God’s Word for Today

14 Aug 2023

-Psa 31:1-24 ESV

FOR YOU ARE MY ROCK AND MY FORTRESS

David expressed his complete trust in God, who is always righteous. [Gen 18:25] God is an impregnable ‘Rock’ and ‘Fortress’ to him, unto whom David pleads for protection urgently.  In many instances, he was under attack (1 Sam 23:25 and 2 Sam 21:15). These are situations that made him physically and emotionally exhausted, especially when the enemy was closing in on him.

David was ‘trapped in the net’ by people who betrayed him but God rescued him. He committed his life to God as one ‘entrusting his money in a bank.’ He was so committed to God that he hated those who cling to worthless idols. Conversely, he rejoices and is glad in God’s steadfast love, in the midst of his afflictions and distress. The Lord sees everything, that is,  each temptation and trial.  And, He invites every believer to approach His throne of grace in prayer to "receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb 4:16). This understanding is key for the believer; peace of mind can be enjoyed if one understands their life is in God's hands whether circumstances are rough or calm (see v.7)

David was affected badly, so that, he asked;

“Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also.” David’s physical well-being was affected by his emotional and spiritual weakness. [v.7-10] His enemies reproached him so that his neighbors and friends ‘flee’ from him. A mixed feelings of being forgotten, useless as a broken vessel, and hunted down.

On a positive note, he expressed his trust and hope in the Lord, saying,

“But I trust in you, O LORD;

    I say, “You are my God.”

My times are in your hand;

    rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!

Make your face shine on your servant;

    save me in your steadfast love!’[v14-16]

He believed God will not allow the wicked to go unpunished.[v.17-18]  He looked unto the ‘abundance of God’s goodness’ stored to those who fear Him[v.19]. He would be sheltered by the ‘cover of God’s presence’. These are all expressions of God’s ‘chesed’[stedfast love] when he was in a ‘besieged city’ God saved him in the nick of time, that is he felt he was ‘cut off from God’s sight’ yet God has answered His plead for mercy. It’s never too late to pray unto God.

For this, David had rallied the people to love the Lord [v.23], to be strong and courageous, and to wait upon the Lord. The Lord is in control.[v.24] See Psa 7:13-14 also.

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Text: Psalm 30:1-12

1 I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me.

2 O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.

3 O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.

4 Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name.

5 For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

6 As for me, I said in my prosperity, “I shall never be moved.”

7 By your favor, O LORD, you made my mountain stand strong; you hid your face; I was dismayed.

8 To you, O LORD, I cry, and to the Lord I plead for mercy:

9 “What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness?

10 Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me! O LORD, be my helper!”

11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,

12 that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

-Psa 30:1-12 ESV

JOY COMES WITH THE MORNING

David vows to praise God for "drawing him up." A picture of pulling up from danger and away from death. Psalm 71:20 echoes this experience, which says, "You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again." This referred to David's brush with God's wrath, for pride that he conducted a census in 1 Chron 21:7–13. God’s judgment came in the form of a pestilence or plague. Undoubtedly it was terrible. David said to the LORD, 'I have sinned greatly in what I have done.'" In 1 Chron 1:14, "David said to Gad [a prophet], 'I am in great distress. Let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for his mercy is great.'" Indeed, sin is a hard taskmaster, and misery is part of its payment. But, it was a better alternative to something worse, that is, to be conquered by his enemies and that they would "rejoice or gloat over" his defeat.

He was spiraling down into a hopeless pit but God lifted him up. Broken, he begged for mercy unto God who healed him. Confession is the key to healing [1 John 1:9, Psa 32:1-2] God’s anger is just for a moment. But, God’s favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for a night. But, joy comes in the morning. A cause for him to rally God’s people to celebrate and sing praises unto God.

David became proud in times of prosperity. He became too self-confident, and felt secure in his prosperity which is translated as "complacency" as in Prov 1:32. Thus, he confessed,

“As for me, I said in my prosperity, “I shall never be moved.” 7 By your favor, O LORD, you made my mountain stand strong”[v.6,7a]

Because of his pride, God showed his disfavor upon him. ‘He hid His face and David was dismayed.” David showed his great distress by saying,

“To you, O LORD, I cry, and to the Lord, I plead for mercy: 9 “What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness? 10 Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me! O LORD, be my helper!”[v.8-10]

His resolve was to worship the Lord forever. A thing that could not be done in the grave. He said,

“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, 12 that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!”[v.11-12]

This favor from God must be the reason why this psalm is for the dedication of the temple. And, David may have written this prophetically in anticipation of the future dedication of the temple which Solomon has to build later.

