Psalm 22: A Prayer of Anguish
THIS PRAYER OF anguish parallels the experience of our Lord, who took Psalm 22 to heart and spoke it from the cross. No other psalm is quoted as often in the New Testament. Persecuted saints and lonely Christians ever since have used this prayer to draw near to their God at times when they feel most abandoned.
Warming Up to God
We jokingly refer to places we despise, or would never want to go near or visit again, as "Godforsaken." But being forsaken or abandoned by others is no laughing matter. Do you have a "Godforsaken place" in your past experience? What was that like?
Read Psalm 22. »
Discovering the Word
- David did not shrink back from asking tough "why" questions. Neither did Jesus in quoting verse 1 (Mt 27:46; Mk 15:34). What were David and Jesus experiencing at the time they prayed this prayer (vv. 1-2, 6-8)?
- Being abandoned by friends and surrounded by enemies can feel all the more stark in contrast to one's history of being close to God and his people. What kind of relationship have this psalmist and his people enjoyed with their God (vv. 3-5, 9-10)?
- What are his attackers like (vv. 12-18)?
- What does he pray for (vv. 11, 19-21)?
- In anticipation of God's sure deliverance, what does the psalmist vow (vv. 22, 25)?
- Who joins him in this chorus of praise and why (vv. 23, 26-31)?
Applying the Word
- This psalm conjures up images of sword fights, bull fights, dog fights and a lion's den. What scenes of violence contemporary to your experience does this psalm conjure up for you?
- The Gospel writers applied this psalm to Jesus (see Mt 27:35, 39, 43 and 46). In what ways does Psalm 22 fit the circumstances of Jesus' crucifixion?
- At what points can you identify with the psalmist or with Jesus?
Responding in Prayer
Pour out your anguish before God, as he will listen to your cry for help. Trust God to deliver you from physical circumstances and emotional moods that cause you to feel forsaken. Remember what God has done for you in the past, and join others in praising God for what he will do in the future.
For Further Study
Praying When Life Hurts by W. Bingham Hunter