'HE HAS DONE IT' - PSALM 22:21-31

'HE HAS DONE IT!' - PSALM 22v21-31

21 Save me from the mouth of the lion!

You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen!

22 I will tell of your name to my brothers;

in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:

23 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!

24 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.

25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him.

26 The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied;

those who seek him shall praise the LORD!

May your hearts live forever!

27 All the ends of the earth

shall remember and turn to the LORD,

and all the families of the nations

shall worship before you.

28 For kingship belongs to the LORD,

and he rules over the nations.

29 All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust,

even the one who could not keep himself alive.

30 Posterity shall serve him;

it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation;

31 they shall come and proclaim his righteousness

to a people yet unborn,

that he has done it.

1. GET A FEEL FOR THE POETRY:

[1] Put it in a word processor, pick up features in different colours, rearrange the layout.

[2] Read the NLT and the MESSAGE translations

2. GET A GRASP OF THE MESSAGE

[1] See the flow, the argument, the journey (start, stages and ending).

[2] How does this fit in with the surrounding Psalms?

Psalm 22 The Cross,

Psalm 23 The Crook,

Psalm 24 The Crown

An alternative suggestion:

Psalm 21 The Crown

Psalm 22 The Cross

Psalm 23 The Crook

Psalm 24 The Conquering Hero

How much more of a surprise is Psalm 22 when we see it as following on Psalm 21. How great a surprise the cross was to Jesus' disciples, and to people today.

[3] GET INTO THE DETAILS

By now you will have your own ideas of the possible meaning of the Psalm. If you have any commentaries see what they make of this Psalm. (Do not rush to the commentaries straight away or you will end up just repeating their ideas.)

If you can look at more than one for commentators differ. If you do not have one then one of the older commentaries such as Matthew Henry Commentary or CH Spurgeon's 'A Treasury of David' are freely available on-line and a good place to start. The newer commentaries, such as those from IVP, are not yet free, but are better with the meaning of the Hebrew words and understanding the Hebrew poetry.

After a long period of little new writing on the Psalms there are several major commentaries on the Psalms currently coming out.

It is likely that the Welwyn Garden 2 volume Commentary on the Psalms by Philip Eveson will be the most accessible (I have not read this but his other volumes in the series have been excellent. I should declare that he was my college lecturer and took our wedding - but you can read the reviews for yourself.)

What do we see in the details?

i) There is a complete change of tone. Desertion and desolation give way to Presence and Praise.

God had appeared to abandon the Psalmist, but now he comes to the rescue - v21, 24 & 31 and will save others who call on him - v26.

The Psalmist never ceased to cry out to the Lord even in the darkest moments. This is trust. To believe God when every circumstance, and many people, are telling you that you are mad to do so.

ii) The reference to vows in v25 should be followed up as this is something the law speaks about.

Lev 7:16 But if the sacrifice of his offering is a vow offering or a freewill offering, it shall be eaten on the day that he offers his sacrifice, and on the next day what remains of it shall be eaten.

Deut 12:17 You may not eat within your towns the tithe of your grain or of your wine or of your oil, or the first-born of your herd or of your flock, or any of your vow offerings that you vow, or your freewill offerings or the contribution that you present, v18 but you shall eat them before the LORD your God in the place that the LORD your God will choose, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, and the Levite who is within your towns. And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God in all that you undertake.

This is the picture the Psalmist gives: fulfilling a vow, public testimony, and the family meal afterwards. The suggestion is of a fellowship offering being made.

iii) Here is worship on an international scale - v27. This is only fitting for one who rules the nations to the ends of the earth.

John 12:32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

iv) This is not just for this generation, it is for those as yet unborn. We are not only serving our generation we are serving those who will live after us -v30-31.

v) Once again Psalm 22 is quoted in the NT:

Hebrews 2v11b: That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, v12 saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” v13 And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.”

Psalm 22v22 I will tell of your name to my brothers;

in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:

Picture Jesus reading this Psalm, knowing that it spoke of him. What do you think he felt?

Hebrews 12v2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

[4] LEAVE WITH APPLICATIONS

i) The Psalmist was determined to praise the Lord - v22. Do we come with that same determination. No matter if no one else will praise him, if all others are 'bored' and 'lethargic' I will praise him.

ii) What is our attitude to the suffering and afflicted? Do we plead v24 for them and long to see them in v26? Or are we too focused on our own suffering?

iii) Do you have a missionary heart? God does - v27.

iv) We shall be asked by the Lord to do things for those who are not yet born - v30-31. Will we do them with the same zeal as those things where we see (some) of the fruits in this life? Maybe we will see the fruits in glory, but maybe not, God does not owe us any explanations as to why he wants us to do certain things. Isn't it enough to know that it is the Lord Christ we are serving?

PSALM 22v11-21 - 'THE DUST OF DEATH'

'THE DUST OF DEATH'

1. DAVID AS POET AND PROPHET (AGAIN)

11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help.

12 Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me;

13 they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion.

14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast;

15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death.

16 For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet--

17 I can count all my bones-- they stare and gloat over me;

18 they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.

19 But you, O LORD, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid!

20 Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog!

21 Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen!

(1) See David the Poet.

How carefully he crafts his Psalms.

This section divides into two parts marked by the refrain do not be far off - v11&19.

In the first part v11 there is none to help, in the second the LORD is his help v19 - O you my help,

See how the images change from v12 bulls to, v13 lion to v16 dogs and then in reverse v20 dog, v21 lion and oxen.

