Psalm 22 A Prophetic Psalm of Christ And The Cross

The words "Aijeleth Shahar" are best translated as the 
"hind of the morning."

In this Psalm, a man who is suffering is compared to a hind or deer being pursued by hunters in the early morning.

This Psalm pictures an innocent, suffering and meek man who is overwhelmed by sorrow and grief.

This suffering man pleads most earnestly for divine help based upon his relationship with the LORD, because he was in eminent danger from his enemies.

As the Psalm progresses his language of grief and complaint to the LORD are turned to rejoicing and assurance that God will help them.

To whom does this Psalm apply? First, we would have to say that it certainly applies to King David because he often faced persecution from his enemies.

However, the clearest application is that this Psalm is a glimpse into the heart of Christ on the cross, suffering for us.

The proof that this is a Messianic Psalm is found in the gospels where Jesus utters the very words that begin Psalm 22.

Psalm 22:1  To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? 

Matthew 27:45-46  Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. 46  And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? 

At this point in time, Jesus had been arrested, subjected to a mockery of a trial and severely assaulted.

He had been beaten, scourged with a small whip and nailed to a cross of wood, hanging in a conspicuous place for all to see.

Jesus was publicly executed like a vile criminal because Rome made it an example of severe justice in order to deter crime.

Therefore, we read about the stark reality of Jesus' heart as He hung on the cross bearing our sins and suffering a temporary separation from His Father.

God turned out the sun's light for three hours as His Son Jesus bore our sins, suffering as our perfect Passover Lamb to take away the sins of the world (See John 1:29-36).

As the ninth hour drew to a close, so the time of Christ's death drew nearer.

Jesus cried out with the Psalmist's words "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"

We cannot fully understand the depths of Jesus' agony and sorrow unless we explore what He said about His relationship with the heavenly Father.

John 10:27-30  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30  I and my Father are one. 

Jesus said that He gives eternal life to those who believe and that no man can ever pluck the believer out of His hand.

Then, Jesus said that no man can ever pluck the believer in Christ out of the Father's hand.

How can this be? Because Jesus and His Father are one!

John 10:37  If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 38  But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. 

Later on, Jesus said that "the Father is in me and I in Him."

John 14:9-11  Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 10  Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11  Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. 

Jesus repeated to Philip that "I am in the Father and the Father in me."

In other scriptures, Jesus told His hearers that the mighty works He did were the Father's works and the gospel words He preached were the Father's words.

I suggest reading John 17, which is Christ's prayer as High Priest because it amplifies how Christ and the Father are one, and demonstrates how the Godhead is three distinct Persons acting as one.

Therefore, when Jesus cried out in great agony of spirit "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me" it is because the Father turned away from Christ as He carried our sins on His cross.

Jesus had never known any separation from the Father until this pivotal moment when He gave His life to atone for the sins of all humanity.

Psalm 22:2-5  O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. 3  But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. 4  Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. 5  They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded. 

These words picture the heart of David as he suffered from his enemies' persecution and they also picture the heart of Christ on His cross, suffering for us.

Thus, Jesus could say to His Father that he cried out in prayer both night and day in His earthly ministry (See Matthew 14:23; Mark 1:35; 6:46 and John 17).

The Psalmist captures more of Jesus' prayer on the cross and it establishes His relationship with His redeemed, chosen people.

As a Jewish man of the lineage of King David, Jesus  could say that holy Jehovah is the center of all their praises.

Historically, the patriarchs of our faith and the godly leaders in Israel, trusted in the LORD and received deliverance. 

They cried out to the LORD in times of great stress and their prayers were answered.

Thus, it is in this same spirit that Christ cries out to His Father on the cross.

Psalm 22:6-8  But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. 7  All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, 8  He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

Jesus is put in contrast with the fathers of our faith, who trusted in God as they prayed, and were heard.

They confidently confided in God, and were treated as men. 

Jesus is saying "I am forsaken as if I were a mere worm beneath the notice of the great God." 

It is as if Jesus said "I am treated as if I were the most insignificant and despicable of all objects, unworthy the attention of God or man. 

His prayers seemingly were not heard and not answered.

The Jew's of Jesus' day rejected Him and subjected Christ to the most cruel and inhumane treatment, thus the Psalmist says prophetically of Christ, "I am a worm and no man."

Psalm 22:7-8 7  All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, 8  He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

Matthew 27:29-31  And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! 30  And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. 31  And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. 

We see the connections established between the prophetic declarations of Messiah in Psalm 22 and the reality of it's fulfillment in the gospels.

Jesus was mocked and ridiculed by Roman soldiers.

Luke 23:35-37  And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. 36  And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, 37  And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. 

Many chief Jews and their rulers stood by as Jesus hung on the cross.

The made fun of Him saying that He should be able to save Himself if He was really Christ, the Messiah.

Roman soldiers again joined in mocking the Son of God as He hung on the cross, carrying their sins.

Matthew 27:39-40  And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, 40  And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. 

Here we see Psalm 22:7 fulfilled as people passed by Christ hanging on the cross. 

They wagged their heads as they laughed at and scorned Jesus.

Shooting out their lips connects with the angry words and insults that were hurled at Christ by the unbelievers.

Psalm 22:7-8  All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, 8  He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him. 

Matthew 27:41-43  Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, 42  He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. 43  He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. 

Jewish religious leaders figured prominently in all derision, disrespect and reproach directed at Christ.

The Psalmist under the Holy Spirit's guidance, foretold the exact words of scorn spoken by the chief priests, scribes and elders.

They said Jesus trusted in God so let God save Him, if He will have Him. 

What vile speech and vicious words to say to the Son of God who hung on the cross to atone for their sins.

Little did the chief priests, scribes and elders know that saying the very words they uttered against Christ, and all of their wicked actions against the Son of God, were literally fulfilling Old Testament prophecies.

Psalm 22:9-11  But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts. 10  I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly. 11  Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help. 

At this point in the gospels, Jesus' sufferings were not yet over, but we read that He expressed His confidence in His Father.

Jesus was the virgin born Son of God, the holy seed of the woman (See Genesis 3:15).

This precious seed was created by the Father and implanted in Mary's womb by the Spirit of God.

Thus the Christ child had hope from His birth, and He knew that God was His God.

Therefore, Jesus prayed to His Father, "Stay close to me, for more trouble is coming and no one is here to help me except you."

We must let the gravity of our salvation and our Savior's sufferings sink into our soul.

We must exert ourselves to have a better grasp of the cost of our redemption, for in doing so, we will be strongly encouraged to live our lives for the glory of God, rather than for our own selish desires.

May our gracious LORD grant us understanding and wisdom in these things, so that like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, our hearts will burn within us and be revived.

Bob