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Text: Psalm 29:1-11

1 Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.

3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over many waters.

4 The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.

5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.

6 He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.

7 The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire.

8 The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

9 The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth and strips the forests bare, and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”

10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king forever.

11 May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace!

-Psa 29:1-11 ESV

ASCRIBE TO THE LORD GLORY

The absolute sovereignty and pre-eminence of God are affirmed by David. He indicated it by calling us to ‘Ascribe to the Lord for three times for emphasis. David says,

“Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.”[v.1,2]

This psalm lifts up God's perfect and absolute worthiness to be praised in the strongest terms.

David extols the manifestations of God’s glory. David’s imagery must have been prompted by his experience of a storm hovering in the Mediterranean Sea. The thunderous voice perhaps were deafening. Indeed, Godd’s voice is powerful and majesty.

How powerful is His voice?

At creation, the Lord said, "'Let there be light,' and there was light" (Genesis 1:3). He spoke, and waters separated from waters, dry land came into existence, created vegetation, seed-bearing plants, and fruit trees, the sun, moon, and stars, marine life, birds, and animals, in fact, all living things (Genesis 1:3-25). Finally, God spoke man into existence as He formed Him from dust (Gen 1:26–27).

The Lord’s power shakes the earth too. Lebanon and Sirion [ Sidonian’s name for Mt Hermon] The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning.[v.7] "Shaking" could mean the emotional impact of desert-dwellers seeing divine power, or a literal physical experience (Acts 4:31). It could also refer to the results of a huge storm or earthquake (Acts 16:26). His power could change the course of nature.

But, interestingly, the response inside the temple is the recognition of His glory from His people. They all cry, “Glory!’[v.9b]

How glorious God is? The Lord is seen as sitting down enthroned. David says,

“The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king forever. May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace!”[v.10,11]

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Text: Psalm 28:1-10 (ESV)

To you, O LORD, I call;

my rock, be not deaf to me,

lest, if you be silent to me,

I become like those who go down to the pit.

2 Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy,

when I cry to you for help,

when I lift up my hands

toward your most holy sanctuary.

3 Do not drag me off with the wicked,

with the workers of evil,

who speak peace with their neighbors

while evil is in their hearts.

4 Give to them according to their work

and according to the evil of their deeds;

give to them according to the work of their hands;

render them their due reward.

5 Because they do not regard the works of the LORD

or the work of his hands,

he will tear them down and build them up no more.

6 Blessed be the LORD!

For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.

7 The LORD is my strength and my shield;

in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;

my heart exults,

and with my song I give thanks to him.

8 The LORD is the strength of his people;

he is the saving refuge of his anointed.

9 Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!

Be their shepherd and carry them forever.

BLESS YOUR HERITAGE

Clearly, David did not hold back his distress and anguish. He poured it fully unto the Lord, saying,

“To you, O Lord, I call;

my rock, be not deaf to me,”[v.1]

David did not demand to hear him. He pleaded based upon God’s mercy[v.2]. His utter dependence upon God’s mercy is indicated by his admission of the real possibility that God might choose to be deaf and be silent to his appeal[v.1] And, God may drag him away with the wicked, which is a punishment, not a chastisement.

God would never sweep away the righteous with the wicked, would He? Did David imply he was wicked? This just means how he showed his contrite heart before God. He expressed this in Psa 13:1,2,

“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?

How long will you hide your face from me?

How long must I take counsel in my soul

and have sorrow in my heart all the day?

How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?”

David, then appealed for God’s justice towards his enemies, in his prayer, that is,

“Give to them according to their work

and according to the evil of their deeds;

give to them according to the work of their hands;

render them their due reward.

5 Because they do not regard the works of the LORD

or the work of his hands,

he will tear them down and build them up no more.”[v.4-5]

On top of that they are enemies of David God’s people, they are opposed to the person, standards, and works of God Himself. [see the prayer of Asaph in Psa 83]

On the other hand, he pleaded for God to save His people, and His heritage, saying;

“9 Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!

Be their shepherd and carry them forever.”[v.9]

This shepherding care that he longs for is based on his strong confidence in the character and mercy of God,

“Blessed be the LORD!

For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.

7 The LORD is my strength and my shield;

in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;

my heart exults,

and with my song I give thanks to him.