We feel with him what it is to be v14 poured out like water...and then be v15 dried up like a potsherd.

He describes the different sensations he feels in his body: my bones, my heart, my breast; my strength, my tongue my jaws, my hands and feet, my bones, my garments, my clothing.

He says v15 you lay me in the dust of death and goes on to ask for deliverance for -v20 my precious life.

Enter into the poetry of the Psalms, get a feel for it and the Psalms will come alive for you.

(2) See David the prophet:

We cannot but see Jesus on the cross. No one today could miss it.

13 they open wide their mouths at me,

14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint;

15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death.

16 a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet--

17 I can count all my bones-- they stare and gloat over me;

18 they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.

Before the cross no one but Jesus (and the prophets?) saw his suffering.

1 Peter 1v10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, v11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. v12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

The Spirit predicted the sufferings of Christ, but how much did the prophets see and understand?

Nowhere in any Jewish writings is there any trace of anyone seeing the suffering Messiah here, or in any of the other Psalms, or in Isaiah 53. No one expected the cross. This is why Peter reacted so strongly when Jesus first spoke of the cross - Mark 8v31-33.

The cross is not just to be admired, it is to be appropriated, taken up by everyone who would follow Jesus - Mark 8v34-38.

2. THE SUFFERINGS OF DAVID AND THE MESSIAH

(1) David feels alone.

David, who has earlier spoken of feeling forsaken by God calls for the Lord not to be far from him: v11 Be not far from me,

He states the reason for this plea: for trouble is near, and there is none to help.

Where were David's mighty men? See 2 Samuel 23v8-39.

Sometimes even the mightiest of men (and women) cannot help (as much as they may wish they could).

See Psalm 27v9-10.

We can request help for one another in prayer. I am sure the faithful were praying for David.

(2) David feels surrounded.

i. As by a herd of strong bulls of Bashan bulls from Bashan

Remember Og king of Bashan whose bed was made of iron, 9 cubits in length (Goliath was 6 cubits and a span tall) and four cubits in width (Deut 3v11)

Og's 60 cities were taken by the Israelites. The region is a large fertile plain east of modern-day Jordan. It became famous for it's rich pasture and it's large livestock.

Ezekiel 39:18 You shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth--of rams, of lambs, and of he-goats, of bulls, all of them fat beasts of Bashan.

Amos 4:1 “Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who say to your husbands, ‘Bring, that we may drink!’

Micah 7:14 Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance, who dwell alone in a forest in the midst of a garden land; let them graze in Bashan and Gilead as in the days of old.

He is a weak worm, they are strong bulls, who outnumber him and are far more powerful than he.

ii. The bulls change to become lions.

It is as if the lion opens it's mouth and is about to bite off David's head. (Remember the Lion tamers act in the circus) The lions that open their mouths against David are no well fed, contented, trained, circus act - they are ravening and roaring.

Lions rip open their prey. He is their prey!

iii. His strength has gone.

v14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast;

v15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death.

A potsherd is a fragment of a clay baked vessel.

Job 2v8 And he took a piece of broken pottery (AV - a potsherd) with which to scrape himself while he sat in the ashes.

What does it feel like to be really terrified?

(Has anyone here ever been really terrified?) This is what David felt.

iv. The lions become dogs.

16 For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me;

Dogs are not pictured in the Bible as family pets, man's best friend.

1 Kings 14:11 Anyone belonging to Jeroboam who dies in the city the dogs shall eat,

1 Kings 16:4 Anyone belonging to Baasha who dies in the city the dogs shall eat,

1 Kings 21:23 And of Jezebel the LORD also said, ‘The dogs shall eat Jezebel within the walls of Jezreel.’

Jeremiah 15:3 I will appoint over them four kinds of destroyers, declares the LORD: the sword to kill, the dogs to tear, and the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth to devour and destroy.

Philippians 3:2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.

Revelation 22:15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

Dogs are pictured as savage animals who will pray on a man's flesh and lick up his blood. David is surrounded by dogs...a company of evil doers encircle him.

v. The suffering intensifies

they have pierced my hands and feet--

17 I can count all my bones-- they stare and gloat over me;

There is more than physical suffering here, there is the mental suffering caused by the company of evildoers who are against him:

They stare and gloat over me;

And far from helping him they want to profit from his death. He sees their eagerness to take the very cloths he stood up in.

v18 they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.

vi. The depths of his physical and mental suffering are described by that memorable phrase:

you lay me in the dust of death.

Genesis 2:7 then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.

Genesis 3:19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

Job 30:19 God has cast me into the mire, and I have become like dust and ashes.

Ecclesiastes 3:20 All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return.

Ecclesiastes 12:7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

1 Corinthians 15:47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven.

David knew what it was to feel as though he was going to die (or at least that there was a very real possibility that he was going to die at that time.)

When Jesus read this Psalm he learned that what David described as something he felt, it was as if...., he would experience for real. He would suffer and die such a death as described here.

A wonderful insight into the cross given 1,000 years earlier (cf. Before William the Conqueror!)

3. DAVID RENEWS HIS PLEA FOR HELP AND THIS TIME HE IS ANSWERED

19 But you, O LORD, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid!

20 Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog!

21 Save me from the mouth of the lion!

You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen!

Faith waits on God and keeps waiting and will not be disappointed. Even in death? Especially in death.

For David, this time, it is rescue. For Jesus it will be death.