FORSAKEN!

Psalm 22 foretells both “the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow”, 1 Pet. 1. 11. The hinge of the psalm comes at the end of verse 21, “thou hast heard me”. This stands in marked contrast to all that has gone before and, in particular, to the words “thou hearest not”, v. 2. The section down to verse 21 is concerned with the sufferings of the Lord Jesus, and the remaining section with the glory into which He was later to enter, Luke 24. 26.

The Holy Spirit first draws attention to the Lord’s spiritual suffering, expressed in His cry, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”. The description of that which He suffered from men comes later. His physical sufferings represent, as it were, only the door through which He passed to enter into the fearful region beyond.

When on the cross, for three hours He was “made … sin for us”, 2 Cor. 5. 21. During that time, abandoned and forsaken by God, He was alone! True, He had been forsaken earlier by His disciples as, in Gethsemane, they left Him and fled, Matt. 26. 56. But of that occasion, He had said, “ye … shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me”, John 16. 32; cf. 8. 29. Now, however, He is forsaken by God also. The darkened heavens bore silent witness to it. No angel descended to minister to Him or to strengthen Him. Truly, there was “none to help”, Psa. 22. 11.

David speaks also of our Lord’s sufferings from men. Verses 7, 8 received their fulfilment in the derision that He faced from the Jews. The people who passed the site of the crucifixion shook their heads at Him in a gesture of contempt and reproach, Matt. 27. 39; cf. 2 Kings 19. 21; Job 16. 4. The chief priests, elders and scribes laughed Him to scorn, Luke 23. 35, using die very words foretold, Matt. 27. 43. Verses 16 and 18 tell of His sufferings from the Gentiles. In accord with the Roman method of capital punishment, His hands and feet were pierced. Roman soldiers parted His garments, and cast lots for His coat, John 19. 23, 24.

What mysteries! The beloved Son is forsaken. The Fount of living water thirsts, v. 15. The One “clothed with honour and majesty”, 104. 1, is stripped of all earthly attire.