Psalm Friday

The Psalm of the Cross

Psalm Friday

Psalm 22

Oh Beloved, we are in for a treat. We are about to embark on a journey to the foot of the cross of Calvary. Not everything we will see is going to appeal to our human eyes as something beautiful to behold; but I can promise you this, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, it will reach down to the depths of our hearts and reveal to us the love of our Savior. C.H Spurgeon describes Psalm 22 this way, “this Psalm is a photograph of our Lord’s saddest hours, the record of His dying words, the lachrymatory (a small vase found in ancient Rome used to catch the tears of a mourner) of His last tears, and the memorial of His expiring joys.” Yes, it is quite possible that this Psalm contains a hint of the Psalmist David, but when one looks at it in its entirety, David is but an afterthought because the beauty of the Lord Jesus is going to burst forth just as He did from the grave that could not hold Him in. Here we have a picture of the darkness of the cross and its glory shining through; Christ and His sufferings and His glory that is to follow.

Today, dear one, I would encourage you to take off your shoes as Moses did when he came before the Lord at the burning bush, for the place that we now stand together in Scripture is holy ground. Gaze before you at the cross of Calvary and behold what your Savior bore in your stead. Hear His last words. See the tears fall from His eyes. Look around you at the crowds of people who are mocking Him. Watch His blood drip, drip, drip to the ground. Notice His broken body not held to the cross by the nails in His hands and feet, but held their by His immense love for you. Worship Him today at the foot of the cross.

“1) My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, and from the words of My groaning? 2) O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; and in the night season, and am not silent. 3) But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel. 4) Our fathers trusted in You; They trusted, and You delivered them. 5) They cried to You, and were delivered; they trusted in You, and were not ashamed. 6) But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people. 7) All those who see Me ridicule Me; they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, 8) “He trusted in the LORD, let Him rescue Him; let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!” 9) But You are He who took Me out of the womb; You made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts. 10) I was cast upon You from birth. From My mother’s womb You have been My God. 11) Be not far from Me, for trouble is near; for there is none to help. 12) Many bulls have surrounded Me; strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me. 13) They gape at Me with their mouths, like a raging and roaring lion. 14) I am poured out like water,and all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; it has melted within Me. 15) My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death. 16) For dogs have surrounded Me; the congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; 17) I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. 18) They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots. 19) But You, O LORD, do not be far from Me; O My Strength, hasten to help Me! 20) Deliver Me from the sword, My precious life from the power of the dog. 21) Save Me from the lion’s mouth and from the horns of the wild oxen! You have answered Me. 22) I will declare Your name to My brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will praise You. 23) You who fear the LORD, praise Him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, and fear Him, all you offspring of Israel! 24) For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; nor has He hidden His face from Him; but when He cried to Him, He heard. 25) My praise shall be of You in the great assembly; I will pay My vows before those who fear Him. 26) The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek Him will praise the LORD. Let your heart live forever! 27) All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You. 28) For the kingdom is the LORD’s, and He rules over the nations. 29) All the prosperous of the earth shall eat and worship; all those who go down to the dust shall bow before Him, even he who cannot keep himself alive. 30) A posterity shall serve Him. It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation, 31) They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, that He has done this.”
Psalm 22:1-31, NKJV

Join me next week as we continue this journey to the foot of the cross.