AN EXPOSITION OF PSALM 22 (1)
Psalm 22

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To the Chief Musician. Set to "The Deer of the Dawn" [Hebrew Aijeleth Shahar]. A Psalm of David.

1. The reason for the tune "The Deer of the Dawn" is not certainly known. Perhaps the phrase is figurative, referring to the first light of the morning after the darkest night. But whose darkest night?

2. The subject of this psalm is Jesus Christ alone! This psalm is throughout Messianic.

i. This psalm describes Christ's darkest night in verses 1-21a, beginning with the lament "My God, My God, why have Your forsaken Me?" Indeed, it is possible, if not probable, that Christ uttered not only the first verse of this psalm in His death on the cross while "there was darkness over all the land" (Matthew 27:45f), but also the entirety of this psalm. Observe that the final phrase of this psalm, "He has done this" (v.31b) corresponds to the declaration of Christ at the end of His darkest night, "It is finished!" (John 19:30).

ii. This psalm describes the first light of the morning of Christ's victory in verses 21b-31, beginning with the declaration "You have answered Me."

iii. This psalm contains many elements that are applicable to no other person in their primary sense, all of which are applicable to Christ alone, many of which are declared in the New Testament to have been fulfilled in Him:

1) forsaken by God (v.1) – fulfilled in Matthew 27:46.

2) ridiculed for trusting in Jehovah and for claiming Jehovah delighted in Him (vv.7f) – fulfilled in Matthew 27:39, 43.

3) trusting in Jehovah even from His mother's womb and while nursing at her breasts (vv.9f) – fulfilled in Luke 1:35.

4) thirsting in His death (v.15) – fulfilled in John 19:28.

5) piercing of hands and feet (v.16) – fulfilled in John 20:25.

6) dividing of garments by casting of lots (v.18) – fulfilled in Matthew 27:35.

7) declaring and praising Jehovah to His brethren (v.22) – fulfilled in Hebrews 2:11f.

But note well that although the New Testament declares the fulfillment of what is described in this psalm, this psalm is to be treated more as history than as prophecy.

i. Christ as Prophet has declared God to His people (vv.22-25a).
ii. Christ as Priest has paid his vows (v.25b; cp. Deuteronomy 7:11).
iii. Christ as King rules over the nations (vv.28).

4. This psalm is the first of a trilogy describing Christ.

i. Psalm 22 describes the Suffering Savior on His cross;

ii. Psalm 23 describes the Supplying Shepherd with His crook;

iii. Psalm 24 describes the Supreme Sovereign wearing His crown.

5. This psalm may be outlined as follows (having already observed that the two major divisions are: the description of Christ's darkest night [vv.1-21a]; the description of what was observed in the light of Christ's victorious morning [vv.21b-31]):

i. Christ asks why He is forsaken by His God (vv.1f).
ii. Christ declares the holiness of God in answering those who call upon Him (vv.3-5).
iii. Christ describes the ridicule He suffers from the wicked (vv.6-8).
iv. Christ pleads to the One whom He has ever trusted (vv.9-11).
v. Christ describes His agony on the cross (vv.12-18).
vi. Christ prays for deliverance from His agony (vv.19-21a).
vii. Christ obtains deliverance from His agony (v.21b).
viii. Christ declares Jehovah to His church (vv.22-26).
ix. Christ declares the conversion of the nations (vv.27-29).
x. The converted nations will exalt Christ (vv.30f).

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