Psalms Chapter 22 — From Suffering to Praise
A cry of deep distress and abandonment shifts into a powerful declaration of trust and universal praise for God’s deliverance.
1My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
2My God, I cry in the daytime, but you don’t answer;
3But you are holy,
4Our fathers trusted in you.
5They cried to you, and were delivered.
6But I am a worm, and no man;
7All those who see me mock me.
8“He trusts in the LORD.
9But you brought me out of the womb.
10I was thrown on you from my mother’s womb.
11Don’t be far from me, for trouble is near.
12Many bulls have surrounded me.
13They open their mouths wide against me,
14I am poured out like water.
15My strength is dried up like a potsherd.
16For dogs have surrounded me.
17I can count all of my bones.
18They divide my garments among them.
19But don’t be far off, LORD.
20Deliver my soul from the sword,
21Save me from the lion’s mouth!
22I will declare your name to my brothers.
23You who fear the LORD, praise him!
24For he has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted,
25My praise of you comes in the great assembly.
26The humble shall eat and be satisfied.
27All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD.
28For the kingdom is the LORD’s.
29All the rich ones of the earth shall eat and worship.
30Posterity shall serve him.
31They shall come and shall declare his righteousness to a people that shall be born,
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Psalms 22:1
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
This opening cry of distress is one of the most recognized expressions of spiritual and personal lament in the Bible.
Psalms 22:18
“They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.”
This verse vividly depicts the speaker's total vulnerability and the cold indifference of their adversaries.
Psalms 22:27
“All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD.”
This verse marks the shift toward a global vision of worship where God's sovereignty is recognized by all nations.
Chapter Summary
Psalm 22 opens with the speaker feeling utterly forsaken by God, crying out in distress without receiving an immediate answer. The narrator contrasts their current state of misery and mockery with the experiences of their ancestors, who trusted in God and were delivered. The text describes intense physical and emotional suffering, using metaphors of being surrounded by wild animals and being poured out like water. As the narrator's garments are divided by enemies, they plead for God's swift intervention. The tone shifts dramatically in the final section from lament to thanksgiving. The speaker vows to declare God’s name to their community and calls on those who fear the Lord to offer praise. The chapter concludes with a broad vision of universal worship, stating that all the ends of the earth will turn to the Lord and future generations will hear of His righteousness.
Frequently Asked Questions
The chapter portrays a journey from intense suffering and a feeling of abandonment to a state of hope and public praise. It emphasizes that even in deep affliction, God is holy and will eventually be recognized as King over all the earth.
The first half is a personal lament focused on physical pain and social mockery, while the second half is a communal hymn of thanksgiving. It transitions from a personal plea for rescue to a celebration of God's rule over the nations.
The text is traditionally attributed to David, who speaks from a position of deep personal distress while reflecting on the historical faithfulness of God toward the fathers of Israel.
Study Note
This psalm is categorized as a 'lament of the individual,' a common literary form in the Psalter characterized by a plea for help followed by a vow of praise.
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