“A Cry For Help”

Sunday, February 09, 2020

A Cry For Help

Psalms 22 is a cry for help.  If we ever find ourselves overwhelmed by life or adversity and enemies, this Psalm is a great comfort. David begins with a haunting cry, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” In the end David learns God had not forsaken him. He learns God understands and helps.

Following the cry, David soon turns to speak of God’s power (vs. 3-5). David speaks of how people viewed him and treated him (vs. 6-8).  He shows us how helpless he is (vs. 9-11).  He is surrounded by enemies and he feels helpless and void of strength (vs. 11-18). He cries to God for help (vs. 19-21). 

What is David to do? What will God do?  David learns God has not forsaken him (vs. 21). He then breaks out in praise. “God has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; nor has He hidden His face from him; but when he cried to God, He heard” (vs. 23-24). The whole assembly rejoices (vs. 22). All Israel rejoices (vs. 23-24). The entire world rejoices (vs. 25-31). 

This Psalm is a great comfort. We learn God does not forsake us even in our darkest moments. David shows us that even though, from our perspective, it seems like God has left us all alone, He is listening to us. So, what should our attitude be toward God? We praise Him (vs. 26). We seek Him (vs. 26). We remember Him and turn to Him (vs. 27). We worship Him (vs. 27). We bow before Him (vs. 29). We serve Him (vs. 30).

This Psalm is also Messianic. Jesus utters the words of David on the cross about being forsaken. Did God forsake Him? Did God forsake David? David finds out God has not. When has God ever forsaken any righteous person? The idea that God forsook Jesus because He looked on Him as a sinner is incorrect.  Our sins were not imputed to Him. Jesus was our sacrifice not our substitute. Further, Jesus says, “Indeed the hour is coming, yes, and has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me” (John 16:32). Like David, Jesus uses this as a hyperbole.  To all that were there that day, it looked like God had forsaken Him. It looked like Satan had delivered the death blow to God’s Son. But He was not forsaken. He was despised by men, forsaken by His own, but not His Father. His Father was ever with Him. 

For us this should be tremendously comforting. In our deepest, darkest moments God has not forsaken us. He is ever with us. He will not leave us alone. 

Action items:

1. It is okay to cry for help. We need God.
2. In our moments of despair, do not despair because God has left us. He said He would never leave us nor forsake us.
3. Everyone else may walk away from us but God won’t. Even when we walk away from Him, His hands are out-stretched to us. 

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