8 The LORD is the strength of his people;

he is the saving refuge of his anointed.”[v.6-8]

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Text: Psalm 27:1-14 (ESV)

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation;

whom shall I fear?

The LORD is the stronghold of my life;

of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When evildoers assail me

to eat up my flesh,

my adversaries and foes,

it is they who stumble and fall.

3 Though an army encamp against me,

my heart shall not fear;

though war arise against me,

yet I will be confident.

4 One thing have I asked of the LORD,

that will I seek after:

that I may dwell in the house of the LORD

all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD

and to inquire in his temple.

5 For he will hide me in his shelter

in the day of trouble;

he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;

he will lift me high upon a rock.

6 And now my head shall be lifted up

above my enemies all around me,

and I will offer in his tent

sacrifices with shouts of joy;

I will sing and make melody to the LORD.

7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud;

be gracious to me and answer me!

8 You have said, “Seek my face.”

My heart says to you,

“Your face, LORD, do I seek.”

9 Hide not your face from me.

Turn not your servant away in anger,

O you who have been my help.

Cast me not off; forsake me not,

O God of my salvation!

10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me,

but the LORD will take me in.

11 Teach me your way, O LORD,

and lead me on a level path

because of my enemies.

12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;

for false witnesses have risen against me,

and they breathe out violence.

13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD

in the land of the living!

14 Wait for the LORD;

be strong, and let your heart take courage;

wait for the LORD!

THE LORD IS MY LIGHT AND MY SALVATION

It is said that if we fear God, we have nothing else to fear. This is a reverential fear expressed by David to Yahweh, referring to him as his ‘light’, ‘salvation’, and ‘stronghold.’ Against a backdrop of insurmountable threats, God is His impregnable defense. Sometimes, we may feel surrounded by threatening circumstances, but the Lord does surround us with His grace that is sufficient for every crisis, does He not? (2 Cor 12:9).

Interestingly, his delight to dwell in the ‘house of the Lord’ is not for self-preservation. It’s his fascination with God’s beauty.[v.4] God’s work of hiding and sheltering him is secondary. Consequently, he who takes pleasure in God is honored by God. Thus, David confidently says,

“And now my head shall be lifted up

above my enemies all around me

and I will offer in his tent

sacrifices with shouts of joy;

I will sing and make melody to the Lord.”[v.6]

In God’s presence, David couldn’t be proud, as one fully exposed under an overwhelming light. David saw his imperfections which drove him to plead for God’s mercy. He said,

“ Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud;

be gracious to me and answer me!

You have said, “Seek my face.”

My heart says to you,

“Your face, LORD, do I seek.”

Hide not your face from me.

Turn not your servant away in anger,

O you who have been my help.

Cast me not off; forsake me not,

O God of my salvation!”[v.7-9]

His parents may have forsaken him, but the Lord won’t. Certainly, He will take him in. Did his parents abandon him? In such extreme cases, the Lord will always be on his side.[v.10] God is His satisfaction. Unless the Lord would preserve him, the enemy may deceive and lure him away from ‘God’s way’, which is the ‘level path’ signifying stability.

Thus, He resolved by confidently declaring,

“I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD

in the land of the living!

Wait for the LORD;

be strong, and let your heart take courage;

wait for the LORD!”[v.13,14]

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God’s Word for Today

8 Aug 2023

Vindicate me, O LORD,

    for I have walked in my integrity,

    and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.

2 Prove me, O LORD, and try me;

    test my heart and my mind.

3 For your steadfast love is before my eyes,

    and I walk in your faithfulness.

4 I do not sit with men of falsehood,

    nor do I consort with hypocrites.

5 I hate the assembly of evildoers,

    and I will not sit with the wicked.

6 I wash my hands in innocence

    and go around your altar, O LORD,

7 proclaiming thanksgiving aloud,

    and telling all your wondrous deeds.

8 O LORD, I love the habitation of your house

    and the place where your glory dwells.

9 Do not sweep my soul away with sinners,

    nor my life with bloodthirsty men,

10 in whose hands are evil devices,

    and whose right hands are full of bribes.

11 But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity;

    redeem me, and be gracious to me.

12 My foot stands on level ground;

    in the great assembly I will bless the LORD.

-Psa 26:1-12 ESV

VINDICATE ME O LORD

David was maligned. Otherwise, he shouldn’t have asked God to vindicate him. David claims to have walked consistently with integrity so that he was not hypocritical. A man full of integrity doesn’t mean he is perfect. He knew he has settled his sins before the Lord and is forgiven.

