The Psalm of the Cross

Open your Bibles with me to Psalm 22.

This is the Psalm of the Cross, one of the most detailed prophecies in the Old Testament of the crucifixion of the Messiah.

The first two verses describe the Son forsaken by the Father. When you feel forsaken by God, how do you find any comfort, any courage to keep believing? Verses 3-5, by remembering God’s holiness, His trustworthiness. This is what the Lord prayed as He bore up under His Father’s forsaking of Him.


Verses 6-8 describe the mocking and taunting of the passers by. How do you deal with that, when you are the one getting dumped on? Verses 9-11, by putting your trust in God and counting on Him to deliver you

Verses 12-18 go through the physical suffering of crucifixion, the abuses by the soldiers and religious leaders

Verses 19-21 mark a turning point as the suffering Savior found His communion with the Father restored.

Hebrews 2:11-12 quotes this next verse, verse 22, showing that Jesus became like us so He could make us members of His family.

The second half of this Psalm is the Lord’s anticipation of the growth of the gospel through the church, as more people are saved through His work on the cross.

Look at the last phrase, down in verse 31 “He has done it.”

“It is finished” The gospel can be proclaimed because Jesus’ sacrifice was accepted, all the work is done, and salvation is available to all who will believe in Him.

If this post got you to thinking, please leave a comment and join the conversation