Psalm 22
Psalm 22 Meaning
Psalm 22 begins with the cry of utter abandonment: my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? It describes a suffering so vivid that it reads like an eyewitness account: bones out of joint, a tongue clinging to the jaw, hands and feet, enemies casting lots for clothing.
Then, in the middle, the tone turns. The sufferer is heard, and the psalm ends with worldwide praise, declaring God's righteousness to a people yet unborn. From the depths of anguish rises a promise of global worship.
Key verses from Psalm 22
“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?”
Psalm 22:1
“For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.”
Psalm 22:16
“They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.”
Psalm 22:18
“All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.”
Psalm 22:27
How Psalm 22 points to Jesus
Jesus prayed the opening words of this psalm from the cross, and its details, the pierced hands and feet and the divided garments, were fulfilled that day. His forsakenness bought our welcome, and the worldwide praise it foresees is His.