cross

A Sheep’s Journey Through Psalms -22

/ taethne

A Devotional on Psalm 22: The Cry of the Cross, The Hope of the Dawn

Scripture Reading: Psalm 22:1-2, 16-18, 27-31 (NIV)
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest… Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment… All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him… Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!”

Reflection: The Cry Heard Across Time
Imagine a barren hill under a darkened sky, the air thick with dust and despair. A lone figure hangs on a Roman cross, his voice cracking through parched lips: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” These words, first penned by King David a thousand years before, echo through the ages to find their fullest expression on Golgotha. Psalm 22 is no mere lament; it is a prophetic tapestry woven with threads of anguish, abandonment, and astonishing hope, pointing us to the suffering and triumph of Jesus Christ.

In David’s day, this psalm captured the raw pain of a king surrounded by enemies, his life hanging by a thread. Historically, David likely wrote these words during a time of betrayal or persecution, perhaps fleeing from Saul or Absalom. His vivid imagery—pierced hands and feet, bones out of joint, garments gambled away—paints a scene of utter vulnerability. In the ancient Near East, to be “surrounded by dogs” was to face ruthless adversaries, scavenging for your downfall. David’s cry was not just personal; it was the cry of Israel, a people often forsaken yet never forgotten by God.

Centuries later, these same words poured from the lips of Jesus on the cross (Matthew 27:46). The parallels are haunting: the pierced hands and feet, the mocking crowd, the soldiers casting lots for His robe (John 19:24). Jesus, the Son of David, embodied this psalm in His darkest hour, taking on the weight of humanity’s sin. In that moment, the Father’s silence was not absence but the profound cost of redemption. The cross was not the end but the hinge of history, where despair gave way to deliverance.

Vivid Imagery: From Darkness to Dawn
Picture yourself standing at the foot of that cross. The ground trembles, and the sky is shrouded as if creation itself mourns. You hear the Savior’s cry, feel the weight of His suffering. Yet, as the psalm turns in verse 22, the scene shifts. The darkness cracks, and a radiant dawn breaks forth. “I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you.” The same voice that cried in agony now sings of victory. The tomb is empty, and the risen Christ stands triumphant, proclaiming God’s faithfulness to all nations.

This is the heart of Psalm 22: it moves from desolation to declaration, from the cross to the crown. The imagery of “all the ends of the earth” turning to the Lord (v. 27) evokes a global chorus—people from every tribe, tongue, and time joining in worship. The psalm’s closing vision is a legacy of hope: future generations, even those yet unborn, will hear of the God who “has done it!”—the God who finished the work of salvation.

Application: Trusting Through the Silence
Today, you may feel like David, surrounded by trials, or like Jesus, wrestling with God’s silence. The vivid imagery of Psalm 22 invites you to bring your raw, honest cries to God. He hears you, even when answers seem distant. The cross reminds us that God’s silence is not His absence; it is often the prelude to His greatest work. Just as David’s lament turned to praise, and Jesus’ death gave way to resurrection, your story is not over. God is weaving your pain into a tapestry of redemption.

Take a moment to reflect: Where do you feel forsaken? Lay it before the One who bore forsakenness for you. Trust that the same God who turned the cross into a crown will turn your night into day. And like the psalmist, let your story proclaim to others: “He has done it!”

Prayer
Lord Jesus, You cried out in my place, bearing the weight of my sin and sorrow. Thank You for the cross, where Your love turned despair into hope. In my moments of silence and struggle, help me trust Your presence. Let Psalm 22 remind me that You are near, turning my cries into songs of praise. May my life declare Your faithfulness to a world yet unborn. Amen.

For Further Reflection

  • Meditate on Psalm 22 alongside Matthew 27:27-50. How do the details of Jesus’ crucifixion fulfill David’s words?
  • Journal about a time you felt God was silent. How can Psalm 22’s shift from lament to praise encourage you today?
  • Share the hope of this psalm with someone who needs to hear that God “has done it!”

May the vivid truth of Psalm 22 fill you with courage to trust God’s faithfulness, from the cross to the coming dawn.

40 Days of Praise — Day 31

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KNEEL AT THE CROSS  by Charles Moody

Kneel at the cross, Christ will meet you there; Come while He waits for you

List to His voice, Leave with Him your care; And begin life anew

Kneel at the cross, There is room for all; Who would His glory share?

Bliss there awaits, Harm can ne’er befall; Those who are anchored there

Kneel at the cross, Give your idols up; Look unto realms above

Turn not away, To life’s sparkling cup; Trust only in His love

REFRAIN

Kneel at the cross, Leave every care

Kneel at the cross, Jesus will meet you there

               What a joy to know that when we come in repentance to Him, Jesus is faithful to meet us. How great it is, to know that He is there when we need Him. How marvelous to know that He offers us a new life, in exchange for our old one. Do you hear Him calling to you, telling you that His yoke is easy and His burden is light? Do you hear Him calling upon you to repent of your sins and to turn your life over to Him?

