Psalm 22

Psalm 22 is a raw and emotional expression of the psalmist's cry of anguish to God. The psalmist feels forsaken and alone, but ultimately expresses faith and trust in God's deliverance.

Psalm 22

31
verses
3
min

Bible version

A Cry of Anguish and Trust

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?
2 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.
6 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.
9 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.
12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
14 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.
16 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.
18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
19 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.
22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
23 Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.
25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.
26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
28 For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations.
29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.
30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.

Commentary

Psalm 22 is a prophetic psalm that foreshadows the suffering of Christ on the cross. The opening line, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" was quoted by Jesus as he hung on the cross (Matthew 27:46). The psalmist's words accurately describe the physical and emotional agony of crucifixion. Throughout the psalm, the psalmist expresses his feelings of abandonment and despair, yet still holds onto his faith in God's power and goodness. He recalls God's faithfulness to his ancestors and pleads with God to not forsake him. In the latter half of the psalm, the tone shifts from lament to praise as the psalmist proclaims God's ultimate victory and calls for all to praise him. This shift in tone reflects the psalmist's confidence that God will ultimately deliver him and bring about redemption. Overall, Psalm 22 is a powerful example of faith in the midst of suffering. It reminds us that even in our darkest moments, we can cry out to God in honesty and trust in his faithfulness.

Meet the heroes of Psalm, 22

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FAQ

Assuming a reader with an average reading speed of 300 WPM reads the Psalm, chapter 22 it would take approximately 3 minutes to finish.

There are 31 verses in Psalm, chapter 22.