Psalm 22 Foreshows the Crucifixion

April 5, 2023

Psalm 22 is a Psalm written by David. It could have been before or after his anointing of King. He wrote it at the time when he was experiencing great distress. In a time of extreme hardship. The amazing thing about Psalm 22 is that it’s one of those beautiful passages that can describe a present time while pointing to a future event. This Psalm with great accuracy prophesies and describes Christ’s great suffering on the cross. It uses similar language, physically agony and emotional distress. But what David was rescued from, Christ died for 1,000 years later.

Below is a brief description of the Psalm 22 verses that foreshadow Jesus’ death on the cross. Don’t let the details in these verses pass by. Sit and reflect on each verse. The crazy, over-the-top chances that what David wrote to God 1,000 years earlier came true in the crucifixion.

This is not coincidence. This is God planned. God fulfilled.

Read: Psalm 22 and Matthew 27:27-54

Verse 1: “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”

David used the same cry out to God as Jesus did on the cross. A cry of deep longing and question, of hurt and despair. Two men longing for their Father.

Verse 6: Scorned by mankind and despised by the people.

Verse 7: All who see me mock me

As cruel men mocked David in his distress , they did so Jesus in His greatest hours of agony on the cross as he hung there for them.

Verse 8: He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue him.

They questioned if David truly trusted the Lord as he awaited His rescue. Mockers spat this same insult at Jesus on the Cross, wondering why God had not rescued Him. Or why Jesus doesn’t call down Angels to rescue Him. “If he truly is the Son of God…”

Verse 12: Reference of Bulls

Bulls - describes the people tormenting him. The Bulls of Bashan are known to be large animals with brutal strength and trample anything before them.

Spurgeon describes the Religious leaders as bulls bellowing around the cross full of strength and fury, stamping and foaming around the Innocent One longing to gore him to death with their cruelties.

Verse 14-15: Bones out of joint, tongue clings to jaw.

David describes his physical extremity of the time but unknowingly prophesies the future suffering of Jesus on the cross. The awkward and strained position of a crucified man - hanging, bones out of joint, suffering from extreme thirst as they gasp for breath.

Verse 15: Dust of death

While David was saved from the dust of death, Jesus bore the sting of Adam’s curse. “Dust you are and dust you shall return” Genesis 3:19

Verse 16: Dogs encompass me, evil doers encircle me

David felt as if his enemies surrounded him. His humility and suffering put on public display. Christ suffered this same reality as his haters, scoffers and mockers surrounded him at the foot of the cross hurling insults at him.

Verse 16: Pierced hands and feet, count all my bones

While David reflected on his physical reality? He points to Christ’s physical suffering on the Christ. Pierced hands and feet as the Romans hung him on the cross yet not a bone was broken by God’s great mercy.

Verse 18: Divide my garments and cast lots.

Another sign of humiliation for David as it points to Jesus’ reality on the cross as he was striped nearly naked as he watched the Roman soldiers cast lots or gamble for his clothes

Lastly the Psalm ends with “he has done it” in verse 31 a foreshadowing of Jesus crying out “It is finished”. Both Jesus and David pour out their soul in agony. They feel forsaken, they are bruised, battered and weary. But while David cries out “he has done it” as an answer to prayer, Jesus cries out “it is finished” as the plan for salvation since the beginning of time is now complete. He has delivered His people. One man redeemed, the other one who redeems.

My God, My God… we thank you.

We love you.

We sit and remember, we reflect.

This is not by chance that you fulfilled this prophesy but your plan. What a spiritual blessing this is to us. What a beautiful way to showcase integrity of the written Word. May we use this to fuel our joy and firm foundation in your Holy Word to us.

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Prayer For The Uninspired

March 20, 2023

I sit here dried up, uninspired

pen in hand, but not to paper

My mind anywhere but here

my mornings dull and dry

My heart is thirsting for you

but my head distracted and my soul so weary

I know I’ll find life in your words

but my eyes just pass over and glaze

Oh show me the way

clear my head

consume my thoughts

breakthrough my soul

and flood my spirit

Help me out of this wilderness

this desert

and to the well

Lift your cup to my lips

for a taste of your goodness

Melt my hurry and worry

Chip away what this world has hardened

May this body be revived by your spirit

my soul renewed with your word

my head filled with your perfect peace

and my mind surrender to your will

As you breathed life into the dust in the Garden,

breathe life into my wilderness now.