               It doesn’t matter who you are, where you are from, your race, creed, color or economic status, there is only one way to eternal life – through Jesus Christ. There is room for all who believe. The ground is equal at the foot of the cross, all must enter the same way, through the only Mediator between God and man,  Jesus Christ.

               Amazingly, He offers to share His glory with us. To all who believe on Him, God offers not only new life, but to make us co-heirs with Jesus. This is unbelievable. Not only are we pardoned, cleansed and offered a new life forever, but also we are made to share in the blessings and the glory of His Son. What a great God!

               What has this life to offer that could possibly compare to sharing in the inheritance of Jesus? Look not to things of this world, look to Jesus alone and find joy unspeakable and full of glory. Find Jesus and find everything.

Lord, help us look only to You. We pray, also, for our friends and family who do not yet know You. Call to them, show them Your glory, draw them to You so they may kneel at the cross in repentance and find remission for their sin.

40 Days of Praise — Day 18

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WHEN I SURVEY THE WONDROUS CROSS by Isaac Watts

When I survey the wondrous cross; On which the Prince of Glory died

My richest gain I count but loss; And pour contempt on all my pride

Forbid it Lord, that I should boast; Save in the death of Christ my God

All the vain things that charm me most; I sacrifice them to His blood

See, from His head, His hands, His feet; Sorrow and love flow mingled down

Did e’er such love and sorrow meet; Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine; That were an offering far too small

Love so amazing, so divine; Demands my soul, my life, my all

Of all of Isaac Watts’ hymns, this one is probably my favorite. Great words of truth mixed with a fantastic melody, this hymn is well worth singing regularly.

               I particularly love the second stanza. There is nothing any of us have to boast about except our Lord. Are we brilliant? God gave us our intellect. Are we strong? God fashioned our body. Are we successful? God has blessed us.

               All we are we owe to our Creator, especially our salvation. In God’s plan, in God’s time, in God’s power, He redeemed us to Himself through His Son. Salvation, as Jonah stated, is from the Lord.

               Everything this world has to charm us with is nothing compared to what awaits us in glory. Why should I take my eyes off eternal perfection for temporal things? Truly, no offering I can give is enough. If I had, as the fourth verse states, everything in the world, it still would not be too great an offering to give. But what I do have, my life, I give freely to the One who is worthy of worship, the Lord Jesus Christ.

            Lord, reading again of Your Son’s death on the cross to pay the price for my sins, brings me both great sorrow and gratitude. Sorrow that I, like all other humans, failed to live up to Your holy standards; gratitude that You took it upon Yourself to pay my penalty. I can never repay You. I can only say, “Thank You.” Take my life. You created me, You bought me, take what is rightfully Yours.

Excerpt From A Heart Hungry to Worship (Free on Kindle this weekend)

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The Holy Spirit has instructed Philip to make contact with the Ethiopian and he does so. Running alongside the chariot, he hears the eunuch reading from Isaiah. In those days, it was customary to read aloud, not silently when one read to their self. Philip asks him a simple question: “Do you understand what you are reading?” The English translation does not do justice to the original Greek wording. Philip’s question really asks the eunuch if what he is reading has any meaning for him, if what he is reading makes any sense.

The response is so telling! It is a response of frustration, discouragement and disappointment. “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?” Despite his apparent regalia and retinue, no one in Jerusalem had taken the time to answer his questions. No one helped quench his thirst for the knowledge of the One True God. He had a copy of the Scriptures, but could not understand what the words meant. He could read them, he was an educated man fluent in languages, but the meaning, the import, and the supernatural impact of the words eluded him.

There is a reason why the Bible says that only those who are spiritual can understand spiritual things.[1] Until a person comes to submit their life to the Lord Jesus, the Bible depicts them as spiritually blind, unable to see or comprehend spiritual truths.[2] They need the Holy Spirit to open their spiritual eyes and illuminate their minds. Often, the Spirit uses believers, like Philip, in that process.

The Ethiopian invites Philip up into his chariot and asks him a question about the passage he is reading. “Who is the prophet referring to?” Without being able to identify the subject talked about, a person cannot make a proper interpretation. Philip begins introducing the Ethiopian to Jesus through this passage. The Book of Isaiah was tailor-made for a person like this Ethiopian. It’s in Isaiah that many prophecies of Jesus’ birth and reign are found.[3] It’s in Isaiah where one finds promises to eunuchs of their inclusion in God’s Holy Temple[4] alongside other worshippers of God. Isaiah described God Himself, high and lifted up, as having compassion on people who have wandered away from the truth; who are like sheep.[5]

Philip begins with the passage the Ethiopian is wrestling with and uses it as a springboard to tell the story of Jesus, God’s Messiah. As Philip expounds the meaning of what the Ethiopian was reading God’s Spirit illuminates his mind. Now, he realizes how a person is to worship God. Now, he realizes that it’s not at a Temple made by human hands but through faith in Jesus Christ that a person comes to approach God. As they pass by some water, he interrupts Philip to ask, “Is there anything that hinders me from being baptized right now?” He understands; he wants to identify with Jesus Christ and he desires to proclaim his newfound faith.

