Psalm 22
A Messianic
Prophecy of the Cross
The 1st of 5
Sermons in the Psalm 22 Series
Introduction
Psalm 22 is one of the most vivid and detailed prophecies of the
crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Written by David around 1000 BC, it
describes events that would not occur until a thousand years later.
It begins with the anguished cry of abandonment and ends with a
triumphant declaration of salvation reaching to the nations.
David wrote this
psalm from personal suffering, yet the details go far beyond
anything he experienced. He was never pierced in his hands and feet,
his garments were never divided by lot, and crucifixion was unknown
in his day. The Holy Spirit carried him to write words that pointed
directly to Jesus.
Jesus Himself
quoted its opening line on the cross. By doing so, He tied His own
suffering to this prophecy and left us with undeniable proof of His
identity. Psalm 22 is not simply David’s lament. It is the inspired
prophecy of the Messiah’s suffering, death, and ultimate victory.
The Cry of
Abandonment (Psalm 22:1–2)
David opens with a cry that seems to echo through eternity. He felt
abandoned and alone, without an answer from God in his hour of need.
For David, this reflected the loneliness of persecution, but in
Christ, it became literal.
On the cross,
Jesus spoke these very words: “My God, my God, why hast thou
forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). At that moment He bore the full
weight of the world’s sins, and with that came separation from the
Father. For the first time in eternity, the Son was without
fellowship with God. We cannot fully comprehend the enormity of this
moment. He who had always been one with the Father was utterly alone
in His suffering. This was the reality of what disfellowship with
God truly means.
Another truth is
revealed here. Jesus knew He was dying for unbelievers, and yet He
knew His cry would be heard and recorded. He knew the Scriptures
word for word. By speaking the opening line of Psalm 22, He
deliberately connected His suffering to what David had written
centuries before. Even in His deepest despair, He left us with
undeniable evidence of who He is: the Messiah, the Son of God, the
fulfillment of prophecy, and the Savior of the world.
The
Holiness of God (Psalm 22:3–5)
David reminded himself that God is holy. He remembered Israel’s
history of deliverance: the Red Sea, Jericho, the judges, and his
own escapes from Saul. Though he felt forsaken, he anchored himself
in God’s holiness and faithfulness.
In Christ, this
was fulfilled perfectly. Jesus submitted Himself to the holiness and
justice of God. God’s holiness required that sin be judged. At the
cross, Jesus bore that judgment in our place (Romans 3:25–26).
For us, these
verses teach that God is holy even when we feel abandoned. He has
proven His faithfulness in the past, and His holiness assures us He
will always do what is right.
The Mockery
and Scorn (Psalm 22:6–8)
David felt humiliated and despised, treated as worthless. His
enemies mocked and ridiculed him.
This prophecy
was fulfilled exactly at the cross. Jesus was despised and rejected
of men (Isaiah 53:3). Passersby wagged their heads (Matthew 27:39).
The chief priests and rulers mocked Him with the very words of this
psalm: “He trusted in God; let him deliver him now” (Matthew 27:43).
The precision of
the fulfillment shows that this psalm points directly to Christ. The
mockery of men did not disprove Him. It proved the Scriptures true.
For us, this
teaches that ridicule is part of following Christ. Just as the world
mocked Him, it may mock His disciples. Yet mockery cannot hinder
God’s plan. In fact, in Christ’s case, it fulfilled it.
The Lifelong
Trust in God (Psalm 22:9–10)
David acknowledged that God had cared for him from the very
beginning of life. From birth, he belonged to God and trusted in
Him. This reliance was part of his identity as Israel’s king and
servant of the Lord.
In Christ, this
trust was even greater. Conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the
virgin Mary, Jesus lived His entire life in dependence upon the
Father. From His earliest days He belonged wholly to God, and even
at the end He committed Himself into His Father’s hands, saying,
“Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46).
This teaches us
that God’s care begins from birth and never ceases. Just as Christ
trusted the Father fully, so must we rely on Him throughout our
lives.
The
Loneliness of Suffering (Psalm 22:11)
David confessed that trouble was near and there was no one to help.
He felt utterly alone and cried out for God’s nearness.
Jesus
experienced this most fully. His disciples deserted Him in
Gethsemane and scattered at His arrest (Matthew 26:56). On the cross
He stood alone before the hostility of men.
This teaches us
that there are moments when human help fails. At those times, we
learn to depend on God alone.
The
Encirclement of Enemies (Psalm 22:12–13)
David compared his enemies to strong bulls and roaring lions,
surrounding him with ferocity. This image paints the picture of
overwhelming opposition.
