Great Prayers of the Old Testament
Part 14: The Lord's Prayer from the Cross
Psalm 22:1-31 (Initial reading: vs. 1-10)
Sermon by Rick Crandall
(Prepared December 31, 2024)
MESSAGE:
*Church: God is bigger, better, stronger and more glorious than we can possibly imagine. In Isaiah 66:1, "Thus says the LORD: 'Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest?'"
*"The earth is My footstool," says God. That's a big foot, and a big God, but God is bigger than that! The Lord put it as a question in Isaiah 40:12. And in the New Living Translation He asked, "Who else has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed out the mountains and the hills?"
*That's a mighty big hand, and a mighty big God, but God is bigger than that! He is even bigger than time. That's why in Isaiah 46:9-10, the Lord could say, "Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.'"
*It's no wonder then that God could tell us about the cross a thousand years before it happened. And that's what He did here in Psalm 22 through His servant, King David. Charles Spurgeon said, "This is beyond all others The Psalm of the Cross. It may have been actually repeated word by word by our Lord when hanging on the tree. It would be too bold to say that it was so, but even a casual reader may see that it might have been. It begins with, 'My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?' and ends according to some translators with 'It is finished." We may say of this Psalm, 'there is none like it.' It is the picture of our Lord's saddest hours, the record of his dying words, the vessel of his last tears, the memorial of his expiring joys. Before us we have a description of both the darkness and the glory of the cross. The sufferings of Christ and the glory which shall follow. Oh for grace to draw near and see this great sight!" (1)
*John Phillips added that no one in the Old Testament suffered the agonies reported in this Psalm, but since the crucifixion and resurrection of our Savior, Christians can see a clear picture of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. We see the agonies that Jesus went through for us. In fact, through King David, the Holy Spirit gave us a more vivid description of the sufferings of Christ on the cross than the authors of the gospels. Phillips concluded that the horrors of crucifixion were so well known in their day they didn't need explanation. (2)
1. AND WHAT DO WE SEE IN THE PSALM OF THE CROSS? FIRST: WE SEE JESUS WONDERING ABOUT INJUSTICE.
*In vs. 1-3, this Psalm begins by showing us some of the emotional agony the Lord suffered on the cross:
1. My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, and from the words of My groaning?
2. O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; And in the night season, and am not silent.
3. But You are holy, Who inhabit the praises of Israel.
*In other words: "It's not your fault, Father God, because You are holy. But I am struggling here, and I can't understand why. Here Jesus was wondering about injustice in our world: "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"
*Our wonderful Savior was so willing to identify with us that He was willing to go through the same kind of confusion that we go through. Why? -- Why is this terrible thing happening to me? Why did I lose my job? Why did I get sick? Why is my loved one sick? Why did that wreck happen? Why is my family messed up? Why did they die so young?
*Once I heard from a young Christian going through a tough family problem. She was frustrated with God, and wondered why things were going wrong. One thing I told her was that it is okay to ask "why?" And we know this is true, because Jesus asked "why?" on the cross. -- And He never did anything wrong.
*The problem with asking why is that many times we won't get an answer in this world. That's why a very wise man said a better question is, "What now?" "What should I do now, Lord?" I told that struggling Christian that over time, God would surely show her the answer to this question. God will show us what to do. He will lead us, even through the darkest valleys in life. And it helps to know that Jesus has been there too. "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"
2. IN THE PSALM OF THE CROSS WE SEE JESUS WONDERING ABOUT INJUSTICE. BUT WE ALSO SEE JESUS IN A WONDERFUL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS HEAVENLY FATHER.
*God reveals this relationship to us in vs. 9-10, and it is an amazing revelation: "But You are He who took Me out of the womb; You made Me trust when I was on My mother's breasts. I was cast upon You from birth. From My mother's womb You have been My God."
*These verses are mysteries of the birth of Jesus Christ. Surely Jesus had to learn to walk and talk, just like you and me. He had to be potty-trained. But at the same time, Jesus never stopped being God. And His relationship with His Heavenly Father was so close from all eternity past, that Jesus could utter these amazing words: "You made Me trust when I was on My mother's breasts. From My mother's womb You have been My God."
*Church: I have known some people who got saved at a very young age. My mentor, Bro. Savoie, got saved when he was 5. And our daughter, Becky, was saved when she was 6. But only Jesus could say, "You made Me trust when I was on My mother's breasts. From My mother's womb You have been My God."
*We see another example of this uniquely close relationship in the Lord's prayer from John 17:1-5. Just a few hours before He died on the cross for us, Jesus:
1. . . . lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,
2. as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.
3. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
4. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.
5. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was."
3. IN THIS PSALM OF THE CROSS WE SEE JESUS IN A WONDERFUL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS HEAVENLY FATHER. WE ALSO SEE JESUS WILLING TO SUFFER FOR US.
*On the cross, Jesus was willing to suffer in the most terrible ways for us all.
[1] FIRST: HE WAS WILLING TO BE MOCKED WITHOUT MERCY BY HIS ENEMIES.
