June 23rd, 2013
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Out Of Despair, Thanks

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

God of hope and help, show me more of Your ways today as I read and meditate on Your Word.

Read Psalm 22:1-31

[1] For the director of music. To the tune of “The Doe of the Morning.” A psalm of David. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? [2] My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest. [3] Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises. [4] In you our ancestors put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. [5] To you they cried out and were saved; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. [6] But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people. [7] All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. [8] “He trusts in the LORD,” they say, “let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.” [9] Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast. [10] From birth I was cast on you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God. [11] Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help. [12] Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. [13] Roaring lions that tear their prey open their mouths wide against me. [14] I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me. [15] My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. [16] Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. [17] All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. [18] They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment. [19] But you, LORD, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me. [20] Deliver me from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs. [21] Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen. [22] I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you. [23] You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel! [24] For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help. [25] From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you I will fulfill my vows. [26] The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the LORD will praise him- may your hearts live forever! [27] All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, [28] for dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations. [29] All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him- those who cannot keep themselves alive. [30] Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. [31] They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

“My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me” (1). Ponder Jesus’ words from the cross, and what they mean to you.

Think Further

When we know Scripture, we read Psalm 22 and see the pitiable sight of the crucified God-man Jesus, and hear his cry of desperation. We know it is our sin separating him from his beloved Father as he is emotionally and physically abandoned, bearing our guilt. Later verses of this psalm remind us that our shame, too, is laid on him as he suffers the disgrace (6-8) of public spectacle, his bones out of joint (14), his tongue sticking to the roof of his mouth (15). Mockers circle his tortured body as others cast lots for his garments (18). We can imagine him nearly naked in these hours of torment; our shame laid on him is as distressing as our guilt.

Those of us who have suffered depression, or been close to someone who has, can also hear in these verses echoes of the psalmist’s deep distress, and it startles us. Was this young David’s story, harassed and hiding in a cave with enemies encircling him like wild animals? Is it ours? Even as it sounds familiar, we realize that in our darkest hour Jesus has known what we are experiencing and has gone further, into and through death itself.

At a first reading, the optimism, the public testimony, the praise and worship of the second half of the psalm seem strangely out of tune with this very real understanding of human despair. Yet from v. 22, the psalm takes the form of a celebration of a prayer fulfilled, of deliverance even from the jaws of death. So it is indeed a celebration of the Messiah (as in Acts 2:30; Heb. 2:12), of what he has done for the one who prayed, and testimony to the whole congregation.

Apply

The psalm ends with a shout of praise reminiscent of Jesus’ cry from the cross: “It is finished!” (John 19:30). What work do you want the Lord to finish in or for you?

Closing prayer

Lord Jesus, I offer my thanks to You for Your completed work for my redemption. I pray You will continue Your sanctifying work in me as I surrender to You.

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