Jesus was
encircled by rulers, priests, soldiers, and crowds that snarled and
mocked. He was pressed in by hostility on every side.
This teaches us
that God’s people may also feel surrounded by enemies and evil. Yet
our strength is not in ourselves but in the Lord who delivers.
The
Physical Collapse of Crucifixion (Psalm 22:14)
David said, “I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of
joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my
bowels.” He described total collapse, the feeling of life draining
away.
This was
fulfilled in Jesus’ crucifixion. The strain of hanging on the cross
dislocated joints, while suffocation and loss of blood placed
enormous strain on His heart. Medical descriptions of crucifixion
show that victims often experienced fluid buildup around the heart
and lungs, leading to death by exhaustion and cardiac failure.
This shows the
depth of Jesus’ suffering. He endured this agony so that sin might
be judged and salvation given to us.
The Agony
of Thirst (Psalm 22:15)
David continued, “My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my
tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust
of death.” He felt extreme weakness and thirst, as though his life
was slipping away.
Jesus fulfilled
this at Calvary. After being scourged and crucified, His body had
endured massive blood loss, shock, and dehydration. One of the
results of this trauma was an unbearable thirst. He gave voice to
this when He cried, “I thirst” (John 19:28). His drained body
testified to the price He was paying, pouring Himself out unto death
(Isaiah 53:12).
The
Piercing of Hands and Feet (Psalm 22:16)
David wrote, “For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked
have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.” He pictured
himself surrounded by scavenger dogs, but this description surpasses
his own life.
In David’s time,
crucifixion was unknown. Enemies sometimes mutilated captives, but
piercing of hands and feet was not a form of execution he
experienced. His words go beyond his own suffering. At Calvary,
Roman soldiers literally nailed Jesus’ hands and feet to the cross,
fulfilling this prophecy in precise detail (John 20:25).
This detail
provides undeniable prophetic evidence. David could not have
foreseen crucifixion apart from divine inspiration. The Holy Spirit
gave him words that would be fulfilled exactly in Christ.
The
Scourging and Exposure (Psalm 22:17)
David said, “I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.”
He felt wasted and exposed before his enemies.
In Christ, this
was fulfilled through Roman scourging and crucifixion. The whip tore
His flesh so severely that His bones became visible. Then He was
nailed to the cross, stripped, and displayed publicly while the
crowd stared at Him with mockery.
What David wrote
as lament became the very picture of Calvary.
The
Dividing of Garments (Psalm 22:18)
David wrote, “They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon
my vesture.” His enemies humiliated him by stripping him and
dividing his clothing.
At the cross,
Roman soldiers fulfilled this prophecy to the letter. They divided
Jesus’ garments and cast lots for His seamless tunic (John
19:23–24).
This detail
again points directly to Christ, showing the inspiration of
Scripture.
Prophetic
Evidence in These Verses (Psalm 22:16–18)
These verses stand as undeniable evidence of prophecy. What David
described never happened in his life. He was not pierced in his
hands and feet, nor were his garments divided by lot. Yet these
details occurred precisely at the crucifixion of Jesus.
Roman soldiers
nailed Him to the wood and gambled for His clothing, just as David
wrote. The Gospels present these not as chance events but as the
fulfillment of Scripture (Matthew 27:35; John 19:24).
This is proof of
divine inspiration. Psalm 22 described crucifixion centuries before
it existed. The Holy Spirit revealed to David the sufferings of
Christ in advance. What David wrote as lament became history in
Jesus Christ. The cross was not outside God’s plan. It was foretold,
prepared, and fulfilled in the Son of God.
The Plea
for Deliverance (Psalm 22:19–21a)
David prayed for God’s help: “Be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my
strength, haste thee to help me. Deliver my soul from the sword; my
darling from the power of the dog. Save me from the lion’s mouth.”
This cry also
belongs to Christ, who prayed until His final breath. He endured the
cruelty of men described as sword, dog, and lion. His deliverance
did not come by avoiding death but through His resurrection.
The Turning
Point (Psalm 22:21b)
The psalm shifts with the words, “For thou hast heard me from the
horns of the unicorns.” The lament gives way to assurance. David
trusted that God had heard his cry.
In Christ, this
was fulfilled in the resurrection. God heard His Son and raised Him
up, loosing the pains of death (Acts 2:24). What began in despair
turned to triumph.
The
Proclamation of Praise (Psalm 22:22)
David declared, “I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the
midst of the congregation will I praise thee.” Out of suffering came
the promise of public praise.
This was fulfilled
in Christ. After His resurrection, He declared the Father’s name to
His disciples, calling them brethren (John 20:17). Hebrews 2:12
applies this very verse to Jesus, who leads His people in praise
after His triumph.