*Listen to the Lord's cry to His Heavenly Father in vs. 4-8:
4. Our fathers trusted in You; They trusted, and You delivered them.
5. They cried to You, and were delivered; They trusted in You, and were not ashamed.
6. But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised of the people.
7. All those who see Me laugh Me to scorn; They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8. "He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!''
*Matthew 27:39-43 reports the fulfillment of this prophecy:
39. And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads
40. and saying, "You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.''
41. Likewise the chief priests, also mocking with the scribes and elders, said,
42. "He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him.
43. "He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, `I am the Son of God.'''
*On top of everything else the Lord had to endure for us, He had to listen to this mocking as He hung on the cross. Aren't you glad Jesus didn't come down from that cross! It would have been easy for Him to do. But Jesus loved us enough to suffer and die on the cross for our sins!
[2] JESUS WAS WILLING TO BE MOCKED WITHOUT MERCY. HE WAS ALSO WILLING TO GO THROUGH SUPREME SUFFERING.
*Listen to the Lord's plea to His Father in vs. 11-18:
11. Be not far from Me, For trouble is near; For there is none to help.
12. Many bulls have surrounded Me; Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me.
13. They gape at Me with their mouths, as a raging and roaring lion.
14. I am poured out like water, And all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It has melted within Me.
15. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death.
16. For dogs have surrounded Me; The assembly of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet;
17. I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me.
18. They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.
*This is an amazingly miraculous prophecy of the cross of Jesus Christ! It was written 500 years before crucifixion was ever reported to be used anywhere in the world. Here, God even prophesied how the Roman soldiers would divide Jesus' garments, and cast lots for His coat!
*But think about the suffering. The way Jesus was beaten before He was crucified was enough to kill most people. Then, when Jesus was crucified, spikes 5 to 7 inches long were driven through His hands and feet. Death on the cross was so painful that a new word was created to describe it. That word is "excruciating," which is Latin for "out of the cross."
[3] JESUS CHRIST WAS WILLING TO GO THROUGH SUPREME SUFFERING FOR US. HE WAS EVEN WILLING TO BE ABANDONED FOR A WHILE BY HIS HEAVENLY FATHER.
*We saw it back up in vs. 1, where the Lord cried out, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning?" Thank God it was only a temporary abandonment. But Jesus felt as abandoned as He could possibly be.
*Matthew 27:45-46 takes us to this moment on the cross:
45. Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour (that's noon until 3) there was darkness over all the land.
46. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?'' that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?''
*Jesus went through all of this horrible suffering for us! And then He died on the cross to take the punishment for all of our sins.
4. IN THE PSALM OF THE CROSS WE SEE JESUS WILLING TO SUFFER FOR US. BUT PRAISE GOD, HERE WE CAN ALSO SEE THAT JESUS WON THE VICTORY.
*Listen for the victory in vs. 19-22:
19. But You, O LORD, do not be far from Me; O My Strength, hasten to help Me!
20. Deliver Me from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog.
21. Save Me from the lion's mouth and from the horns of the wild oxen! You have answered Me.
22. I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the congregation I will praise You.
*John Phillips concluded that the lion here was the devil, the same spiritual lion God's Word warns us about in 1 Peter 5:8, where Peter warns Christians to "be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." And Phillips said, "The powers of the pit were present at Calvary, the evil principalities and powers Paul spoke about in Ephesians 6, the rulers of this world's darkness. All of the demonic fallen angels may have gathered around the cross to gloat. (2)
*But most of all, notice at the end of vs. 21 that the Lord says, "You have answered Me." There's the everlasting victory over sin and death! -- Our risen Lord Jesus Christ telling His Heavenly Father God, "You have answered Me."
*That victory was never in doubt. That's why Hebrews 12:2 tells us to look "unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
*The victory of the cross was never in doubt for the Lord and His followers. That's why again in vs. 22, the risen Christ says, "I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the congregation I will praise You."
*Hebrews 2:9-12 explains that verse, and says this about all Christians:
9. we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.
10. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
11. For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
12. saying: "I will declare Your name to My brethren; in the midst of the congregation I will sing praise to You."
*The victory was never in doubt. That's why Romans 8:37 tells us that in all of our trials, "we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." Church: We already have the super victory over anything and everything the world can throw at us! We have victory in Jesus!
*The Allies winning World War II almost 80 years ago was one of the greatest military, political and moral victories of all time. Millions of people were set free, and one of those people was Mrs. Anna Ozdoba. I had the privilege of getting to know Anna after my first mission trip to Ukraine in 1994. I needed someone to translate the letters I had received from Ukraine, and Anna was a close neighbor to one of our church members.
*Miss Anna wound up living in West Monroe for many years after the war, but she was born and raised in Ukraine. When Anna was just 15 years old, she was kidnapped by the Nazis and taken to Germany to work as a slave laborer on a farm. Things were so bad that Anna prayed to die. But one day as Anna prayed, she drifted off to sleep, and in a dream, she saw Jesus sitting next to her. When Anna thought about Jesus and all the suffering He went through for us, she decided that she would never again ask God to take her life.
*Then came the victory! From the prison-farm, Anna could see the building that served as the local Nazi headquarters, with the Swastika flag flying above. Then one day the flag was different. Anna didn't know what it meant, but a friend of hers said, "Don't you know what that is? It's a British flag."
