Psalm 22

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.