The Descent and Triumph of the Messiah – Psalm 22

1. Read: Psalm 22:1-2

2. About the Text:

1) David wrote this Psalm, but not about himself.

2) He was a prophet (2 Chronicles 29:25).

3) He wrote about the suffering Messiah.

4) Jesus quotes the beginning of the Psalm while hanging on the cross.

5) Matthew and Mark record him saying it.

6) “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’” (Matthew 27:46). Also Mark 15:34.

7) When we look at this Psalm, we can see it fulfilled in Jesus.

8) It proves that Jesus was the Messiah.

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. Complaint of Abandonment (1-2)

1) The question is asked, “Why have you abandoned me?”

2) It isn’t that the questioner hasn’t been praying.

3) Sometimes when we pray and don’t get the answer we are looking for, it appears God is not helping us.

4) We noted that Jesus quoted this in Matthew and Mark.

2. Confidence in Deliverance (3-5)

1) God is holy, so He doesn’t see things the way we do.

2) There is confidence that God will deliver just like He delivered the fathers.

3) Why do we trust in God? He has demonstrated that He is trustworthy.

3. Complaint of Ridicule (6-8)

1) The people consider him a worm, despised, reproached, and ridiculous.

2) They mock Him with sarcastic comments about His trust in the Lord.

3) “He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God’” (Matthew 27:43).

4. Confidence in Care (9-11)

1) He recognizes God’s care for His life since He was a child.

2) He asks for help from God.

3) Job 13:15 – “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.”

5. Complaint of Death (12-18)

1) This section truly shows that death is happening for Him.

2) Verse 14 is a description of someone being stretched out so that his bones become disjointed.

3) Verse 15 is a description of the hunger and thirst that accompanies dying.

4) John records Jesus thirst in John 19:28

5) Psalm 69:21 says, “They also gave me gall for my food, And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.”

6) John 19:29-30 records the soldiers giving Jesus vinegar to drink.

7) Verse 16 describes the crucifixion scene whose hands and feet are pierced.

8) Remember that Thomas wanted to see the nail prints in Jesus hands and feet: John 20:25.

9) Verse 17 describes how all of his bones can be seen because of being stretched out.

10) Verse 18 says what they do with his clothing since he doesn’t need it anymore.

11) Matthew 27:35 specifically quotes this verse as being fulfilled by Jesus’ crucifixion.

12) All of the gospel writers cite this as happening to Jesus: Mark 15:24, Luke 23:34, John 19:23-24.

6. Confidence in Salvation (19-21)

1) There is a final cry for deliverance.

2) It is a cry of salvation from utter destruction.

3) And God answered.

4) “He is not here, but is risen!” (Luke 24:6).

1. Praise for the God Who Hears (22-24)

1) Here, the Afflicted praises God in the assembly.

2) Hebrews 2:12 uses this verse to show that Jesus calls Christians his brethren.

3) The Afflicted turns to praise Yahweh with all of Israel.

4) He praises Him for hearing His prayer.

5) God did not hide His face from Jesus, but raised Him from the dead.

2. Praise for the God who Gives Life (25-26)

1) The Afflicted continues to praise God in the assembly by paying vows.

2) The result is that the poor will have something to eat.

3) And life would be given to Israel.

4) John 10:10

3. Praise for the God who Reigns (27-28)

1) Not only Israel will give praise, but all the world and families in it.

2) Remember God’s promise to Abraham – “In thee, all the families of the earth will be blessed” (Genesis 12:3).

3) This was only fulfilled in Jesus – Galatians 3:8.

4) The kingdom is the Lord’s and He rules over the nations.

5) “Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens” (Hebrews 8:1).

4. Praise for the God of Righteousness (29-31)

1) More will tell of the great things that the Lord has done.

2) They will declare His righteousness to those who haven’t been born.

3) Jesus is our righteousness – “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30).

4) Here we are talking about it today.

1. In this Psalm we see …

1) The Descent of the Messiah

2) The Triumph of the Messiah

2. Invitation