*The war had been won! That day Anna left the farm as a free woman. She walked all the way to Italy. Then somehow, she made her way up to England. I think she met her husband there, and eventually they moved to West Monroe.
*But it made all the difference when Anna realized that the victory had already been won. And Church: Jesus won our eternal victory when He died on the cross for our sins! Then He proved it when He rose again from the dead!
*God wants us to realize that right now we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us! We even have victory over death through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Through the cross of Christ we have the victory that lasts forever and ever! And you can have it too, if you will put your trust in the Lord.
5. IN THE PSALM OF THE CROSS WE SEE JESUS WINNING THE VICTORY. AND WE SEE HIM WORTHY OF OUR PRAISE.
*In vs. 23 we praise Him because He is worthy of our reverence: "You who fear the Lord, praise Him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, And fear Him, all you offspring of Israel!"
*In vs. 24 we praise Him, because He is full of compassion for us: "For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from Him; But when He cried to Him, He heard."
*In vs. 25-26 we praise Him because He makes it possible for us to be a blessing to other people: "My praise shall be of You in the great congregation; I will pay My vows before those who fear Him. The poor shall eat and be satisfied."
*In vs. 26 we also praise Him because He gives us everlasting life: "Those who seek Him will praise the Lord. Let your heart live forever!" Jesus Christ is worthy of our praise! -- And it is one of the best things we can ever do.
*Pastor John Piper explained: God is after us to give us what is best -- not prestige, wealth or even health in this life, but a full-blown vision of and fellowship with Himself. To be supremely loving, God must give us what will be best for us and delight us most; He must give us Himself. But what do we do when we are given or shown something excellent, something we enjoy? -- We praise it.
*We praise new little babies that manage not to be bent all out of shape in birth: "Oh, look at that nice round head; and all that hair; and his hands, aren't they big!" We praise a lover's face after a long absence: "Your eyes are like the sky; your hair is like silk; Oh, you are beautiful to me." We praise a grand slam in the bottom of the ninth when we are down by three runs. We praise the trees along the river during a fall boat trip.
*And there's the key: We praise what we enjoy because the delight is incomplete until it is expressed in praise. If we were not allowed to speak of what we value, and celebrate what we love, and praise what we admire, our joy would not be full. Therefore, if God is truly for us, if He would give us the best and make our joy full, He must make it His aim to win our praise for Himself, the most beautiful of all Beings." (3)
*Jesus Christ is worthy of our praise! And the more we delight in Him, the more we will praise Him. The question is: Are we delighted in Him? -- Or are we distracted by what's going on in our lives?
6. IN THE PSALM OF THE CROSS, WE SEE JESUS WORTHY OF OUR PRAISE. AND WE SEE HIM RULING THE WORLD FOREVER.
*What a wonderful world it will be in vs. 27-31:
27. All the ends of the world Shall remember and turn to the Lord, And all the families of the nations Shall worship before You.
28. For the kingdom is the Lord's, And He rules over the nations.
29. All the prosperous of the earth Shall eat and worship; All those who go down to the dust Shall bow before Him, Even he who cannot keep himself alive.
30. A posterity shall serve Him. It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation,
31. They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, That He has done this.
*Through the love of God, the grace of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, this is the place we are heading. We are not there yet, but this is the place we are heading. And an indescribably wonderful future lies ahead for everyone who trust in the Lord.
CONCLUSION:
*I like this testimony from Pastor Bill Bouknight: "On Nov. 19th of 2001, a great lady of faith in our Church, Mrs. Julia Atkinson, transferred from earth to heaven. I remember visiting her in October of that year. Cancer was stealing her strength, but not her confidence of spirit. She said, 'I don't want any more chemotherapy. I'm not afraid to die.' Then with a smile and twinkling brown eyes she added, 'I have lived a full life here, and now I'm ready for the rest of the story.'" (4)
*We all can be ready for the rest of the story because of what we see in the Psalm of the cross. -- Make sure you are ready. You can do that right now, as we go to the Lord in prayer.
(1) Adapted from THE TREASURY OF DAVID by Charles Haddon Spurgeon - "Psalms 22" - Published in 1869-1885; public domain - Downloaded to e-Sword by Rick Meyers - Copyright 2021
(2) Adapted from EXPLORING PSALMS Vol. 1 - Psalms 1-41 by John Phillips, Kregal Publications, Grand Rapids - "The Terrible Reality of Calvary" - Psalm 22:1-21 - Downloaded to "Bible Study 6" from Olive Tree Bible Software, Inc.
(3) Adapted from KERUX SERMON COLLECTION - ID Number: 9 - PREACHER: Rev. John Piper - LOCATION: Bethlehem Baptist Church; Minneapolis, Minnesota - DATE: 8/10/1980 - MAIN TEXT: Revelation 5:11-13 - Key Ideas: Praise - Title: Is God For Us Or For Himself?
(4) Adapted from ChristianGlobe.com sermon "Don't Be Afraid of the Future" by Bill Bouknight - John 20:1-18 or Matt 28:1-10 - Easter Day 2002
