Reflections on Psalm 22 —

Psalm 22 is a tremendous opportunity for the afflicted to share in the sufferings of their Lord. 

Kinship with Christ Through Affliction

 “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1)

God’s People are called to share in the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings as Paul did (Philippians 3:10) and fill up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions (Colossians 1:24). What does this mean?  How do God’s People experience fellowship with Christ in His sufferings?  It seems odd that Christ would ever lack anything. But in this one case, there is a gap. For all the suffering He endured, there are more afflictions He has yet to experience. How does He experience them, since He is raised and seated at the right hand of God?  It is through the church, of which He is the Cornerstone and head, holding all members together. The church of God’s People have much affliction awaiting them. They must suffer these afflictions until they are filled up to the measure God has required. 

Suffering affliction is never enjoyable. No one would ever say, “I need more affliction!” But suffering affliction is the primary way the People of God have fellowship with Christ. It is the fulfillment for which their soul longs.  The goal of using the psalms for prayer is to have fellowship with Christ. When God’s People pray the Psalms, they are not just reciting poetry; they are echoing His very words–inspired words born of the Spirit and spoken to the Father. They have true fellowship with the Lord. There is no other time when this is true as when their soul is suffering.

I am approaching Psalm 22 with a heavy heart. I am feeling alone, despised and rejected because of my beliefs. Those who should be close to me have turned their backs. I am alone and afraid, yet resolute in believing what is clear and obvious truth. In this moment of conflict and doubt, the introduction of Psalm 22 brought me into close fellowship with my Lord. It is a reassuring reminder that I am not alone and despised, but rather am privileged to share in filling up the afflictions of Christ. The completeness of the rejection is startling. It causes me to rethink my position over and over again. Am I being too hard over on this? Is it worth being shunned by those I considered friends? I imagine Christians whose kids are walking with the Lord are looking at me with derision. I am often tempted to think I am a reproach, looked upon with contempt by leaders who know my situation. Yet in this hour of affliction, and in an odd way, I considered myself blessed. I am like the apostles who, after being rebuked and flogged, rejoiced that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name (Acts 5:41). Many would say I am cursed, but I consider myself blessed because I am reviled for the truth of Christ (1 Peter 4:14). Psalm 22 encourages me along these lines. I am counted worthy to suffer affliction in a small way and find great meaning and kinship with Christ in the words: “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?  O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer; and by night, but I have no rest” (Psalm 22:1-2). 

Christ suffered the greatest affliction of all time. Mine is small compared to His, but it is as troubling as anything I have experienced. The despair and sorrow is a heavy weight on my heart, and so I personalize the words Christ uttered on the cross and feel His comradery.

David must have been experiencing affliction himself as he wrote Psalm 22. He had no idea what he was writing when he wrote of bones being out of joint or garments being divided (Psalm 22:16-18), but his suffering was real, and he knew that his writing would be useful to those like me who would follow (1 Peter 1:10-12). At the peak of his despair, he fell back on the truths God had made him understand. First, he recalled that God is holy and enthroned on the praises of Israel (Psalm 22:3). He recalled that God is above all things, even his afflictions. He recalled that when his ancestors trusted God, they were never disappointed; He always delivered (Psalm 22:4-5). Praise irresistibly springs forth whenever God faithfully responds to those who call on Him. 

Next, David fell back to the one thing that was true all his life–faith in God. He could not recall a time when his trust was not in God, for God had implanted that trust in him before he was born (Psalm 22:9-10). He had no other recourse but to trust God. The one who knows God knows this. In fact, he can’t even think of going a different route. They say with Peter, “Lord, to whom shall we go?” (John 6:68). David knew that faith in God never disappoints, and he held on to that hope. This is great encouragement to those who are withering in the rocks–encouragement to not give up hope but rather trust in the Lord no matter how hard the situation may seem. 

Yet, in the moment, all may seem lost. David is candid in his assessment of the situation. He feels abandoned, encircled, about to be torn apart, empty, weak, broken, persecuted, and pierced. He is on the verge of losing courage. He bears the weight of shame and humiliation in the sight of all (Psalm 22:11-18). His words foretell of Christ’s sufferings on the cross. He makes his appeal to God, as should the People of God in the midst of their suffering. 

At the culmination of his appeal, David prays a simple cry for deliverance of his soul, a salvation from the lion’s mouth (Psalm 22:19-21). He is urgent. He needs salvation now!  This is the most basic, useful prayer any child of God can pray. It should be his most-often repeated prayer. It is the desperate “Abba, Father!” cry of a lowly child to his Father (Romans 8:15), uttered under the breath multiple times per day. Great is the power of the lion, Satan, and strong and evil is the desire of the flesh. The People of God are keenly aware of these things. He feels vulnerable throughout the day. His trust for deliverance is always outside himself, always upward facing. 

The Testimony of the Afflicted

 “I will tell of Your name to my brethren” (Psalm 22:22)

At this point, the tone of Psalm 22 shifts dramatically. Instead of misery and woe, we sense joy and elation. The psalmist has a great story to tell, a story of deliverance and hope. He tells it boldly in the midst of a sacred assembly, a gathering of those who fear God. It is his testimony of God’s great love and rescue spoken among spiritual kin. His aim is to see God’s Glory pronounced and made known (Psalm 22:22-23,25). He wants his fellow believers, as afflicted ones of God, to find contentment in the midst of affliction (Psalm 22:26). He wants to spread his message of the great things God did to all who care to listen, that God would be magnified and people of all generations would turn to Him (Psalm 22:27,30-31).  

Christians should not limit their testimony to their conversion experience. This is a critical and miraculous redemption to be sure, a new life born out of nothing, but it ought not be his only testimony of salvation. The Exalted God is renowned as the God who sees the affliction of the afflicted and saves them from it in miraculous ways (Psalm 22:24). Christians ought to have these kinds of stories and tell them as often as their conversion experience. All followers of Christ will have persecution. They should get following, for then they will have persecution of the soul, and have more salvation stories to tell.  

At the conclusion of Psalm 22, David’s testimony shifts to a cautionary theme: “The kingdom is the Lord’s and He rules over the nations” (Psalm 22:28). The persecutors of earth will have their day, but will give account of themselves to God eventually. Man cannot save his own soul; he is totally at the mercy of God (Psalm 22:29). The prosperous who made God their life will eat, be satisfied and worship. The godless will realize they should have worshiped the Lord long ago and will fall on their knees in fear. There will be final vindication of the afflicted and the final recompense of the enemy.

Conclusion

We would never wish suffering on anyone, but in a strange way, the afflicted ones undergoing suffering feel as if God has singled them out and bestowed on them the highest of blessings–fellowship with Christ. In their suffering, they do their little part to fill up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, and that is something to be treasured. They say “thank you” to God for considering them worthy of affliction. They read the words of Psalm 22 as if Christ were with them. They sense a common bond with Him, and are glad.