Psalm 22:9-21 - But You [are] He who took Me out of the womb; You made Me trust [while] on My mother's breasts. I was cast upon You from birth. From My mother's womb You [have been] My God. Be not far from Me, for trouble [is] near; for [there is] none to help. Many bulls have surrounded Me; strong [bulls] of Bashan have encircled Me. They gape at Me [with] their mouths, [like] a raging and roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; it has melted within Me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death. For dogs have surrounded Me; the congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look [and] stare at Me. They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots. But You, O LORD, do not be far from Me; O My Strength, hasten to help Me! Deliver Me from the sword, My precious [life] from the power of the dog. Save Me from the lion's mouth and from the horns of the wild oxen! You have answered Me.
When praying to God for help, it’s important to pray with an understanding of who God is. That might seem obvious, but sometimes our circumstances can cause us to forget the nature of the One we are calling to. For example, when we call on the LORD for deliverance, we should remember that we are not asking the LORD to do anything exceptional according to His nature. God IS the Deliverer. Therefore, when we seek His help for deliverance from trials we’re dealing with, we’re asking Him to respond according to His nature. We aren’t asking Him to do anything new or unnatural. Even though our circumstances might be overwhelming for us, we aren’t asking God to do anything difficult for Him. When we seek the LORD for help, the reality is that we are merely asking the LORD to do what He’s always done. We’re asking Him to be who He’s always been.
This truth is made amazingly clear in the testimony of Psalm 22, especially in verses 9-21. King David wrote Psalm 22 in response to the difficult circumstances he was experiencing. The Bible doesn’t identify the specific time in David’s life when these events happened, but David opens the psalm by saying, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
This shows that David’s circumstances were exceptionally difficult, and he was not hearing from the LORD in the manner and timeframe that he had hoped. David felt overwhelmed and abandoned by God, even though the psalm also tells us that David knew his feelings were contrary to the truth. Even though David felt alone and isolated, he also confidently wrote about his trust in the LORD to deliver, no matter how he felt.
Understanding this, we also have to consider that this is a Messianic psalm that deals specifically with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The details of Matthew 27:46 show that Jesus quoted David’s words in Psalm 22:1 exactly, identifying Jesus’ suffering on the cross as parallel to David’s suffering. The testimony of Psalm 22:9-21 makes even more references to specific details that took place at the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, including the fact that He was pierced in His hands and feet, that He was surrounded by Jews and Gentiles that mocked Him, that He didn’t have any broken bones, and that His enemies cast lots for His clothing. David wrote about all these things to describe his suffering poetically, but the Gospel accounts show that Jesus’ crucifixion fulfilled these prophetic details.
Since Psalm 22 ties the circumstances of David and Jesus together so profoundly, it’s important to remember how The Father was constant in both situations. Even though Jesus’ suffering was not REALLY comparable to David’s, the Bible shows that The Father dealt with each situation the same way. Regardless of the quality of suffering, God is constant. He’s immutable, which means that He’s unchanging. Our issues don’t change His nature. The testimony of Psalm 22 shows that God was able and faithful to David and Jesus, even though their suffering was different and took place 1,000 years apart, with distinctive degrees of intensity, for different purposes.
David wrote that God is the source AND cause of all things in life.
“But You [are] He who took Me out of the womb; You made Me trust [while] on My mother's breasts. I was cast upon You from birth. From My mother's womb You [have been] My God.”
Here, David reflected on the truth that God is the cause of life and our purpose. God was the One who caused David to be conceived. God was the One who ensured David’s birth and circumstances of it. God was the One that ensured David was raised and nurtured as he was as a young boy. God was David’s personal “God” since the beginning because God was in charge of his life from conception, having plans for David’s life even BEFORE David was conceived. You can see that proof in the scriptures through prophecies written about David! When David sought the LORD’s help, comfort, and deliverance, he asked God to be the God he had known since he was a kid. David asked God to continue acting according to His nature and unchanging purposes. David wasn’t asking God to do anything that God hadn’t been doing for David’s entire life – or since the beginning of time for that matter. David was trusting in God to continue to be God.
The same is true of Jesus as well. Think about how these truths are so much more amazing in Jesus’ life. The life and circumstances of His birth were prophesied hundreds of years before He was born. The Father prophesied about Jesus’ incarnation, the time of His birth, the location of His birth, the fact that He would be born AND adopted, and the manner of His conception – by the Holy Spirit in the womb of a virgin girl! The Father was in charge of Jesus’ life when He was born. We see proof of that through the magi’s gifts when they found Jesus as a toddler. There’s additional proof through the protection God provided through angelic revelations to Joseph concerning the evil intentions of Herod. The Father was in charge of the life of the Son since the beginning. When Jesus cried out to The Father while on the cross, He sought the Father to be who He had been since the beginning of time, even at the beginning of His human life on earth.
