Overview

Under great affliction and distress, the psalmist prays unto God, Psalm 22:1-3; appeals to God’s wonted kinkiness in behalf of his people, Psalm 22:4, Psalm 22:5; relates the insults that he received, Psalm 22:6-8; mentions the goodness of God to him in his youth, as a reason why he should expect help now, Psalm 22:9-11; details his sufferings, and the indignities offered to him, Psalm 22:12-18, prays with the confidence of being heard and delivered, Psalm 22:19-24; praises God. and foretells the conversion of the nations to the true religion, Psalm 22:25-31

Adam Clark Commentary

Poetry by Isaac Watts based on PSALM 22

PART 1

V. 1-16 — The sufferings and death of Christ.

PAUSE.
Why has my God my soul forsook,
Nor will a smile afford?
(Thus David once in anguish spoke,
And thus our dying Lord.)

Though ’tis thy chief delight to dwell
Among thy praising saints,
Yet thou canst hear a groan as well,
And pity our complaints.

Our fathers trusted in thy name,
And great deliv’rance found;
But I’m a worm, despised of men,
And trodden to the ground.

Shaking the head, they pass me by,
And laugh my soul to scorn;
“In vain he trusts in God,” they cry,.
“Neglected and forlorn.”

But thou art he who formed my flesh
By thine almighty word;
And since I hung upon the breast,
My hope is in the Lord.

Why will my Father hide his face,
When foes stand threat’ning round,
In the dark hour of deep distress,
And not a helper found?

Behold thy darling left among
The cruel and the proud,
As bulls of Bashan, fierce and strong,
As lions roaring loud.

From earth and hell my sorrows meet
To multiply the smart;
They nail my hands, they pierce my feet,
And try to vex my heart.

Yet if thy sovereign hand let loose
The rage of earth and hell,
Why will my heav’nly Father bruise
The Son he loves so well?

My God, if possible it be,
Withhold this bitter cup
But I resign my will to thee,
And drink the sorrows up.

My heart dissolves with pangs unknown,
In groans I waste my breath;
Thy heavy hand has brought me down
Low as the dust of death.

Father, I give my spirit up,
And trust it in thy hand;
My dying flesh shall rest in hope,
And rise at thy command.

PART 2

V. 20, 21, 27-31 — Christ’s sufferings and kingdom.

“Now from the roaring lion’s rage,
O Lord, protect thy Son,
Nor leave thy darling to engage
The powers of hell alone.”

Thus did our suff’ring Savior pray,
With mighty cries and tears;
God heard him in that dreadful day,
And chased away his fears.

Great was the vict’ry of his death,
His throne exalted high;
And all the kindreds of the earth
Shall worship or shall die.

A num’rous offspring must arise
From his expiring groans;
They shall be reckoned in his eyes
For daughters and for sons.

The meek and humble souls shall see
His table richly spread;
And all that seek the Lord shall be
With joys immortal fed.

The isles shall know the righteousness
Of our incarnate God,
And nations yet unborn profess
Salvation in his blood.

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Reflection

One of the amazing aspects of the Holy Bible, unlike any other book, it reflects the past, present and future for people who live hundreds and even thousands of years apart. Psalm 22 speaks to David’s suffering, it is also a prophecy of Christ’s suffering on the cross and breathes life into the deep feelings that resonate within human nature. Here is a list of prophecies in the Psalms which were fulfilled in Christ Jesus.

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