| FORSAKEN |

Did the first verse sound familiar to you? It is the words of Jesus that he cried out from the cross shortly before his death (Mark 15:34). But wait, we are still in the Old Testament, aren’t we? Wasn’t Jesus born hundreds of years after this psalm was written by David?

Yes. You are right. This is one of many psalms that have a dual purpose. Psalm 22 is both about David and the trials he faces in leading Israel against her enemies, as well as a psalm about the future King, the Messiah, Jesus, who would save all who believe in him from their sin and death.

There are several things in this psalm that point forward to Jesus. Consider verses 6-8. Jesus was scorned by his accusers. He was mocked by the people who surrounded him as he made his way to be crucified. Consider verse 14 which speaks of the physical torture Jesus’ body endured. Consider verse 18 about the Roman soldiers gambling over Jesus’ clothes (John 19:23–24).

Then we have verse 27. This speaks of the fulfillment of the promise that God made to Abraham all the way back in Genesis 12, where God told Abraham that through him, all the families of the earth would be blessed. Jesus is the king through whom God will bless all who come to him. Jesus is not just the king of Israel. Jesus is the king of the whole earth.