Psalm 22 Part 2: Jesus' Thoughts As He Endured Suffering On The Cross

Psalm 22:12  Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. 

This Messianic Psalm gives us more insight into the heart of Christ as He suffered on the cross for us.

What are the strong bulls of Bashan and how does this apply to Christ and His cross?

The strong and fierce bulls of Bashan represent all the villianous enemies of Christ who relentlessly persecuted Him.

Bashan was a country embraced on the east of the Jordan which was given to the half tribe of Manasseh (See Genesis 14:5 with Joshua 12:4-6). 

It was a rich land for grazing cattle, sheep and goats.

Deuteronomy 32:14  Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape. 

Rams and cattle bred in Bashan were noted for their strength and size. The prophet Amos spoke of the kine or cattle of Bashan.

The bulls of Bashan in particular, were noted for size, strength and a fiery temperament.

The bulls of Bashan are a direct allusion of Christ as to the savage, violent nature of the scribes, priests, and elders toward Him. 

Those who persecuted Christ and demanded His death were like a raging bull goring and trampling anything in it's way.

As the apostle Peter said, they were like natural brute beasts (See 2 Peter 2:12).

Psalm 22:13  They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. 

Another image from the mind of Christ on the cross describes those who heaped scorn and ridicule upon Him and made vile accusations that blasphemed Him.

Their words shot out of their gaping mouths like a torrent of blasphemy and mockery that compared to a famished lion roaring as he ferociously devours his prey.

Psalm 22:14-15  I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. 15  My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. 

Now the language foreshadowing Christ on the cross, turns to the physical agony associated with Roman crucifixions.

Being poured out like water is an indicator that physical strength is rapidly failing.

Dislocation of bones from their joints was common as the one being crucified became so weak that he could no longer support himself.

In such a stressful and dire circumstance, the heart itself is like wax melting, unable to cope with the tremendous physical stress of the crucifixion.

While hanging on the cross, Jesus felt like His physical strength was as dry and brittle as a piece of broken pottery.

He was extremely dehydrated which is like lacking enough moisture to unstick one's tongue from the roof or the mouth.

Genesis 3:19  In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. 

The promise of judgment for sin that God told Adam about, was that God made him from dust and he would eventually die and return to dust.

This is the image of Christ on the cross knowing that as He carried the weight of all humanity's sin for all time, He would also die in our place.

Psalm 22:16-17  For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. 17  I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. 

Though none of the gospels record the Roman soldiers nailing the hands and feet of Jesus, we know that this is what they did.

Doubting Thomas refused to believe that Jesus rose from the dead until he saw the print of the nails in His hands and feet (See John 20:25).

Therefore, while He hung on the cross, Jesus looked down and saw His enemies circling like a pack of dogs moving in for the kill.

They were leering as the Son of God hung there in deepest physical affliction.

They gawked at Christ while they mocked Him with hateful words, not knowing that He came to pay for their sins, that if they repented and believed the gospel, they too, might be saved.

Psalm 22:18  They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. 

Matthew 27:35  And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.

Here is one of the gospel accounts that tell us how the Roman soldiers literally fulfilled David's prophecy from Psalm 22. 

Psalm 22:19-22  But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me. 20  Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog. 21  Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns. 

David continued his Messianic prophecy by showing what Christ would do as He neared the point of death.

He communed with His Father and asked Him to be near Him at this moment.

He prayed that His soul would be delivered from the sword and from the power of dog like men who surrounded His cross.

Jesus first asked His Father "Why hast thou forsaken me?"  

Now He prays, "Be not thou far from me." 

Jesus was a perfect man who suffered and died for us but He could not have accomplished all the intense suffering apart from God His strength.

Jesus rightly relied upon His Father as the source of His strength for support and ultimate deliverance.

Notice the special words used of Christ. 

He is called "my darling" and the Hebrew literally means the only begotten Son, referring to Christ.

As He hung on the cross praying, Jesus expressed His confidence that His Father would indeed hear and answer His urgent prayers.

All the wicked ones are described as being like powerful horned creatures known as unicorns, stampeding around the cross seeking to destroy Christ.

We will leave our Lord here, trusting His Father and ready to taste death for us so that we who repent on believe on Christ can receive eternal life (See Hebrews 2:9).

The last section of this Psalm turns to resurrection glory and we will study it and be blessed by what we learn.

The great principle for Christians is that we will suffer because Jesus suffered, and He is our LORD and Master. 

The great truth we see repeatedly in scripture is that suffering comes first, followed by glory, for the people of God.

Bob