The Messianic Psalm
Today we ventured out and made a trip to Cleveland, TN for some business I needed to attend to. On the way we connected with Bridget’s sister, so Riley could spend some time with his Tennessee cousins. This morning I snapped a picture of the “cousins on the couch” intent on watching a morning TV program.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?” Psalm 22:1 ESV
Psalm 22 speaks of Christ’s death on the cross more than any other psalm. When the resurrected Jesus met the disciples on the Road to Emmaus, it is recorded, “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27 ESV)
This psalm opens with the words that Jesus cried out from the cross as the sins of the world were laid upon Him as the sacrificial lamb of God.
Then we read of these other vivid descriptions that we find fulfilled at the crucifixion. There was the mocking of the soldiers and those standing near by the cross, “All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” (Psalm 22:7,8 ESV)
The physical condition and agony of crucifixion is reflected in these words, “I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death.” (Psalm 22:14,15 ESV)
The unique actions of the soldiers gambling for Jesus garments were uttered hundreds of years beforehand.
“I can count all my bones—they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” (Psalm 22:17,18 ESV)
And finally, in the last verse of the psalm we see that the “good news” of Jesus Christ and the faithful love of God will be made know from generation to generation.
“Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.” (Psalm 22:30,31 ESV)
We think of the Psalms for their poetic verses that inspire and challenge or reveal the heart of agony and then trust in the Lord. We don’t often think of them as proclamations of prophecy. But in this psalm we see words, phrases and verses that are directly related to the cross. These words spoken in times past about future events should allow us to stand in awe of the God who is above time, who is working out His plan and will continue to work to fulfill all the scriptures tells of that which the Lord will fulfill in His time.
Prayer for today…. Lord of all time, wisdom, love and grace. We give thanks for Your divine plan that is told in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Testament. We are also reminded that which is revealed in both Old and New Testament about Your final fulfillment of bringing a new heaven and new earth will surely come to pass.