Song of Destitution (Psalm 22)

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?  

Why are you so far from saving me, 

so far from the words of my groaning?"

Psalm 22:1

Do you remember the last time you listened to or sang along with a sad song?  I might be able to say that I did at one point in my life, but I can't remember it specifically...the time, the place, or the song itself.  They aren't pleasurable or desirable unless you're the kind of person who seeks misery for company.  If you attend church, when was the last time you sang a sad song, a song of lament, with the congregation?  I certainly cannot remember that.

Fact:  There are more chapters in Psalms of lament than there are of praise, adoration, trust, and other uplifting chapters combined.  Why is that?  I wish I knew the answer, but I can't say that I do.

If you read Psalm 22, you will find it is long, emotional, bearing many images of grief and pain.

"I cry out by day, but you do not answer" vs. 2

"I am a worm and not a man" vs. 6

"All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads" 
and then the mockers shout

"He trusts in the Lord; let the Lord rescue him.  
Let him deliver him since he delights in him" vs. 8

What pain and sorrow.  Why would we sing this?  It continues:

"Roaring lions tearing their prey open their mouths wide against me" vs. 13

"I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint.

My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me"  vs. 14

The images of pain have become deeper...not only external wounds - bones out of joint and immense fatigue like water poured out - but heart melted down to nothing, like wax melts away off a candle and is no longer useful... better to be tossed away.

Again...why?

Some of us will never experience this kind of sorrow and defeat.  Others may have and feel like there is no where else to go, no place to turn to...no safety.  Why then would anyone turn to this Book for comfort?  Is not David, a man after God's own heart, not able to receive the joy and comfort from His God?  

We would be wrong though to only focus on the painful words and descriptions of David's pain.  For in verse 9, God is fully aware of David before he enters the womb and God not only knows him but calls him to be His own.  And David knows this.  "Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help" vs 11.  David knows that God is close even though at times He feels far away.  He also knows that God sees his life as precious and that He is a savior and rescuer (vs. 20,21).  He knows those who fear Him and put their trust in Him will be able to celebrate in the goodness of God (vs. 23) and those that seek and praise the Lord will rejoice and be satisfied (vs. 26).  He calls us to press on and see the bigger picture, to persevere and teach our children the precepts of the Lord so that future generations - even those unborn - will not turn from Him (vs. 30,31).

While there is so much pain, indescribable at times, the most beautiful aspect of this lamentation is the accurate foretelling of the Great Misery to come...Jesus Christ torture and death on the cross...and then the glorious Redemption in is His resurrection.  Jesus himself said the very words of verse 1 while on the cross as God the Father turned His gaze away for the first time in history..."My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"  While Christ suffered a grueling and painful death, he also bore the greatest mockery and nakedness in public, clothes removed from his body to display the shame and scars of torture, and his garments divided between those who cast lots for them.

And, yet, it seems to me that this wasn't the greatest grief of all.  Yes, Jesus' pain, torment, misery, agony, shame is unconscionable, but it doesn't compare to this:  His death was unjust.  He did not deserve it.  I deserve it.  I deserve the scorn, ridicule, and shame.  Not him, the pure, spotless, Son of God.  He certainly could have called upon legions of angels to rescue Him and show an incredible and stunning display of His power and glory...but...He didn't.  He willingly suffered...so that my guilt and shame could be transferred to Him...once and for all.

Why?  I am guilty...I am that thief on the cross that doesn't deserve to be saved.  I have stolen that which is not mine and I deserve death and damnation.  But He won't allow it.  Even as I hang next to Him, He wants to save me.  So...I cry in thankfulness to my God because He willingly suffers on my behalf so that we can have communion with each other.  

He has experienced all the pain that you are going through and has known it before you ever imagined it or experienced it, before you sinned, and has always been ready to forgive the moment you would ask.  

The thick curtain has been torn in two...for you.  He is truly an Almighty and Loving God!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If the thief on the cross could sing, these could have been his words.  

The person described as "Love" is Jesus Christ:

"The Thief" by Steven Curtis Chapman (The Story Tour)

My life began like any other man held beneath a mother’s loving gaze
Somewhere between now and then I lost the man I could have been
Took everything that wasn’t mine to take but Love believes that it is not too late
Only one of us deserves this cross, a suffering that should belong to me
Deep within this man I hang beside is the place where shame and grace collide
And it’s beautiful agony that He believes it’s not too late for me

This is how Love wins, every single time
Climbing high upon a tree where someone else should die
This is how Love heals, the deepest part of you
Letting Himself bleed into the middle of your wounds
This is what Love says, standing at the door
You don’t have to be who you’ve been before
Silenced by His voice, death can’t speak again
This is how Love wins

Did you see this moment from the start that we would drink this of cup of suffering?
I wonder, did we ever meet? Childhood games in dusty streets
For all my many sorrows and regrets nothing could compare to just this one
That in the presence of my King I cannot fall upon my knees
I cannot carry You up to Your throne; You instead, will carry me back home.

This is how Love wins, every single time
Climbing high upon a tree where someone else should die
This is how Love heals, the deepest part of you
Letting Himself bleed into the middle of your wounds
This is what Love says, standing at the door
You don’t have to be who you’ve been before
Silenced by His voice, death can’t speak again
This is how Love wins

What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood, nothing but the blood
What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood, Nothing but the blood
Because this is what Love say, standing at the door
You don’t have to be who you’ve been before
And silenced by His voice, death can’t speak again
This is how Love wins.