In this song of praise, David cries out to the Lord for help and wonders where he is, but in his heart he knows the Lord is with him. Here’s the chapter in its entirety: “My God, my God! Why have you forsaken me? Why do you remain so distant? Why do you ignore my cries for help? Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night you hear my voice, but I find no relief. (Wow…David is a great man of God, and he still falls into doubting God, just like we do.)
Yet you are holy. The praises of Israel surround your throne. Our ancestors trusted in you, and you rescued them. You heard their cries for help and saved them. They put their trust in you and were never disappointed. (This is David understanding the truth.)
But I am a worm and not a man. I am scorned and despised by all! Everyone who sees me mocks me. They sneer and shake their heads, saying, “Is this the one who relies on the Lord? Then let the Lord save him! If the Lord loves him so much, let the Lord rescue him!”
Yet you brought me safely from my mother’s womb and led me to trust you when I was a nursing infant. I was thrust upon you at my birth. You have been my God from the moment I was born. (Again, this is David understanding the truth.)
Do not stay so far from me, for trouble is near, and no one else can help me. My enemies surround me like a herd of bulls; fierce bulls of Bashan have hemmed me in! Like roaring lions attacking their prey, they come at me with open mouths. My life is poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, melting within me. My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead.
My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on me. They have pierced my hands and feet. I can count every bone in my body. My enemies stare at me and gloat. They divide my clothes among themselves and throw dice for my garments.
O Lord, do not stay away! You are my strength; come quickly to my aid! Rescue me from a violent death; spare my precious life from these dogs. Snatch me from the lions’ jaws, and from the horns of these wild oxen.
Then I will declare the wonder of your name to my brothers and sister. I will praise you among all your people. Praise the Lord, all you who fear him! Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob! Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel! For he has not ignored the suffering of the needy. He has not turned and walked away. He has listened to their cries for help. (Wow! Look at what David is doing; he is convincing himself that the Lord is with him. He’s looking at God’s history of the Lord’s unfailing love, knowing that if God did it for others he will do it for him.)
I will praise you among all the people; I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you. The poor will eat and be satisfied. All who seek the Lord will praise him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy. The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him. People from every nation will bow down before him. For the Lord is king! He rules all the nations. (David understands the truth of the Lord, even though he is currently feeling abandoned. He knows what the Lord has already done for the faithful; he knows what the Lord said he would do for those who serve Him. And it’s that truth that will deliver David. And it’s that same truth that will deliver each of us! Lord, thank you for your unfailing love!)
Let the rich of the earth feast and worship. Let all mortals – those born to die – bow down in his presence. Future generations will also serve him. Our children will hear about the wonders of the Lord. His righteous acts will be told to those yet unborn. They will hear about everything he has done.” (Psalm 22)
Lord, thank you for your Word today! Thank you for your truth! Thank you for telling us every day through your Word what you will do for us, so we can lean on that Word when we are in doubt, fear, and pain. Lord, you are amazing and we love you!
May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
….AND MAY WE ALL PRACTICE THIS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
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