Psalm 22 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

Psalm 22 Short Summary:

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” These are the iconic opening words of Psalm 22. The Psalmist feels as if God is far off, distant, and not by his side to give him aid. The Psalmist is surrounded by strong enemies and his fighting strength is spent. But at the end of Psalm 22, the Psalmist expresses his confidence that God, the King of the world, will provide him with salvation. 

Psalm 22 Summary

AUTHOR:

• King David authored Psalm 22.

NEW TESTAMENT REFERENCES:

• Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34; John 19:24; Hebrews 2:12

THEMES:

• The author feels forsaken by God, as if God is far away from him and not at hand to help him.

• The Psalmists strength is dried up, and he no longer has the energy to resist his enemies.

• In the end, the Psalmist expresses his confidence that God, the King of the world, will provide him with salvation. 

DEFINTIONS:

• Bulls of Bashan – The land of Bashan was on the east side of the Jordan River. It was used by the Israelites as pastureland for cattle. The bulls that came from that land likely had a reputation of being healthy and strong. In Psalm 22, David compares his enemies to the bulls of Bashan, meaning they were powerful and vigorous in their opposition to him.

OUTLINE:

• MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME (22:1-21):

  • David begins Psalm 22 with words familiar to most New Testament students, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me.”

  • David was once again in a position where it felt like God was far from Him.

  • His enemies surrounded him, but it didn’t seem that God was answering His prayers.

  • “I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people” (22:6).

  • David knew God was able to help Him. He acknowledged that God had helped the fathers of Israel (Moses, Joshua, etc).  

  • David’s enemies mocked him for putting his hope in God, but David knew it was God who had been with him all along. He wrote that God had taken him from his mother’s womb and had been his God since birth.

  • In verses 11-21, David elaborates on his troubles and asks God to draw near to him.

  • He describes his enemies as horned bulls, ravening lions, and powerful dogs who surround him to destroy him.

  • He speaks of his fading strength and exhaustion.

  • “For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet - I count all my bones – they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots” (22:16-18).

• GOD HAS NOT HIDDEN HIS FACE (22:21-31):

  • As is the pattern with many other Psalms, David expresses his distress in the first section before following it up with a statement of faith.

  • David was in trouble, but the Lord was still worthy of praise.  

  • David knew his pleas to God weren’t falling on deaf ears. God’s deliverance may not have come as swiftly as he had hoped, but he was confident that wasn’t because God was ignoring him.

  • He praised God personally before calling on all Israel to “stand in awe of Him.”

  • “For kingship belongs to the Lord, and He rules over the nations” (22:28).

  • David wrote that every person would acknowledge God as King, and this glorious truth would be taught to future generations.
    

PSALM 22 IN THE NEW TESTAMENT:

• If you’ve ever read the New Testament, or heard it read in a church, you’ll probably be familiar with the opening words of Psalm 22. They were quoted by Jesus as He was dying on the cross.

• Mark 15:34 – “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

• Psalm 22:16-18 (quoted above) is another key passage that relates to Jesus. The text talks about hands and feet being pierced, and how the author’s enemies cast lots for his clothing.

• The Apostle John confirms that this was a prophecy of what would happen to Jesus in John 19:24. When Jesus was on the cross, the soldiers who crucified Him cast lots to determine which one of them would get to keep His clothing.

• Psalm 22 is a psalm that has a dual meaning. It was true of David, but the Holy Spirit also inspired David to write in a way that pointed prophetically towards the future.