Water baptism was quite common in those days. In Judaism, it stood as a symbol for a Gentile’s repentance and conversion to Israel’s religion. In Christianity, it stands for each person’s repentance and as a symbol of his or her submission to Christ’s Lordship.

Philip baptizes the Ethiopian, which shows us an important picture. Philip, an olive skinned man, baptizes the Ethiopian, a black man, into the fellowship of the church. Philip, a former adherent to Judaism, and the Ethiopian, a former adherent to the religion of Meroe, become equal in standing before Christ. In Christ, racial barriers, national barriers, cultural barriers fall. Each person finds themselves equal at the foot of the Cross.

[1] 1 Corinthians 2:13-16

[2] 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

[3] Isaiah 7:14, 11:1-16

[4] Isaiah 56:3-8

[5] Isaiah 6:1-4, 53:6

Hymn Devotions Day 31 – Kneel At The Cross

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DAY 31 – KNEEL AT THE CROSS

What a joy to know that when we come in repentance to Him, Jesus is faithful to meet us. How great it is, to know that He is there when we need Him. How marvelous to know that He offers us a new life, in exchange for our old one. Do you hear Him calling to you, telling you that His yoke is easy and His burden is light? Do you hear Him calling upon you to repent of your sins and to turn your life over to Him?

It doesn’t matter who you are, where you are from, your race, creed, color or economic status, there is only one way to eternal life – through Jesus Christ. There is room for all who believe. The ground is equal at the foot of the cross, all must enter the same way, through the only Mediator between God and man,  Jesus Christ.

Amazingly, He offers to share His glory with us. To all who believe on Him, God offers not only new life, but to make us co-heirs with Jesus. This is unbelievable. Not only are we pardoned, cleansed and offered a new life forever, but also we are made to share in the blessings and the glory of His Son. What a great God!

What has this life to offer that could possibly compare to sharing in the inheritance of Jesus? Look not to things of this world, look to Jesus alone and find joy unspeakable and full of glory. Find Jesus and find everything.

Lord, help us look only to You. We pray, also, for our friends and family who do not yet know You. Call to them, show them Your glory, draw them to You so they may kneel at the cross in repentance and find remission for their sin.

KNEEL AT THE CROSS – Charles Moody

Kneel at the cross

Christ will meet you there

Come while He waits for you

List to His voice

Leave with Him your care

And begin life anew

Kneel at the cross

There is room for all

Who would His glory share?

Bliss there awaits

Harm can ne’er befall

Those who are anchored there

Kneel at the cross

Give your idols up

Look unto realms above

Turn not away

To life’s sparkling cup

Trust only in His love

REFRAIN

Kneel at the cross

Leave every care

Kneel at the cross

Jesus will meet you there

Hymn Devotions Day 18 – When I Survey The Wondrous Cross

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DAY 18 – WHEN I SURVEY THE WONDROUS CROSS

               Of all of Isaac Watts’ hymns, this one is probably my favorite. Great words of truth mixed with a fantastic melody, this hymn is well worth singing regularly.

I particularly love the second stanza. There is nothing any of us have to boast about except our Lord. Are we brilliant? God gave us our intellect. Are we strong? God fashioned our body. Are we successful? God has blessed us.

All we are we owe to our Creator, especially our salvation. In God’s plan, in God’s time, in God’s power, He redeemed us to Himself through His Son. Salvation, as Jonah stated, is from the Lord.

Everything this world has to charm us with is nothing compared to what awaits us in glory. Why should I take my eyes off eternal perfection for temporal things? Truly, no offering I can give is enough. If I had, as the fourth verse states, everything in the world, it still would not be too great an offering to give. But what I do have, my life, I give freely to the One who is worthy of worship, the Lord Jesus Christ.

            Lord, reading again of Your Son’s death on the cross to pay the price for my sins, brings me both great sorrow and gratitude. Sorrow that I, like all other humans, failed to live up to Your holy standards; gratitude that You took it upon Yourself to pay my penalty. I can never repay You. I can only say, “Thank You.” Take my life. You created me, You bought me, take what is rightfully Yours.

 WHEN I SURVEY THE WONDROUS CROSS – Isaac Watts

 

When I survey the wondrous cross

On which the Prince of Glory died

My richest gain I count but loss

And pour contempt on all my pride

 

Forbid it Lord, that I should boast

Save in the death of Christ my God

All the vain things that charm me most

I sacrifice them to His blood

 

See, from His head, His hands, His feet

Sorrow and love flow mingled down

Did e’er such love and sorrow meet

Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

 

Were the whole realm of nature mine

That were an offering far too small

Love so amazing, so divine

Demands my soul, my life, my all