This teaches that
suffering can lead to greater testimony. Out of Christ’s deepest
sorrow came the greatest proclamation of God’s glory.
The Praise of
the Congregation (Psalm 22:23–26)
David invited all who fear the Lord to join in praise: “Ye that fear
the Lord, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and
fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.” He promised that God does not
despise the afflicted but hears their cry.
This was
fulfilled as the early church gathered to praise God for the risen
Christ. The afflicted Savior became the reason for the
congregation’s joy. Believers today also join this call to worship,
for God has heard the cry of His Son and has raised Him from the
grave.
Worldwide
Salvation (Psalm 22:27–29)
David’s vision stretched beyond Israel: “All the ends of the world
shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the
nations shall worship before thee. For the kingdom is the Lord’s:
and he is the governor among the nations.”
This is
fulfilled in the gospel. What began at the cross spread to the ends
of the earth. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, all nations are
called to turn to the Lord. The kingdom belongs to Him, and He rules
over the nations (Matthew 28:18–20).
The
Finished Work (Psalm 22:30–31)
The psalm closes with victory: “A seed shall serve him; it shall be
accounted to the Lord for a generation. They shall come, and shall
declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he
hath done this.”
The Hebrew
phrase “he hath done this” carries the sense of a finished work. On
the cross, Jesus declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30). Psalm 22
ends where Calvary ends, with the work of redemption complete.
The message is
clear: the suffering Servant has triumphed. His righteousness will
be declared to future generations, and His work will stand forever.
I. The Cry
of Abandonment (vv. 1–2)
-
David’s
experience
-
Jesus’
fulfillment
-
Quoted
directly by Jesus on the cross (Matthew 27:46).
-
At this
moment He bore the sins of the world (Isaiah 53:6).
-
For the
first time in eternity, fellowship with the Father was
broken.
-
Theological
depth
-
He
endured the true meaning of separation from God.
-
Even in
despair, He gave evidence of prophecy’s fulfillment.
-
Application
II. The
Holiness of God (vv. 3–5)
-
David
acknowledges God’s holiness.
-
Jesus’
fulfillment
-
Application
III. The
Mockery and Scorn (vv. 6–8)
-
David’s
humiliation
-
Jesus’
fulfillment
-
Despised
and rejected of men (Isaiah 53:3).
-
Mocked
by passersby, priests, and rulers (Matthew 27:39–43).
-
Fulfillment exact to the words of the psalm.
-
Application
IV. The
Lifelong Trust in God (vv. 9–10)
-
David’s
testimony
-
Jesus’
fulfillment
-
Conceived by the Spirit, born of a virgin (Luke 1:35).
-
Lived
His entire life in dependence upon the Father (John 8:29).
-
Died
entrusting Himself to God (Luke 23:46).
-
Application
V. The
Loneliness of Suffering (v. 11)
-
David’s
condition
-
Jesus’
fulfillment
-
Disciples deserted Him in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:56).
-
Stood
alone before rulers, soldiers, and the crowd.
-
Application
VI. The
Encirclement of Enemies (vv. 12–13)
-
David’s
imagery
-
Jesus’
fulfillment
-
Encircled by rulers, priests, soldiers, and mobs.
-
Endured
snarling insults and hostility.
-
Application
VII. The
Physical Collapse of Crucifixion (v. 14)
-
David’s
description
-
“I am
poured out like water.” Strength drained away.
-
“All my
bones are out of joint.” Body collapsing under unbearable
strain.
-
“My heart
is like wax.” Emotional and physical breakdown.
-
Jesus’
fulfillment
-
Crucifixion dislocated joints as the body sagged on the
cross.
-
The heart
strained under trauma, suffocation, and blood loss.
-
Medical
studies: victims often died from cardiac failure or
respiratory collapse.
-
Application
VIII. The
Agony of Thirst (v. 15)
-
David’s
condition
-
Jesus’
fulfillment
-
Fulfilled directly in His cry: “I thirst” (John 19:28).
-
Result
of scourging and crucifixion: massive blood loss, shock,
dehydration.
-
Thirst
was a physical symptom of His suffering, pointing to His
humanity.
-
Application
-
Jesus’
thirst highlights the reality of His suffering for sin.
-
When we
thirst for righteousness, we remember He thirsted on the
cross (Matthew 5:6).
IX. The
Piercing of Hands and Feet (v. 16)
-
David’s
statement
-
“They
pierced my hands and my feet.” Surrounded by the wicked,
assaulted in body.
-
Language
beyond his own life experience.
-
Historical
context
-
Crucifixion not invented in David’s time.
-
Execution in his era: stoning, burning, sword.
