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SELAH - Psalm 22
STOP
At some point in your life, if you haven’t already felt this way, you will feel that your sin separates you from God. You might even feel that you have been forsaken, that God is far away from you. This feeling is how David starts this psalm. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me?”(1) You will notice this is also the psalm that Jesus quotes while he is on the cross. As he was on the cross, sin was upon him and he was separated for the first time from God the father. Sin creates this gap between us and God. But with Jesus’ death on the cross, our belief in Him as the Son of God, Jesus’ atonement for our sin, God will look to Jesus’ sacrifice and not to our sin. This, my friends, should give us peace, and give us rest.
Try starting with this:
Lastly, all of what’s on your mind, your thoughts, your feelings, your emotions, the expectations, your agendas, your to-do lists, and imagine the difference each of them had if we were to imagine God beside them, God with them? “O Lord, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me” (vs.19)
EXHALE
Next, breathe. Breath in and out. Close your eyes to everything around you. Find peace in Christ. When you are ready, pray this simple prayer a few times while still focusing on your breathing.
As you inhale pray, “You are enthroned” As you exhale, pray, “You are the praise of Israel”(vs.3)
LOOK
Let’s look at the word of God today. When God speaks, it’s important for us to pay attention. Read these words slowly and carefully. Read it a few times. Notice which words or phrases stick out to you.
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent. YET you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel. In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them [...]But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads [....] They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing. BUT you, O Lord, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me. Deliver my life from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs, Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen. I will declare your name to my brothers. [....]From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you will I fulfill my vows [....]They will proclaim His righteousness to a people yet unborn–for he has done it. ”(Psalm 22:1-4, 6-7, 18-22, 25, 31 NIV)
ASK
What stood out to you? Highlight/mark it in your bible. Being that this psalm was quoted by Jesus on the cross, it makes us look at it closely. We see first separation between us and God because of our sin. We know that God is trustworthy because he has been trustworthy in the past. All around us are struggles. BUT the Lord is not far off. It says that “For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help” (vs.24) No matter how far away we feel from God, know that he has not hidden away from you. He is listening to your cry for help.
HEAR
What is God saying to you? Listen to hear his still small voice. Quiet your mind and search your heart. Now pray: “Speak Lord. Your servant is listening.” You are waiting to hear from the Holy Spirit, still your heart and mind. Based on the scripture you read today, God’s words to you, is there anything God is asking you to do? Read the scripture again if you need to. God is speaking to you through it. To finish up your quiet time, meditate on when David says: “From you comes the theme of my praise”(25) The theme of rescue, salvation and deliverance. They come from Jesus. We should resound those praises and make them our anthem, our theme.
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By Matthew D. TownsendSTOP
At some point in your life, if you haven’t already felt this way, you will feel that your sin separates you from God. You might even feel that you have been forsaken, that God is far away from you. This feeling is how David starts this psalm. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me?”(1) You will notice this is also the psalm that Jesus quotes while he is on the cross. As he was on the cross, sin was upon him and he was separated for the first time from God the father. Sin creates this gap between us and God. But with Jesus’ death on the cross, our belief in Him as the Son of God, Jesus’ atonement for our sin, God will look to Jesus’ sacrifice and not to our sin. This, my friends, should give us peace, and give us rest.
Try starting with this:
Lastly, all of what’s on your mind, your thoughts, your feelings, your emotions, the expectations, your agendas, your to-do lists, and imagine the difference each of them had if we were to imagine God beside them, God with them? “O Lord, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me” (vs.19)
EXHALE
Next, breathe. Breath in and out. Close your eyes to everything around you. Find peace in Christ. When you are ready, pray this simple prayer a few times while still focusing on your breathing.
As you inhale pray, “You are enthroned” As you exhale, pray, “You are the praise of Israel”(vs.3)
LOOK
Let’s look at the word of God today. When God speaks, it’s important for us to pay attention. Read these words slowly and carefully. Read it a few times. Notice which words or phrases stick out to you.
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent. YET you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel. In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them [...]But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads [....] They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing. BUT you, O Lord, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me. Deliver my life from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs, Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen. I will declare your name to my brothers. [....]From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you will I fulfill my vows [....]They will proclaim His righteousness to a people yet unborn–for he has done it. ”(Psalm 22:1-4, 6-7, 18-22, 25, 31 NIV)
ASK
What stood out to you? Highlight/mark it in your bible. Being that this psalm was quoted by Jesus on the cross, it makes us look at it closely. We see first separation between us and God because of our sin. We know that God is trustworthy because he has been trustworthy in the past. All around us are struggles. BUT the Lord is not far off. It says that “For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help” (vs.24) No matter how far away we feel from God, know that he has not hidden away from you. He is listening to your cry for help.
HEAR
What is God saying to you? Listen to hear his still small voice. Quiet your mind and search your heart. Now pray: “Speak Lord. Your servant is listening.” You are waiting to hear from the Holy Spirit, still your heart and mind. Based on the scripture you read today, God’s words to you, is there anything God is asking you to do? Read the scripture again if you need to. God is speaking to you through it. To finish up your quiet time, meditate on when David says: “From you comes the theme of my praise”(25) The theme of rescue, salvation and deliverance. They come from Jesus. We should resound those praises and make them our anthem, our theme.