The focus of Psalm 22 suddenly turns from abject suffering to wondrous praise. The scene shifts from crucifixion to a great assembly who suddenly become aware of God's great mercy. The literal Hebrew turns on the phrase at the end of verse 21 -- You have answered me. I see in these words what happened immediately after Jesus died, affirmed in 1 Peter: Christ freely justifies all the Elect of the Old Testament, the whole clan of Jacob.
19 But You, O Lord, do not be far from Me;
O My Strength, hasten to help Me!
20 Deliver Me from the sword,
My precious life from the power of the dog.
21 Save Me from the lion’s mouth
And from the horns of the wild oxen!
You have answered Me. (Note: if this does not appear in your Bible, pencil it in.)
22 I will declare Your name to My brethren;
In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.
23 You who fear the Lord, praise Him!
All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,
And fear Him, all you offspring of Israel!
24 For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;
Nor has He hidden His face from Him;
But when He cried to Him, He heard.
25 My praise shall be of You in the great assembly;
I will pay My vows before those who fear Him.
26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied;
Those who seek Him will praise the Lord.
Let your heart live forever!
(Psalm 22:19-26 New King James Version)
Precious Savior:
The perspective of this crucifixion psalm
pivots from a cry for divine help
to utter praise and joy. So what has changed?
Father God heard Your call and answered. (v.21b)
On the cross you breathed your final Word,
Your commended Spirit did release. (Luke 23:46)
Those who watched Your lifeless body hanging
could not see Your work had just begun.
You declared to ancient souls in prison
Gospel freedom, full atonement made. (1 Peter 3:19)
You were in their midst, the great assembly
of Elect from Israel since Abraham.
You shone upon that vast host gathered, (v.25)
shades no longer in Sheol's dusty chains.
Calling them each by name, and hearing,
they ran to You, and open-armed proclaim,
"Now we see Thee, Lord. We know Thee!
You were and are and shall forever be
Praised for earth's myriad generations
of Adam's race you have redeemed!"
Your all sufficient merit do bequeth
to all who did in times before your cross
humbly wait and by simple faith declare
that one day their Redeemer they would see. (Job 19:25)
Father God has paid his vow to You, (v.25)
Holy Keeper of His perfect Law;
You create a people for God's glory (Psalm 2:8-9)
to live with You forever in Your joy.
Let Your loving heart live on forever,
bearing still the rebel's deathly gash.
Claim us by Your Holy Spirit's graces,
Risen Savior, champion of God's new Israel.
Help us lately born who still must fight,
who have not yet Your final rest attained,
may our watchword and our lifted banner
be: in all our prayers, You answered me.
So many prayers You've answered in Your Word,
spoken before time began and since;
as You spoke, Your Spirit brings to being
Truth by which we claim Your gracious mercy.
You have answered me and all who long
to know the benediction of your peace;
in each act of sacrificial love is shown
Your Presence answering a sin-sick world.
You have answered me! So, like the song,
let my life turn like a flower bends,
opens sunward, and with all the meadow
blaze in praise and deeply drink Your love.
Amen.
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