Cover to Cover
Reading: Psalms 22-28
Focus: Psalm 22
The psalms are, normally, an overflow of praise and worship, emotions of desperation and joy, cries of helplessness and thanksgiving. Once in a while, however, out of these psalms, is something greater. A psalm inspired by the Spirit of God, while the words in their immediate context might reflect the psalmist’s circumstances, points to a greater truth or reality—to be blunt, a prophetic psalm. Here in this psalm (Psalm 22) is a prophetic psalm, while reflecting David’s struggle, points to the struggle of another—a Son of David, a Son of God—who would innocently suffer for the cause of all humankind. His name is Jesus.
As you read through the psalm, it is difficult not to see it echoed in the life of Jesus. The opening line was the pinnacle of Jesus’ struggle as he hung there on the Cross—”My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” The psalm paints the picture of enemies surrounding their prey, a reflection of the Jewish and Roman authorities and the work of Satan as Jesus was sentenced to death, even going so far to prophesy the division of Jesus’ garments by the casting of lots (v. 18). However, it goes further than Jesus’ death, but sees the culmination of Jesus’ life resulting declaring the glory of God, the grace and mercy of God for all nations, made known to all the world, even to those yet unborn (v. 31).
This psalm is a psalm of hope, one that was not a last minute plan of God, but one that He saw fit to have planned from the beginning of time and, through the Spirit of God, inspired David to write this psalm as a pointer to the people of God for the time when He would save them through Jesus and all future generations. After all, as the last line declares, “He has done it.” The work of salvation is done, hope is found in Jesus and it is assured for God has done it, upon the Cross the victory over sin and death was won, and let it be declared to all generations—for He has done it!
Next Reading: Psalms 29-34