He asks the Lord to search him and see that his claim is substantiated. Such is the man of integrity before God. He is bold and courageous. Not because of his inherent propensity to be holy and blameless. But, for the steadfast love and faithfulness of the Lord. There was no self-aggrandizement but exalt God.

He narrated what he does not do. That is,

“4 I do not sit with men of falsehood,

    nor do I consort with hypocrites.

I hate the assembly of evildoers,

    and I will not sit with the wicked.

I wash my hands in innocence”[v.4-6]

He is such a blessed man[Psa 1:1] He distanced himself with these men by saying,

9 Do not sweep my soul away with sinners,

    nor my life with bloodthirsty men,

10 in whose hands are evil devices,

    and whose right hands are full of bribes.[v.9,10]

Did not Jesus desire us to be holy also? He prayed, "I do not ask that you take them out of the world…They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world" (John 17:15–16). Why? The world's culture is characterized with evil desires, that is,  "the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life." Contrariwise, the believer's delight is to do God's will (John 7:17).

Not only on what he does not do but a believer should be noted by what he is doing. Thus David claims’

“I wash my hands in innocence

    and go around your altar, O Lord,

proclaiming thanksgiving aloud,

    and telling all your wondrous deeds.

O Lord, I love the habitation of your house

    and the place where your glory dwells.” [v.6-8]

He was occupied with praise and worship. A busy man in the Lord has no time for the devil anymore. His heart is on full throttle unto the Lord.

David's pursuit of holiness was neither sporadic nor was it temporary. His sincere devotion to God was the regular pattern of his life, was it not?  He chose to be a man of integrity because he relied on God’s redemption and grace.[v.11]. In this, he confidently claims he is standing on ‘level ground.’ In Psalm 143:10 David prays, "Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!" The believer cannot slip from the path of righteousness if he is submissive to God's will and obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

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God’s Word for Today

7 Aug 2023

-Psa 25:1-22 ESV

MAKE ME TO KNOW YOUR WAYS, O LORD

David ‘lift up his soul’ unto the Lord, signifying this prayer as an intense one. He prayed with great confidence.[v.3] He faces a perilous situation so he asked the Lord to preserve him from disgrace, either inflicted by his enemies.[v.2-3], even from his own failings.

“The troubles of my heart are enlarged;

    bring me out of my distresses.

Consider my affliction and my trouble,

    and forgive all my sins.

Consider how many are my foes,

    and with what violent hatred they hate me.

Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!

    Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.” [v.17-20]

Then, David, not acting out of impulse, expresses his request for guidance, saying, “ Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths.”[v.4]  Life is a journey not a single step so His guidance is crucial [Prov 3:5,6] He further asked, “Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you, I wait all the day long.”[v.5]. Notedly, to David, prayer and scriptures are vital. Even Jesus emphasized this in John 15:7.

Where did he base his confidence?  David recited then…Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. [v.6]….according to your steadfast love remember me….for the sake of your goodness, O LORD! [v.7]…..Good and upright is the LORD[v.8]….All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness. [v.10] To David, God’s ‘chesed.’ He is irresistibly good.

This is true, however, to the humble and one who fears Him only. As David expressed’

“He leads the humble in what is right,

    and teaches the humble his way.”[v.9] 

“Who is the man who fears the LORD?

    Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.”[v.12]

“The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him,

    and he makes known to them his covenant.”[v.14]

In great confidence, he ends this prayer, saying,

“May integrity and uprightness preserve me,

    for I wait for you.

Redeem Israel, O God,

    out of all his troubles.”[v.21,22]

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Text: Psalm 24:1-10

1 The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,

2 for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.

3 Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?

4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.

5 He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah

7 Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.

8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle!

9 Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.

10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory! Selah

-Psa 24:1-10 ESV

THE LORD OF HOSTS, HE IS THE KING OF GLORY!

Reminiscent of God’s declaration to Moses that ‘all the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord.’ [Num 14:21] But, David’s phraseology indicates “the earth is the Lord’s and all it contains[its fullness]”

What kind of people would God delight with? The answer in verses 3-6 almost corresponds to Psa 15.

“3 Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?

4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.

5 He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah”

In v.7-10, the focus is on exalting the king’s military glory, as indicated by the repeated word ‘mighty.’ The ‘gates’ and ‘ancient doors’ should be wide open for the coming of ‘The King of Glory.’ He is the divine Messianic King, taking His seat in the temple after His military victories at the end of days.

