The Psalm of the Cross// Matthew 27:32–56; Mark 15:21–41; Luke 23:26–43; John 19:16–30
For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Doe of the Dawn.” A Psalm of David.
1My God, my God,
why have You forsaken me?
Why are You so far from saving me,
so far from my words of groaning?
- PS 22:1[PROPHECY]'My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?' spoken from the cross → MT 27:46; MK 15:34
- PS 22:1[QUOTED]Quoted in the New Testament → MT 27:46
- PS 22:1[QUOTED]Quoted in the New Testament → MK 15:34
- PS 22:1[MESSIAH SPEAKING]Red letters here mean the Messiah is speaking. Jesus cried out the first line from the cross, Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34, and Hebrews 2:12 puts 22:22 in His mouth. Many Jewish readers hear David or suffering Israel. See Psalm 22 and the Cross.
- PS 22:1[NOTE]THE DOE OF THE DAWN was probably the name of a tune, like a hymn tune in a church hymnal.
2I cry out by day, O my God,
but You do not answer,
and by night,
but I have no rest.
- PS 22:2[PROPHECY]He would cry out day and night with no answer → MT 27:45MEDIUM
3Yet You are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4In You our fathers trusted;
they trusted and You delivered them.
5They cried out to You and were set free;
they trusted in You and were not disappointed.
6But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by men and despised by the people.
- PS 22:6[PROPHECY]He would be scorned by men and despised by the people → MT 27:39-44; LK 23:35MEDIUM
7All who see me mock me;
they sneer and shake their heads:
- PS 22:7[PROPHECY]Mockers shoot out the lip and shake the head at Him → MT 27:39-44
- PS 22:7[ALLUDED TO]The New Testament refers to this → MT 27:39
- PS 22:7[ALLUDED TO]The New Testament refers to this → MK 15:29
- PS 22:7[NOTE]SHAKE THEIR HEADS. People passing the cross did exactly this, Matthew 27:39.
8“He trusts in Yahweh,
let Yahweh deliver him;
let Yahweh rescue him,
since He delights in him.”
- PS 22:8[PROPHECY]'He trusted in God → MT 27:43
- PS 22:8[ALLUDED TO]The New Testament refers to this → MT 27:43
- PS 22:8[NOTE]THE MOCKERS' WORDS stay black. The chief priests said almost the same thing at the cross, Matthew 27:43.
9Yet You brought me forth from the womb;
You made me secure at my mother’s breast.
- PS 22:9[PROPHECY]Cared for from birth → LK 2:7MEDIUM
10From birth I was cast upon You;
from my mother’s womb You have been my God.
11Be not far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.
12Many bulls surround me;
strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
- PS 22:12[PROPHECY]His enemies surround Him seeking His death → JN 19:6
13They open their jaws against me
like lions that roar and maul.
14I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are disjointed.
My heart is like wax;
it melts away within me.
- PS 22:14[PROPHECY]His strength poured out like water and His bones out of joint → MK 15:37; JN 19:34MEDIUM
- PS 22:14[PROPHECY]He suffered agony at Calvary → MK 15:34-37
15My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.
You lay me in the dust of death.
- PS 22:15[PROPHECY]He thirsted on the cross → JN 19:28
16For dogs surround me;
a band of evil men encircles me;
they have pierced my hands and feet.
- PS 22:16[PROPHECY]They pierced His hands and feet → JN 20:25-27
- PS 22:16[TEXT]PIERCED. Most Hebrew copies read like a lion, ka'ari: like a lion, my hands and feet. The Greek Old Testament reads they dug or pierced, and a Dead Sea Scroll from Nahal Hever, 5/6HevPs, seems to read a verb, ka'aru. Many Bibles say pierced.
- PS 22:16[NOTE]DOGS. In Jesus' day, Jews sometimes called Gentiles dogs, Matthew 15:26. Roman soldiers, who were Gentiles, nailed Jesus to the cross. He showed His hands and feet afterward, Luke 24:39 and John 20:25.
17I can count all my bones;
they stare and gloat over me.
- PS 22:17[PROPHECY]Stripped and stared at by His persecutors → LK 23:34-35
18They divide my garments among them
and cast lots for my clothing.
- PS 22:18[PROPHECY]His garments divided, lots cast for His clothing → JN 19:23-24
- PS 22:18[ALLUDED TO]The New Testament refers to this → MT 27:35
- PS 22:18[ALLUDED TO]The New Testament refers to this → MK 15:24
- PS 22:18[ALLUDED TO]The New Testament refers to this → LK 23:34
- PS 22:18[QUOTED]Quoted in the New Testament → JN 19:24
- PS 22:18[NOTE]CASTING LOTS. John says the soldiers did this so the Scripture would be fulfilled, John 19:23 to 24.
19But You, O Yahweh, be not far off;
O my Strength, come quickly to help me.
20Deliver my soul from the sword,
my precious life from the power of wild dogs.
- PS 22:20[PROPHECY]He cried for rescue from the sword and the wild dogs → HEB 5:7MEDIUM
21Save me from the mouth of the lion;
at the horns of the wild oxen You have answered me!
22I will proclaim Your name to my brothers;
I will praise You in the assembly.
- PS 22:22[PROPHECY]His resurrection declared to His brethren → HEB 2:12; JN 20:17
- PS 22:22[QUOTED]Quoted in the New Testament → HEB 2:12
23You who fear Yahweh, praise Him!
All descendants of Jacob, honor Him!
All offspring of Israel, revere Him!
24For He has not despised or detested
the torment of the afflicted.
He has not hidden His face from him,
but has attended to his cry for help.
- PS 22:24[PROPHECY]God heard the cry of the afflicted one and did not hide His face → HEB 5:7MEDIUM
25My praise for You resounds in the great assembly;
I will fulfill my vows before those who fear You.
26The poor will eat and be satisfied;
those who seek Yahweh will praise Him.
May your hearts live forever!
27All the ends of the earth
will remember and turn to Yahweh.
All the families of the nations
will bow down before Him.
- PS 22:27[PROPHECY]He would govern the nations → STILL TO COMEMEDIUM
28For dominion belongs to Yahweh
and He rules over the nations.
29All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
all who go down to the dust will kneel before Him—
even those unable to preserve their lives.
30Posterity will serve Him;
they will declare the Lord to a new generation.
31They will come and proclaim His righteousness
to a people yet unborn—
all that He has done.