As you read the first words of this Psalm: “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” maybe, like me you remember the words of Jesus from the Cross. Just taking the Psalm at its face value, it seems to be about someone crying out to God to save him from the taunts and torments of his enemies and (final 10 verses) thanking God for rescuing him. Jewish commentaries say that this was probably David or maybe Esther.

This is, however, a Psalm which is often read on Good Friday because of the references to what Jesus endured and particularly for its graphic description of what happens to the body when someone is crucified. The main references are:

Ps 22: 1 “My God, my God why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mk 15:34)

Ps 22: 7 “they hurl insults” (Mk 15:29)

Ps 22:8 “let the Lord rescue him (Mt 27: 43)

Ps 22:18 “dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get” (Mk 15:24)

Ps 22: 15 “my mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth” (John 19:28)

We, therefore, have a prophetic piece of writing about the future suffering and death of Jesus, Son of David and Saviour of the world.

Something else struck me, however, as I read. This is clearly the agony of someone who believes in God but feels deserted by Him. He cannot stop himself from declaring who God is and what He has done for him personally. Each complaint is followed by a statement of the very nature of God (see verses: 3-5, 9-11 etc.). As the Psalm progresses, his assurance that God will somehow deliver Him increases.

Finally, the cry (verse 31) is: “He has done it”, reminding us of Jesus’ final words before his death: “It is finished” (John 19:30)

Sometimes we go through times of intense trial or suffering. Sometimes, if we are honest, we imagine that God has deserted us. Sometimes, like the Psalmist we veer from believing everything is lost and desperate to knowing that whatever happens, God will be glorified in our lives. Sometimes we have to rely on friends to assure us of that. The final words, point to our resurrection. “He has done it”, “It is finished”. There is an end to everything and God who has been on the journey, will be there to meet us.

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Pray the Psalm, taking as your theme what you are experiencing today. If you are in the midst of trial pray verses 2 or 11. If you are in a place of trusting God for his provision, pray verses 9-10 or 3-5.