Psalm 22: A Cry of Anguish and of Praise

Every person goes through ups and downs; to everything there is a season and a time for every purpose and “this too shall pass.” The Bible is all about the Great Reversal: from humility to exaltation; from despair to hope; from depths to heights; from death to life. This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and Psalm 22 is all about Him, and, by faith, about me.

Note three downward and upward movements: 1) abandonment by God on the Cross, then trust in Father; 2) despised and mocked by men, then turn to God for hope; 3) enemies and agony and death, then cry to Lord for help, and finally exultation in resurrection victory and ultimate dominion over sin death and the devil.

For us humans both are always nearby: both God and the Enemy, both trouble and help, both death and life, both sin and grace. Both are always next to me, surrounding me and in me, always. What makes the difference? What changes things? It depends: Which one do I see? Faith sees God! To whom will I turn? The Spirit turns to Jesus!