Random Encouragement from the Psalms - Pt. 4

But you, O LORD, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid! Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog! Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen! I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him. (Psalm 22:19-24 ESV).

 

Our reading today is taken from one of the lesser known psalms. Perhaps that’s because it precedes one of the most well known psalms. If you went back to the Scripture and read the entirety of this lament you would recognize the first verse: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Of course, these are the same words Jesus cried out during the hours of darkness of the cross. Strangely this psalm is often quoted, though many don’t recognize where it is located; and it is almost never mentioned in any of the “lists” of favorites. Yet it is one of mine, especially our reading today. It is the cry of a man who understood loneliness in the midst of a crowd.

 

It is a fascinating look at the heart of a person of faith who is discouraged but is still sure in his relationship with God. It seems that the first part of the psalm is merely introductory. By verse 12 the psalmist is back to laying out his problems. He characterizes his enemies as wild animals. He calls them the “bulls of Bashan” and “roaring lions.” He says that he is “poured out like water,” his bones are “out of joint,” and his heart is melting like wax. But then, as we see in all but one of the other psalms of lament, Psalm 22 takes a final turn back to recognizing God’s goodness. At verse 18 the psalmist begins to directly ask God to be close. This is not the “Where are you?” tone of the first verses; rather, this is a prayer to God asking for specific deliverance.

 

Then at verse 22 he ramps up the praise, recognizing that God has, in fact, not forsaken him. The psalmist even says that God “has not hidden his face from him” and that God has heard his cries for help. Once again, praise gets turned up to a full-blown psalm of praise until the end of the chapter. There is much we can gain from this example. First, God never leaves us. Our position in Him is secure and never-changing. Second, praise is often the answer to the loneliness we feel. It redirects our mind into transformation. If you find yourself feeling abandoned or alone turn your thoughts to Jesus!