We praise you, Oh God.

Amen

Lent: In The Desert

March 15, 2023

The Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years.

In their wandering, they became so focused on themselves and their circumstances,

they forgot that God was with them.

God’s chosen people forgot who they were and they forgot who God was.

Though the Israelites wandering would eventually lead them to their freedom,

there was purpose in the desert that went beyond their destination.

Our deserts have purpose too. Our wilderness wandering isn’t wasted.

We don’t have to know where it will lead to know that God is working.

He is for us. He is faithful. We can trust in his goodness and his plan.

Sometimes in our hurry to get to the relief of the rescue,

we miss the sweetness of his whispers while we wait.

When we lift our hands and our eyes in worship,

we are reminded of who he is and who we are in him.

As we worship, our focus is shifted from self to the One who satisfies.

He is our all sufficient sustainer.

He remains our Savior regardless of the climate or season we find ourselves in.

When you've been in the desert, you feel it.

Dry, thirsty, and dusty from the lack of water

there is no mistaking your location.

Here in the desert, patience is difficult and the enemy is real.

Whispered lies of defeat are amplified because what you hear around you is empty.

Nothing.

Hope is swiftly hollowed out by the weight that brought you to this wasteland.

How did you get here? What are you doing here?

Did you take a wrong turn?

Does it matter?

You're here.

You can choose to close your eyes when the wind picks up

and the grains of sand are beating against your fragile skin.

You can choose to lay down in defeat and despair

when the thirst is killing you and the heat is too much,

but pretending you are somewhere else

doesn't ever make it so.

The only way out of this desert is through it,

and you're not getting out of here alone.

Lift up your eyes. Lift up your hands.

The rain is coming.

You have already been rescued.

Let Him pull you out.

He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth. Hosea 6:3

find our favorite quote on how to find Strength In The Suffering

Words from Aimee Thornton - a dear friend of Six Notes whose words always inspire us.

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For More Lent Readings:

Lent: Reflect and Remember

March 8, 2023

Throughout the Old and New Testament, we see God calling his people to remember. Feasts and festivals were held. Altars and monuments were built.

Signs, symbols, and traditions and practices were put into place as remembrances.

Remembering wasn’t a casual suggestion that God threw out. It was a command.

God knew how easy it would be for his people to forget.

He knew how important it would be for them to remember who he was,

and who they were as his people.

The season of Lent is traditionally a time of reflecting and remembering.

The 40 days of Lent point us to the 40 years the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, as well as the 40 days that Jesus was tempted in the desert before he began his earthly ministry.

We are his people.

As we make space to reflect and remember,

we can examine our own wilderness wanderings.

We can look back on the ways that God has been faithful

through even our driest deserts.

In our own wilderness wanderings,

in the times when we are disobedient or disbelieving,

when we feel dry and deserted in our own deserts,

we can remember who he is, and who we are in him.

We are a forgetful people, but he is a faithful God.

He has always been faithful, and he will always be faithful.

Heavenly Father,

We praise you for your perfect provision.

We thank you for your tireless mercy and your constant faithfulness.

In this sacred season of Lent,

we want to set aside time and space for you to speak.

Lead us by your Spirit.

What do we need to remember?

What do we need to reflect on?

Where are the places we aren’t seeing you?

Remind us of who you are.

Remind us of who we are as your people.

Amen

Open up your bible and dive deeper into these verses:

The Israelites long journey to the promised land Exodus-Joshua
The temptation of Jesus in Matthew 4,
2 Thessalonians 3:3
Lamentations 3:22-23
Exodus 34:6-7
1 John 1:9
Hebrews 13:8
2 Timothy 2:11-13

Words from Aimee Thornton - a dear friend of Six Notes whose words always inspire us.

Humble Quote: What Humility Means

February 27, 2023

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor." - James 4:10

I love the notes I read on this passage...

Bowing in humility before the Lord means recognizing our worth comes from God alone. To be humble means leaning on his power and his guidance, and not going our own independent way. Although we do not deserve God's favor, he wants to lift us up and give us worth and dignity, despite our human shortcomings.

This is probably one of the greatest ways we can draw close to God. By simply bowing in humility, understanding that all we are is because of him. Our worth and our dignity is because of his favor. Nothing more.

Living in his power, leaning on his guidance, humbling myself...

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