Psalm 22

Read Psalm 22

I enjoy this psalm.  I enjoy that David experiences an entire cycle of orientating his heart toward God, echoing the narrative arc of the Bible.  Where are you?  I am suffering.  Everyone hates me, mocks me, and is even mocking You as I’m clutching to hope. But, you are my God.  I ask and plead with you for deliverance. I will tell everyone what you have done and that they should praise you too.  Fall. Redemption. Restoration.

I also enjoy this psalm, because it’s hard not to think of Christ’s suffering while reading it:  scorned by mankind…despised…poured out like water…they divide my garments among them…for my clothing they cast lots…my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 

In this one chapter, the narrative arc of the Bible collides with Christ’s suffering.  What is the result? What does it produce?  Hope.  As we enter this advent season, our lives are being invaded by images of the Christ-child in a manger. Innocent, pure, gentle.  We can delight in the appearance of the newborn babe.  And yet, it was Him as an adult, suffering on the cross, enduring the shame, taking on the sin of the world that secures our hope.  We will suffer.  We may indeed feel like a worm and not a man.  But because of this baby turned man turned sacrificial lamb turned forever King, we have hope.  We have a secure hope to endure similar feelings of forsakenness and confusion.  And we have hope that produces praise and worship and a desire to tell of Him to our brothers.  So wherever your heart is on its own narrative arc this season, I hope that it collides with the good news of Christ’s sacrifice for you and produces a thrill of hope.

- Dana H.