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Psalms 22

31 verses

TL;DR

A heartfelt lament turns into a hopeful proclamation of God's faithfulness and the promise of universal worship.

Summary

The Psalm opens with a dramatic cry of abandonment and frustration, expressing the psalmist’s feeling of being cast aside and besieged by enemies. It describes vivid imagery of suffering—bulls, dogs, lions, and broken bones—to illustrate the depth of distress. Despite this anguish, the psalmist acknowledges God’s holiness, the faith of previous generations, and calls for divine intervention. The middle section transitions into a plea for deliverance from physical danger and a commitment to praise God among the congregation. The final section shifts to a hopeful vision, urging all Israel and the nations to remember and worship the Lord, proclaiming that the kingdom belongs to Him and that future generations will celebrate His righteousness. The Psalm thus moves from lament to trust, from despair to exaltation, offering a roadmap of faithful response in times of trial.

Outline
  1. Lament and plea for help (verses 1‑17)
  2. Declaration of praise and request for deliverance (verses 18‑22)
  3. Assurance of future worship and kingdom (verses 23‑31)
Themes
Lament and faithDeliveranceUniversal worship
Keywords
forsakenlamentdeliverancefaithhopepraisekingdomuniversal worship
People
GodIsraelJacob
Places
Bashan
Things
bulls of Bashandogslionunicornspotsherdbowels
Key Verses
  • Psalm 22:1: the opening lament sets the emotional tone of abandonment and sets the stage for the psalm’s journey
Questions
  • How does the psalmist’s expression of personal distress lead to a broader call for communal worship?
  • In what ways does the imagery of animals and brokenness convey the psalmist’s sense of vulnerability?
  • What role does remembrance of past deliverances play in fostering faith during present trials?
Sentiment

mixed
the psalm oscillates between despair and hopeful trust