A.           22:1-11 – Fervent Prayer of one who is forsaken – Lament and Confidence

                                Cycle One – 22:1-5 – Lament – Pain and Trust

Pain is described, followed by affirmation of faith by previous generations

                                Cycle Two – 22:6-11 - Lament – Pain and Confidence

Pain is described, followed by an affirmation of David’s faith from childhood.

B.           22:12-18 – Lament of the Suffering King - 

                                Cycle One – 22:12-15 - describes his enemies and his suffering

                                Bulls of Bashan encircle him

                                Lions open their mouths to devour him

                                Cycle Two – 22:16-18 – again describes his enemies and his suffering

                                Dogs – waiting till he was dead so they could tear his limbs and eat him

                                                 pierced my hands and feet, figuratively the tearing of flesh by dogs

He is good as dead, and so they divide up his garments

C.           22:19-21 – Petition for deliverance from death 

Save me from the mouth of the lion!  You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen!

David may have received the word of God that he would be saved, because in the rest of the Psalm – he praises God for his deliverance

D.           22:22-31 - Praise and encouragement for prayer

22:21 - David addressed the congregation of people with his vow to praise God.  

22:23-26 – David called on the congregation to praise the LORD

22:27-31 – David called to the world at large, anticipating that the world would turn to the worship of the LORD

In praise for what God did for the righteous sufferer (Jesus Christ)