Have you ever felt like God was far away? That he wasn't even acknowledging your prayers? And that even thinking about God and his goodness didn't make things better, it actually made things worse? That's what the psalmist is experiencing in Psalm 22. In this psalm, we hear the haunting words that Jesus himself cried from the cross "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me." And in this same psalm, we see one of the most dramatic shifts from lament to full-blown praise in the whole bible. This psalm pictures for us what Jesus' death brings about – Jesus sinks to the deepest hell to raise us to the heavens.
As you read this psalm and pour out the ways you might feel abandoned by God, remember that Jesus himself prayed these words too. Remember that he suffered so that you would never have to suffer alone. Even in your suffering now, he is with you and promises to raise you to the joys this psalm concludes with through his resurrection life.
Psalm 22
My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Why are you so far away when I groan for help?
2Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer.
Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief.
3Yet you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4Our ancestors trusted in you,
and you rescued them.
5They cried out to you and were saved.
They trusted in you and were never disgraced.
6But I am a worm and not a man.
I am scorned and despised by all!
7Everyone who sees me mocks me.
They sneer and shake their heads, saying,
8“Is this the one who relies on the Lord?
Then let the Lord save him!
If the Lord loves him so much,
let the Lord rescue him!”
9Yet you brought me safely from my mother’s womb
and led me to trust you at my mother’s breast.
10I was thrust into your arms at my birth.
You have been my God from the moment I was born.
11Do not stay so far from me,
for trouble is near,
and no one else can help me.
12My enemies surround me like a herd of bulls;
fierce bulls of Bashan have hemmed me in!
13Like lions they open their jaws against me,
roaring and tearing into their prey.
14My life is poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart is like wax,
melting within me.
15My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay.
My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.
You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead.
16My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs;
an evil gang closes in on me.
They have pierced my hands and feet.
17I can count all my bones.
My enemies stare at me and gloat.
18They divide my garments among themselves
and throw dice for my clothing.
19O Lord, do not stay far away!
You are my strength; come quickly to my aid!
20Save me from the sword;
spare my precious life from these dogs.
21Snatch me from the lion’s jaws
and from the horns of these wild oxen.
22I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters.
I will praise you among your assembled people.
23Praise the Lord, all you who fear him!
Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob!
Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel!
24For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy.
He has not turned his back on them,
but has listened to their cries for help.
25I will praise you in the great assembly.
I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you.
26The poor will eat and be satisfied.
All who seek the Lord will praise him.
Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy.
27The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him.
All the families of the nations will bow down before him.
28For royal power belongs to the Lord.
He rules all the nations.
29Let the rich of the earth feast and worship.
Bow before him, all who are mortal,
all whose lives will end as dust.
30Our children will also serve him.
Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord.
31His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born.
They will hear about everything he has done.
Reflection Questions
At the same time as this psalm depicts what often feels true of the human story, it also dramatically depicts Jesus' story, showing us the scope of what's happening as he suffers on the cross. On the cross, Jesus is experiencing the worst misery imaginable, both physically and spiritually, while he is surrounded by a crowd of mockers (vv.1-21). Yet in the midst of this anguish, he is proclaiming God's praise to those gathered and even rescuing them, drawing them – and all of us – back into relationship with God (vv.22-31). This is what Jesus is doing through his unimaginable suffering, and this is how he offers hope to us in our suffering.
- Can you take a moment to stand in awe of Jesus for what he has done on the cross?
- Can you ask Jesus what he might be doing in the midst of your suffering right now?
Taking It Further This Week: Bible Reading
We began this season of Lent by acknowledging how easy it can be for us to go through life and forget the cross and its significance. And today's final Lent video encourages us to intentionally push back against that tendency by spending this week reading Scripture that helps us to keep the cross at the forefront of our imagination as we approach Good Friday and Easter. We recommend that you read the passages below midday, perhaps during your lunch break, since this is often the time of day we are most prone to go into autopilot mode and forget God. You might also consider praying this short midday prayer as part of your time with God, to help you remember the cross and picture Jesus' amazing love for you and the people around you.
"Lord, at this hour you hung upon the Cross, stretching out your loving arms; grant that all the peoples of the earth may look to you and be saved, for your tender mercies' sake. Amen."
Holy Week Reading Schedule
The Lent Experience Participant’s Journal includes a reading schedule for Holy Week (the week leading up to Good Friday and Easter) with readings from the Gospel of Luke. If you would like, you can use the reading schedule provided there, or since we will be in the Gospel of John for Good Friday and Easter, you can use this reading schedule below to re-walk through the last week of Jesus' life. May our God use his holy word to prepare our hearts to celebrate our Saviour's death and resurrection together this weekend!
- Monday – John 12-13
- Tuesday – John 14-15
- Wednesday – John 16-17
- Thursday – John 18
- Friday – John 19
- Saturday – John 20
- Sunday – John 21
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