The ‘Lord of hosts’ is presented as the mightiest warrior King returning in victory. The title reflects the truth that, although David was their king in Jerusalem, their real king was Yahweh. Later in fulfillment to prophecy, the glorious king who will enter Jerusalem is the Lord Jesus. Paul expressed that He is the Lord of heaven and earth by virtue of creation and redemption. In Col 1:15–17, Paul describes Jesus as having created everything in heaven and on earth, not only visible objects but invisible, which include the angelic host. Jesus holds everything together.

Someday the Lord of hosts will return to earth with mighty angels to execute judgment on unbelievers and to reign from the throne of David (Isa 9:6–7). He will strike down the nations. As in the vision of John,

“ From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.”[Rev 19:15,16]

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Text: Psalm 23:1-6

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

-Psa 23:1-6 ESV

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

In Psa 22, wherein we learned David relating his suffering with the view in the future about the suffering of Messiah. Evidently, there is a twist here. David extols the Lord by claiming, “The Lord is my Shepherd.”[v.1]

What does it mean for David that the Lord is his shepherd?

David doesn’t feel a lack at all. In the Lord, he has had sufficiency in times of abundance and adversities. God’s abundant grace is described as; “He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul.” [v.2-3]

Green pastures…still waters…are imageries of God’s tender loving care. The Lord wants His children to enjoy His blessings. That is just, He led him there in order to be lavished with His refreshing grace and goodness of the pleasures of life. Ravaged by a lot of wars, David has been wearied so that his soul needs to be restored.

However, he would lead us to ‘paths of righteousness’ wherein there are challenges. As David expressed, “He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.”[v.3-4]

The shepherd’s sufficiency is expressed in His presence, power and provision. Thus David said, “I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.’[v.4-5]

And in great confidence, David expressed his assurance by saying, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”[v.6]

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Text: Psalm 22:1-11 (ESV)

1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?

2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer,

and by night, but I find no rest.

3 Yet you are holy,

enthroned on the praises of Israel.

4 In you our fathers trusted;

they trusted, and you delivered them.

5 To you they cried and were rescued;

in you they trusted and were not put to shame.

6 But I am a worm and not a man,

scorned by mankind and despised by the people.

7 All who see me mock me;

they make mouths at me; they wag their heads;

8 “He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him;

let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”

9 Yet you are he who took me from the womb;

you made me trust you at my mother's breasts.

10 On you was I cast from my birth,

and from my mother's womb you have been my God.

11 Be not far from me,

for trouble is near,

and there is none to help.

MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?

Certainly, David was writing about his experience of suffering and anguish. However, this psalm transcends his experiences or to that of his contemporaries.

Take, for example, David wasn’t brought to the ‘dust of the earth.’ [v.15, ‘’hands and feet were not pierced’[v.16] and ‘his garments wasn’t subjected to a cast of lot’[v.18]. These particular descriptions fit Jesus’s crucifixion, which David has alluded unto.

Psa 22, is divided into two-fold emphasis. It began with the suffering Messiah [v.1-21] and is followed by the Exalted Messiah [v.22-31] Both Matthew and Mark recorded these words ‘My God, my God why hast you forsaken me?’, given in original Aramaic. The reason perhaps is to highlight that Jesus became the sin offering.

How did God the Father forsake Jesus? Most probably, the reason was emotional. Jesus understood the reason for His suffering. ‘God can not look with approval upon sin, as Habakkuk says. [Hab 1:13] Thus, Jesus did not become literally sin, but He was a ‘sin offering’ He became our substitute.

David elaborated some predictive references of the Messiah, such as, all my bones are out of joint, my heart is like wax.. melted within me[v.14].. strength is absent as moisture in a potsherd, You lay me in the dust of death [v.15] and pierced my hands and feet [v.16]. Thus, there is this seeking of God’s presence to be near [v.19] expressed for only God can help [v.19-21]

In v.22-26, there is a dramatic shift. The exalted Messiah will praise God.

“I will tell of your name to my brothers, in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: Verse 23 says, “ You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!”

Moreover, the nations will exalt the Messiah.

“All the ends of the earth shall remember

and turn to the LORD,

and all the families of the nations

shall worship before you.

28 For kingship belongs to the LORD,

and he rules over the nations.”[v.27,28]

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