Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

• “ …with music ” God is the creator of music, playing skillfully and joyfully brings him honor and re- freshes the listener. • “ …and singing ” Singing is the greatest expression of the soul. God’s happiness is shared as we open our hearts and sing. • “ …we celebrate ” God is the originator of parties and each time we worship him it is ‘coronation day’ He is preparing a banquet feast for us in heaven; the celebration is soon to begin!

PSALM 22: MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME? The Cross and the Crown

This psalm is a prophetic account of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the glorious, worldwide king- dom that will result from his sacrifice. The gospels give us an outward historical documentary of the passion, but this psalm lets us see the inward struggles and emotions of our Savior as he died for the sins of mankind. The ancient church has always regarded Christ as the speaker in this psalm. This poem of suffering and life is very close to the experience of every believer as the New Testa- ment tells us: “ I have been crucified with Christ. I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” (Gal. 2:19,20) As we pass through ‘crucifying’ times in our lives, remember the song of praise is about to begin! There are two distinct sections in the song: I WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME ? –The Suffering of the Cross- v. 1-21 (The World stands in Wonder at the Cross of Jesus.) II THE WONDER OF YOUR NAM E-The Song and the Crown- v. 22-31 (The World Bows in Worship at the Resurrected Christ.)

INTRODUCTION :

“ To the Chief Musician. Set to ‘The Deer of the Dawn.’ A Psalm of David.”(NKJV)

In ‘The Song of Solomon’” Christ, pictured as the male deer, is coming to his beloved doe, the church and calling her to follow him upon the mountains. She responds by singing: “ Before the dawn comes and the shadows flee away, come back to me, my love. Run like…a young stag upon the rugged mountains.” (Song Songs 2:17) Like a deer, Christ is hunted and slain in this psalm by the wild oxen, the lions and the dogs to save his ‘Doe of the Dawn 1 .

I WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME ? The Suffering of the Cross- v 1-21

The Cry from the Cross-

“ My God, my God! Why have you forsaken me?” (v.1)

These were the very words of Christ just before his death upon the cross: “ At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ which means, (in Aramaic) ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” (Mt. 27:45,46) Though it was our sins that separated Jesus from his Father the crucifixion never de- stroyed his love for God. His prayer on the cross was seemingly unanswered: “ Why have you forsaken me? Why do you remain so distant? Why do you ignore my cries for help? Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night you hear my voice, but I find no re- lief.”(v.1,2) There are no unanswered prayers, only answers different from the request. Jesus’ prayer to avoid the cross was denied for the greater purpose of the salvation of mankind. “ My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine.” (Mt. 26:39)

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