When David asked God to be near him in Verse 11, it was only because David knew that God had ALWAYS been near him. There wasn’t a reason for God to depart just because life got hard for a moment. Sure, David was in trouble, and God was the only One who was accessible to help, even though he didn’t “feel” connected to God at that time. This shows that David’s understanding of God’s unchanging nature provided the motivation he needed to seek the LORD humbly, AND confidently during his time of need. Since David knew that God had always been involved in his life up to that point, and knew that God doesn’t change, then God was still near and accessible. He had to be. David didn’t seek God to determine “if” God would draw near. He sought the LORD trusting that He was already near, and went to receive the benefits of God’s nearness. There’s a big difference there!
The same was true of Jesus on the cross. Even though He was ACTUALLY separated from The Father for some time so that He could pay the debt of sin, the Father was never really distant, leaving Jesus without hope and ability. Even though trouble was near (even to the point of His death), Jesus’ relationship with the Father remained intact. We can see evidence of that in the results of His death, especially in His ascension. No one was available to help Jesus while He was on the cross, but The Father was never far away, even though it might have seemed that way. The Father had a purpose for His position with Jesus at that time, and that purpose was good enough to offer forgiveness of sins to anyone who believes in the truth of this testimony!
David then described the intensity of the suffering he felt by describing the quality of the opposition. Verses 12-18 say:
“Many bulls have surrounded Me; strong [bulls] of Bashan have encircled Me. They gape at Me [with] their mouths, like] a raging and roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; it has melted within Me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death. For dogs have surrounded Me; the congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look [and] stare at Me. They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.”
David wrote that many “strong bulls” had surrounded him. This doesn’t mean David was literally surrounded by “bulls.” His opposition resembled bulls. His enemies were big, strong, brutes. Bulls were animals referred to as “beasts of burden,” meaning they were work animals, laborers that carried heavy things. In this way, David compared his enemies to strong men who labored to bring burden into his life. The extent of the burden was a burden fit for a beast, not a man. David was overwhelmed by his opposition who were piling on the difficulties.
David explained that his enemies mocked him with open mouths and proudly roared like lions. David’s enemies insulted him and boasted in their pursuit of him as if they were already victorious over him. They spoke to try and intimidate him, strike fear into his heart, and discourage him.
David wrote that he was also surrounded by “dogs.” Again, David wasn’t speaking literally but poetically. Some people these days would LOVE to be surrounded by dogs. Dogs were considered wild animals at the time of David, though. They were dirty scavengers. David’s enemies were like wild animals. They were like rabid creatures that fed off the weak and prowled like predators trying to consume leftovers, like vultures. David’s enemies didn’t try to fight David while he was at full strength. They waited until he was weak and looked defeated. This is very much like how the devil prowls trying to devour the people of God. This is how the devil went after Jesus when he tried to tempt Jesus in the wilderness.
David’s enemies had a real effect on him, though. David felt like water poured out of a vessel – a chaotic mess, splashed all over. David felt like his bones were out of joint, meaning he had no physical strength left in his body. No coordinated ability or vitality. David wrote that his heart was like melted wax, explaining that David had difficulty finding hope. David knew the LORD and cried out to him, but when Psalm 22 began, it was clear that his emotional resolve was wearing thin. David’s flesh began to overwhelm the confidence that his spirit had. He was getting tired, having only faint hope. David wrote that his tongue was clinging to his jaw, referring to the fact that he had nothing to say. His circumstances stunned him. He lacked words that made sense or brought comfort. David felt like he was dying slowly. Has anyone ever felt like that?
These details describe the suffering of Jesus as well. Jesus was also surrounded by men who worked hard to burden His life. The Jewish religious leaders gathered together and frequently conspired against Him, and were the cause for Him being brought before the Roman authorities. The Roman authorities were also like wild animals, having no restraint or sense about the manner of punishment they inflicted on Jesus. History even explains that Gentiles were often referred to as “dogs” by the Jews. In this way, Jesus was also surrounded by both “bulls” and “dogs” at His crucifixion.
Jesus was also mocked. He was also addressed as if He was overcome and defeated. Jesus was also physically drained and unable to speak. Jesus’ heart was also melted like wax. Not that Jesus was without hope, but scripture testifies that His heart was broken for the sinners He was dying for. When He was pierced in His side, the Bible testifies that blood and water gushed out, which resembles the effects of a ruptured or bleeding heart.
Psalm 22 explains that David felt like his hands and feet were pierced, unable to respond or fend for himself. This is a more dramatic way to explain how David felt like his hands and feet were tied, making him unable to do anything about his problems. Jesus’ hands and feet were LITERALLY pierced!
