potsherd. My tongue sticks to the roof of
my mouth. You put me into the dust of death.
John 19:28 corresponds to this: After this, Jesus,
knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the
Scripture, said, "I am thirsty."
Jesus’ body was emptied of fluid and
drained of strength. He was mentally and physically exhausted from the
horrifying torture he had been subjected to. Yet even in this state, he provided
us with a powerful object lesson. Through the evening before his suffering as
he sweat drops of blood, Our Lord had prayed that if possible, this cup would
pass from him. In asking for a drink, Jesus showed that he was willingly
drinking the metaphorical cup the Father had sent him to drink. Each time we
take of the communion cup, we should remember this salient moment as Jesus
enacted a New Covenant.
For dogs have surrounded me, a gang of evildoers has closed in on me
Dogs or wolves, is a common metaphor for pagan worshippers and evil doers on
the prowl, ready to attack. In Matthew 7:15 Jesus compared false prophets to
ravening wolves. Evil people surrounded Jesus and arrested him in the garden of
Gethsemane. He was surrounded by gangs of evildoers all night long at his
trials and all day long on the cross. Interestingly, the word for wolf in the
New Testament describes a white wolf--one that easily disguises itself among
sheep--a wolf in sheep's clothing. The religious leaders were secretly evil
doers and not true believers. As Jesus’ languished on the cross, these men
stood by and looked on.
...they pierced my hands and feet.
As Acts 2:23 explains, Jesus' hands and feet were nailed to the
cross. Though he was delivered up according to God's determined plan
and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail him to a cross and kill him.
I can count all my bones. People look and stare at me. They divided my
garments among themselves and they cast lots for my clothing.
Victims of crucifixion were stripped naked and made into a
public spectacle. John 19:23-24 records this event, concluding with this
statement
They divided my outer garments among them, and for my clothing
they cast lots.
This is another direct quotation from Psalm 22 above. Their
intention was to humiliate the Son of God. Colossians 2:15 shows how he turned
it around on them:
And having disarmed the powers and authorities, HE made
a public spectacle of THEM, triumphing over them by the
cross.
But you, LORD, don't be far away. My strength, come quickly to help me.
Rescue my life from the sword, my only life from the power of these dogs. Save
me from the lion's mouth, from the horns of the unicorns.
My favorite animal reference in the passage is in verse 21 when
he says "save me from the horns of the unicorns." Some translations
say wild oxen, but the word is always translated elsewhere in the KJV as
unicorn--and it is singular. I believe this is an allusion to the one-horned
beast from Daniel's prophecy which represents the spirit of anti-Christ--It
represents either Satan himself, or his representative on earth--possibly a
certain corrupt high priest or his father-in-law (Ananias and Caiaphas) who did
not want to relinquish power. Jesus, again asks to be rescued from the
evildoers who surround him. In the supernatural view, the lions, wolves and
animals represent evil people, but the use of animals as a metaphor also suggests
that dark, demonic forces were in operation, tempting and influencing them.
The last half of the Psalm simultaneously prophesies and proclaims
victory.
YOU ANSWERED ME!!!
I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you
in the assembly. You who fear the Lord, praise Him. All you descendants of
Jacob, praise him. All you descendants of Jacob, honor him. All you descendants
of Israel, revere him.
At this point the song becomes instructive as to how we should honor God
and praise His name. There is joyous, but also deep and reverent worship here.
God heard Jesus' cry just as He had heard the cry of his forefather David.
For he has not despised or abhorred the torment of the oppressed. He did
not hide his face from him but listened when he cried for help.
God did not turn his face away from Jesus. The word for face and presence
is the same word. Remember when I told you to remember the singer of the Psalm
was longing for the Presence of God. The Father did not deny Him the Presence
He so longed for, but came and rescued Him from the death. God’s timing was
perfect. He did not rescue Jesus as he hung on the cross, but he did indeed
rescue him out of the grave to rise again alive.
I will give praise in the great assembly because of you. I will fulfill
my vows before those who fear you. The humble will eat and be satisfied. Those
who seek the Lord will praise him. May your hearts live forevermore.
Because of Jesus' sacrifice and the work of Father, Son and Holy Spirit
together, we will eat our fill of spiritual food. We will be satisfied with his
word and enjoy the benefits of God's presence and His spirit in our lives. He
will give us renewed hearts and eternal life.
All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord. All the
families of the nations will bow down before you. For Kingship belongs to
the Lord. He rules the nations. All who prosper on earth will eat and bow
down. All those who go down to the dust will kneel before him--even the one who
cannot preserve his life.
This passage is rich with representation and references within the
Scriptures. Revelation 5:9 speaks of Jesus: Worthy
are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by
your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people
and nation. At the Great Commission, Jesus sent us into all the world to
proclaim the gospel and make disciples of all nations. Rev.
7:9 affirms that every tribe, language, people and nation will be represented
among those who are saved. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
(Revelation 19:16) Every knee will bow before Him. (Romans 14:11) Even
unbelievers who die will bow down before Jesus, though Isaiah 65:12 teaches us
they will bow down to be slaughtered.
Their descendants will serve him. It shall be told of the Lord
to the coming generation. They shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a
people yet unborn that HE HAS DONE IT.
This great work that Jesus accomplished has been taught for over
2000 years, generation after generation. On the cross, His last words were
"Into thy hands I commit my Spirit" and "It
is Finished."
Psalm 22 concludes with the words He Has
Done It. This corresponds with Jesus' shouting Teleo, which means It is finished, or It has been accomplished. This was a great victory cry. Satan was defeated. Death
was defeated. Sin was defeated. Salvation had been provided. Jesus had accomplished everything the Father sent Him to do.
Thinking of the words of this Psalm, Jesus expressed
complete faith and trust in the Father during His moment of greatest trial and
suffering. He sought comfort in the word of God. The Psalm ends with a note of
certainty about Christ's success. He had come to earth to take the punishment
for our sins. He had come to provide a way for mankind to be restored into a
right relationship with God. Every evil intention that hell and humans had for
the cross, Jesus turned it around. He ended his earthly life by shouting a
great cry of victory, TELEO--declaring that his mission was a success. He had
provided all that was necessary for our salvation. In that moment, He declared
victory over death, hell and the grave with complete faith, hope and trust in
the Father to raise Him from the dead. And on the 3rd day, creation witnessed
His Resurrection.
Here are links to the other articles in this series:
Palm Sunday: Passion Week Part 1)
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