RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2021-02-11	David Asked, “Why Have You Forsaken Me”? (Ps.22:1)
		Psa 22:1  My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning? Psa 22:2  O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; And in the night season, and am not silent. Psalm 22 is considered a prayer of help. There are other Psalms in that same class (Ps.10:1; 13:1-2; 52:1; 74:1). David opens with a cry to God in anguish and a sense of hopelessness. He feels forsaken and in deep agony because God does not answer him. He is suffering socially (v.6-8) and physically (v.14-15). He is most disturbed by his apparent abandonment by God. David's words, “My God, my God” shows his faith in God despite the Lord's perceived distance. Yet David knows that God never forsakes His children (v.22-24). Many see this Psalm as a model for praying in times of extreme suffering and need. It expresses the common emotional experience of people who feel alone and afflicted. Hundreds of years later, when Jesus was on the cross enduring intense torment and separation from God, He quotes this psalm (Mt.27:46). Mat 27:46  And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?" Jesus cried out this familiar psalm the Jews recognized and prayed for centuries. Jesus is joining with the multitude of mankind in their affliction and sufferings as He cries out for help. He was also showing that He was fulfilling Old Testament Scripture (see Ps.22:14-18). Jesus, our Intercessor and Savior, identifies with us in every way. In our weakest moments, and especially when we feel abandoned, this psalm of David gives us the encouragement we often need. When we consider that David and Jesus suffered and felt abandoned, and knowing the Lord did not forsake them gives us consolation. God gives us permission by His own example to pour out our hearts to Him. When Jesus spoke those words, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” it would be analogous to someone saying, “Remember the words of Psalm 22.” Again this was very familiar to the Jews of Jesus' day. At the time Jesus spoke those words He was taking upon Himself the sins of all mankind. And so He felt abandoned by the Father, because as the sin-bearer the Father did turn His face away from Him. Sin is appalling to God. Remember earlier when Jesus said, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me” (Mt.26:39)? He was not rejecting going to the cross, but did not look forward to the separation He would experience from the Father as He bore our sin. Nevertheless, both David and Jesus, though they felt abandoned, still trusted in God. This gives us encouragement for today. Circumstances may appear bleak, even hopeless at times, but in the end we still trust in God. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

An Evangelical Free Church of America

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