Bible Reading Blog
“Revived By Hope”
Categories: Congregational Bible ReadingBIBLE READING: Psalm 22
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?” (Psalm 22.1)
This prophetic depiction of Jesus’ death and subsequent glory captures the myriad of emotions Jesus went through during his final hours. In fact, Jesus invoked this phrase while hanging on the cross to point us to God’s plan through this horrific event (Mark 15.34). Tragedy gives way to victory (Psalm 22.24, 26, 28).
Hope is strong in the psalm, but part of what makes it powerful is the suffering. Written by David hundreds of years before Christ, it paints a chaotic picture of helplessness and need to which all can relate. We have times when every path seems wrong, every effort seems futile, and our weaknesses overwhelm our competency. Like this psalm, we vacillate between God’s control and our desire to avoid the present distress.
The sense of abandonment we feel in times of stress is very real. Even Jesus experienced this. In the garden of Gethsemane, his humanity bled out as he begged God to “let this cup pass from me” (Matthew 26.39). He knew this was God’s will, and yet even he was overwhelmed by the weakness of the flesh.
Jesus was a “man of suffering, and familiar with pain” (Isaiah 53.3, NIV). We're not happy he suffered, but it is so valuable that Jesus experienced life just like we do. The application of this psalm to himself accentuates just how much Jesus understands the struggle of life in this world. That is what allows him to be merciful and sympathetic as he makes intercession for us before God (Hebrews 2.17; 4.15-16).
Life may be hard, and you may feel like no one understands; but Jesus does. Even though he was tired and weak and abandoned by those around him, Jesus trusted God (1 Peter 2.21-23), and God rewarded him for it (1 Corinthians 15.3-4; Ephesians 1.20-23).
For believers, suffering always give way to victory, and the best part of this psalm is that it doesn’t end in defeat. “You who fear the LORD praise him!... For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted… but has heard, when he cried to him” (Psalm 22.23-24). The psalmist was revived by this hope; Jesus endured by this hope; and we too can overcome the challenges of life with this hope.
God has always been near (Acts 17.27) and thoughtful of our daily needs and struggles (Psalm 8.4). But through Jesus he has done great things to provide for those needs (Isaiah 53.3-12). This is the gospel. God offers hope to those who would turn from sin, and trust in him. If we believe God’s promises are sure, then, “let us draw near with confidence to God’s throne of grace through Jesus so we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4.16, paraphrased).
"[God] has heard, when he cried to Him... The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD!" (Psalm 22.24, 26)