-
Mutilation of enemies was known, but not piercing of hands
and feet.
-
Jesus’
fulfillment
-
Roman
soldiers nailed His hands and feet to the cross (John
20:25).
-
Direct,
literal fulfillment of this prophecy.
-
Application
X. The
Scourging and Exposure (v. 17)
-
David’s
imagery
-
Jesus’
fulfillment
-
The
Roman scourging tore His flesh, leaving bones visible.
-
Crucifixion displayed Him publicly, stripped and humiliated.
-
Mockers
stared at Him with contempt.
-
Application
XI. The
Dividing of Garments (v. 18)
-
David’s
humiliation
-
Jesus’
fulfillment
-
Application
XII.
Prophetic Evidence in the Crucifixion (vv. 16–18)
-
Historical
impossibility for David
-
He was
never pierced in hands and feet.
-
His
garments were never divided by lot.
-
Crucifixion did not exist in his time.
-
Fulfillment
in Jesus
-
Pierced
hands and feet: nails at Calvary.
-
Casting
lots for garments: soldiers at the cross.
-
Gospels
present these events as fulfillment (Matthew 27:35; John
19:24).
-
Theological
significance
-
Proof of
divine inspiration of Scripture.
-
Proof
that Jesus is the Messiah.
-
Proof
that the cross was God’s eternal plan, not an accident.
-
Application
XIII. The
Plea for Deliverance (vv. 19–21a)
-
David’s prayer
-
Calls for
God’s nearness: “Be not thou far from me, O Lord.”
-
Pleads for
strength: “O my strength, haste thee to help me.”
-
Asks for
rescue from sword, dogs, and lion imagery—symbols of deadly
foes.
-
Jesus’
fulfillment
-
Continued
to pray even on the cross.
-
Endured
cruelty of soldiers, rulers, and crowds.
-
Though He
died, deliverance came in the greater form of resurrection.
-
Application
XIV. The
Turning Point of Resurrection Hope (v. 21b)
-
David’s
assurance
-
Jesus’
fulfillment
-
Application
XV. The
Proclamation of Praise (v. 22)
-
David’s vow
-
Jesus’
fulfillment
-
After
His resurrection, He called His disciples “brethren” (John
20:17).
-
Hebrews
2:12 applies this verse directly to Jesus leading His people
in praise.
-
Application
XVI. The
Congregation of Worship (vv. 23–26)
-
David’s
invitation
-
Jesus’
fulfillment
-
Application
XVII.
Worldwide Salvation (vv. 27–29)
-
David’s
vision
-
“All the
ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord.”
-
Nations
will worship before Him.
-
The
kingdom belongs to the Lord; He rules over all.
-
Jesus’
fulfillment
-
Great
Commission: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations”
(Matthew 28:19).
-
The
gospel spread from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth (Acts
1:8).
-
Salvation for Jew and Gentile alike.
-
Application
XVIII. The
Finished Work of Redemption (vv. 30–31)
-
David’s
conclusion
-
A seed
shall serve Him; future generations will hear of His
righteousness.
-
“They
shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a
people that shall be born, that he hath done this.”
-
Jesus’
fulfillment
-
On the
cross He declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30).
-
Psalm 22
ends where Calvary ends, with the work of redemption
complete.
-
His
righteousness is proclaimed to all generations.
-
Application
Call to
Action
Psalm 22 places us at the foot of the cross. It shows the suffering
of Jesus in detail long before it happened, proving that God’s plan
was established from eternity. Every word points to Christ: the
scourging that exposed His bones, the blood loss and thirst that
wrung cries from His lips, the pierced hands and feet, the divided
garments, the cry of abandonment, the triumph of resurrection, and
the proclamation of salvation to all nations.
Let us place our
trust in the One who fulfilled this psalm completely and proclaim
His finished work to the generations yet unborn.
Key
Takeaways
Jesus’ cry of abandonment fulfilled Psalm 22:1
The crucifixion details—scourging, piercing, thirst, garments
divided—were foretold with precision
These details never happened to David, proving this psalm is
prophetic
The resurrection was God’s answer to the suffering Servant
The psalm ends with worldwide salvation and the finished work of God
Scripture
Reference List
Psalm 22 – The Messianic psalm of the cross
Matthew 27:26–46 – Scourging and crucifixion fulfilled
John 19:23–30 – Casting lots, “I thirst,” “It is finished”
Isaiah 53 – The Suffering Servant prophecy
Hebrews 2:12 – Jesus leading His people in praise
Acts 2:24 – God raised Him, loosing the pains of death\
Prepared by
David Hersey from the church of Christ at Granby, MO
|
The
church of Christ
