Psalms and the Seasons of Your LifeSample

A Psalm for the Season of Suffering

No psalm is quoted more frequently in the New Testament than Psalm 22. It has been labeled “the psalm of the cross.” Its original context addresses the disorientation and darkness of David’s life. Its prophetic context wraps itself around the agony of Jesus Christ, who became sin for us and died on the cross. Many of the realities of this Old Testament psalm become painful facts for Jesus as He endures the cross for the sake of God’s fallen creatures.

Both David and Jesus tasted the bitterness of suffering; their bodies screamed with lacerating pain, and the heavenly Father withheld His hand so that greater good would be attained. The great king of Israel and the King of kings both groaned as their bodies were broken by the evil conspiracies of wicked men and because of the permissive will of God. For David, his brokenness would be answered with God’s saving right hand; for Jesus, His brokenness would lead to the salvation of mankind.

Our spiritual ancestor David did not enjoy his suffering. And, as we listen in on Jesus’ conversation with His heavenly Father, we clearly comprehend the dreadful nature of the suffering that He was to endure and from which He asked to escape (see Matthew 26:39). Yet Jesus submitted Himself to the Father’s perfect yet painful plan.

Psalm 22 ends well. David proceeds to declare God’s deliverance and reign over circumstances and nations. In a similar fashion, when Jesus is on the threshold of death on the cross, He uses one Greek word, tetelestai, which means “finished.”

This prophetic psalm speaks to us, indeed, shouts to us that God has decisively dealt with our trauma and our transgressions. Our lament, like David’s, has been transformed into a song of thanksgiving. A broken body and the shedding of blood have ended at salvation! The broken have been blessed, the forsaken have been fortified, and the hurting have been healed! Isn’t that just like God! He turns thorns into thrones and crosses into crowns.