The Psalm From the Cross

This morning I read Psalm 22.  This is the Psalm with the opening line, "My God, My God why have you forsaken me?"  These are the words that Jesus speaks while he is hanging on the cross being mocked and dying.  When we read the account of the crucifixion we hear only that first verse however it is quite possible, and I believe to be true, that Jesus in that moment was referring to the entire Psalm.  Maybe he said it all or maybe he was reminding all those that were looking on of what this psalm was speaking of.  You see there is more to the psalm than that first line and there was more to what was going on in that moment than what they could see.  It may appear God forsaken but in reality God was in it.  As we read that psalm we see that it speaks of one who would be beaten, who would be mocked.  Who have his hands and feet pierced.  The 22 Psalm, that Jesus draws on from the cross, talks about how they would cast lots for his garment and how people would hurl insults.  Psalm 22 talks about how God hears our cries and how God rescues us and saves us.  In verse 24 it  reads, "For he has not despised or scorned the afflicted one and he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help."  Through the suffering of the one he will restore all of us.  The last line is very similar to the words that Jesus speaks himself from the cross, "They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to the people yet unborn; He has done it!"  It is done!  "It is finished!"

God has not forsaken us.  He has not turned a deaf ear to your cries.  God has saved us.  He has done it!  There is more to the story.  There is more that God has to say to the situation that is right in front of our eyes.  What we see is not what we get ultimately.  Thanks be to God.

Love today.

In Christ's love and mine,
Doug