David wrote how he felt he was being bartered for as if he was the prize or trophy for his enemies who were casting lots for his clothing. Jesus’ clothing was ACTUALLY traded as a trophy at His crucifixion when they cast lots for the rags that covered His body before He was lifted on the tree. Even though David suffered this way, he explained that the integrity of his bones remained intact. Verse 17 says that David could count all his bones. He felt defeated in one sense, but preserved in another sense. Jesus’ situation was similar but in more literal ways. Even though Jesus’ body was beaten and marred so that He was unrecognizable as a man, His bones weren’t broken. The integrity of His skeleton somehow remained intact. Even though Jesus was defeated in one sense, He was preserved in another, made physically manifest through the preservation of His bones. This proves how even though Jesus said that The Father forsook Him in one sense, He was still in control of everything! Why let Jesus get beat and die, but preserve His bones from getting broken? Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. He had to remain without blemish of ANY kind, even in His sacrifice. So, even though it seemed like The Father departed from Jesus in one sense, The Father was obviously engaged in the crucifixion to ensure the integrity of Jesus’ work was fruitful for its purpose. This is the way it works for ALL of God’s people, and David’s life is proof.
At the end of this all, David wrote the following in Verses 19-21:
“But You, O LORD, do not be far from Me; O My Strength, hasten to help Me! Deliver Me from the sword, My precious [life] from the power of the dog. Save Me from the lion's mouth and from the horns of the wild oxen! You have answered Me.”
David cried out to the LORD – YAHWEH ELOHIM. David didn’t want the LORD to be distant. But David knew God wasn’t as distant as He seemed to be. So, David wanted his mind to be comforted by the truth. David confessed that the LORD was his strength. Since the LORD is YAHWEH, David was confident in the LORD’s deliverance. How do we know that David trusted the LORD confidently, even though he spoke with so much concern, and seemed to be pretty terrified? Notice David described God’s answer to his cries in the PRESENT tense. Even though David’s circumstances hadn’t changed yet, he wrote as if God had already done the work to answer his cries and deliver him from danger.
In the last part of Verse 21 David wrote, “You HAVE answered Me.”
Ultimately, David WAS delivered from ALL his enemies because he died in peace in Jerusalem as an old man. God might not have responded at the time that David was hoping. Sometimes, God takes a lot longer than we want Him to. Right? Jesus’ circumstances were different – somewhat. The Father was never distant from the Son, even though they were separated for some time so that Jesus could pay the debt of sin. The Father was the strength of the Son even though the Son gave up His body unto death. The truth of the matter is, though, Jesus WAS delivered from the grasp of His enemies that crucified Him. Yes, Jesus died, but did He STAY dead? See, The Father DID answer the Son, but the Son still died. That’s what was required for The Father to fulfill His eternally and spiritually-centered purposes.
When dealing with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, it’s important to remember the events that followed His death: The Resurrection and the Ascension. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ proves that the enemy did not have charge over Him, even though they proudly boasted and mocked. Jesus’ enemies beat His body to death. In the end, it didn’t matter. Jesus was bodily resurrected in glory! Even though the marks of the nails were still evident on Jesus’ hands and feet after His resurrection, He was fully restored to a quality of glory that was unrecognizable to those who knew Him best!
It might have SEEMED like the burden of the bulls was too much to bear, but the Resurrection proves that false. It might have SEEMED like the boasting and mocking of the Jewish religious leaders was evidence of their victory over Jesus, but the Resurrection proves that false. It might have SEEMED like Jesus was overcome by His enemies because He died, but Jesus lives forevermore! The enemy might have cast lots for Jesus’ clothing as a trophy to exalt themselves, but Jesus was exalted to the right hand of the Father. Jesus’ physical strength might have been stripped from Him at the time of the crucifixion, but He is now seated at the seat of superior strength and glory. Jesus’ heart might have melted while hanging from the tree, but He has been promoted to the highest seat of sovereignty and praise.
Jesus is currently seated at the right hand of The Father, preparing to judge ALL of His enemies. Where are the people who attacked and mocked Jesus? Where are the people who attacked and mocked David? David is being comforted by Abraham while all of God’s faithful servants from Old Testament times await the promise of the First Resurrection. There’s a pretty big difference there.
If the testimony of Jesus stopped at the crucifixion, then it would seem as if The Father never answered Him, and He DID forsake Jesus. However, since the testimony of Jesus continues into eternity, it’s clear that The Father DID answer Jesus in the same way that He answered David 1,000 years prior. David might have lived through his suffering while Jesus died by His suffering, but that didn’t affect the Father’s ability to answer the call! Whether David suffered circumstantially or Jesus suffered supernaturally, The Father always had control over EVERYTHING and proved it. He was NEVER unable to answer. He was NEVER unable to respond. The enemy NEVER took control of David OR Jesus, proving that God doesn’t diminish in power, wisdom, mercy, grace, faithfulness, or glory!
And, THAT’S what the Bible teaches about the One, WE know, as God.
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