Psalm 22:The Triumphant Victory of the Cross (vv. 22-31)

22 I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:

23 You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!

24 For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him.

25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him.

26 The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD! May your hearts live forever!

27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.

28 For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.

29 All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive.

30 Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation;

31 they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.

The Agony of the Cross (vv. 1-21)

Words of Abandonment

Words of Agony

On Good Friday we were reminded of the love of Christ, who came to be made sin for us, that He might be our substitute and bear the punishment for our sins. He was separated from His Father, who is His absolute holiness could not look upon Sin.

Isaiah put it like this.

It was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt. He would bear their iniquities. He would pour out His soul to death and be numbered with the transgressors. He bore the sin of many.

Then Isaiah hints at the glorious resurrection of the Saviour "he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand." "Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong," he "makes intercession for the transgressors."

Words of Accomplishment. It is finished.

The verse which closes this psalm was not an expression of defeat and death expressed from the cross, it was a declaration of accomplishment. If you look at the context of this second half of this Psalm , the context moves from a description of death to a description of accomplishment, praise and worship!

Whereas Isaiah 53 hints at the resurrection of the Lord Jesus from the dead, the New Testament church read Psalm 22 as an expression of thanksgiving about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus from the dead. They had seen Him in His resurrection. And as they read Psalm 22 they read there again with fresh eyes exactly what they had experienced. This mysterious Psalm describing crucifixion so precisely, yet written 400 years before crucifixion was practiced, also had this mysterious twist to it: it starts in despair in abandonment and agony, but develops into accomplishment and adoration.

The second half of Psalm 22 is completely different from the first half. Something happened between verses 21 and 22: the resurrection. Death is over (see vv. 22-25). Now there is life.

The author of Hebrews shows us how the early church dealt with this mystery as he interprets this Psalm as signifying the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

Hebrews 2:9 But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. 10 for it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying, "I will proclaim Your name to My brethren, In the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise." 13 And again, "I will put My trust in Him." And again, "Behold, I and the children whom God has given Me." 14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

Peter in the New Testament reflects that David and Isaiah understood the resurrection of the Lord Jesus as part of this wonderful prophecy.

"Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories." (1 Peter 1:10,11)

Jesus Resurrection Means: Jesus is Lord

He is Sovereign 28 For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.

Look at the words David uses to describe how we should react to Jesus.

23 praise him!

glorify him,

stand in awe of him,

praise the LORD!

27 remember and turn to the LORD,

worship before you.

29 worship; before him shall bow

30 serve him;

31 proclaim his righteousness

Both the Lord Yahweh and the Lord Jesus, in the sense of the Triunity of the Godhead are the recipients here of the worship praise and glory. Hebrews chapter 1 identifies Jesus as Yahweh. 10 And, "You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the works of Your hands.

Now both the crucified One about whom this Psalm is about and Yahweh are identified as the recipients of this Praise.

Now sometimes we hear people say we must receive Jesus as saviour and then later on recognise Him as Lord in our lives. The truth is there is no time when Jesus hasn't been Lord. He is the King, the Lord, by his nature. The Saviour Jesus is Lord! And to Him belongs all your praise.

You should 23 praise him! glorify him, stand in awe of him, praise the LORD!

27 remember and turn to the LORD, worship before Him.

29 worship; before him bow

30 serve him;

31 proclaim his righteousness

This is what the Lord wants you to do. Do you worship the Lord?

Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) was, by all accounts, a giant of history. Soldier. General. Emperor. Exile. And although no would add 'theologian' to this list, Napoleon faced a question common to all mankind: Who is Jesus Christ? History has seen many different answers. Christians have claimed Him as Saviour, others have considered Him just another wise teacher.

Near the end of his life, the exiled Emperor Napoleon came to the following conclusion about the King of Kings: "I know men, and I tell you Jesus Christ was not a man. Superficial minds see a resemblance between Christ and the founders of empires and the gods of other religions. That resemblance does not exist. There is between Christianity and other religions the distance of infinity. Alexander, Cæsar, Charlemagne and myself founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon sheer force. Jesus Christ alone founded His empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men will die for Him. In every other existence but that of Christ how many imperfections! From the first day to the last He is the same; majestic and simple; infinitely firm and infinitely gentle. He proposes to our faith a series of mysteries and commands with authority that we should believe them, giving no other reason than those tremendous words, 'I am God.' The Bible contains a complete series of acts and of historical men to explain time and eternity, such as no other religion has to offer. If it is not the true religion, one is very excusable in being deceived; for everything in it is grand and worthy of God. The more I consider the Gospel, the more I am assured that there is nothing there which is not beyond the march of events and above the human mind. Even the impious themselves have never dared to deny the sublimity of the Gospel, which inspires them with a sort of compulsory veneration. What happiness that Book procures for those who believe it!"

"Jesus is Lord" (Greek: κύριος Ἰησοῦς, kyrios Iesous) is the shortest credal affirmation found in the New Testament.

In the New Testament days this was a very radical counter cultural statement.

For a Christian to recognise Jesus as Lord caused problems for society. When in 27 B.C. Roman Emperor Octavian received the title of "Augustus" it carried religious overtones, suggesting a special relationship with the world of the gods, symbolised by the cult of the Emperor's 'genius', a veiled form of emperor-worship.(Frend:16) To refuse to honor the national gods was unpatriotic and akin to sabotage.(Workman:44) By around 150 A.D. provincials had made up their minds that the Christians by refusing to worship the gods were responsible for all manner of ills such as famine, plague and earthquakes and of practices such as cannibalism and black magic.(Frend:70).

It is counter cultural in our day to stand with footballer Izzy Falou and say that all people must repent of whatever sins they have done and turn to the Lord Jesus for salvation otherwise they will go to hell. But we must! It is the narrowness of Falou's position that has caused distress. He is entitled as an Australian to be as narrow as he wishes under our constitution and laws. But it is this narrowness that we as believers must confess that angers people. if Jesus is risen, then Jesus is Lord! And if Jesus is Lord, then the way is very narrow indeed.

On one occasion when a martyr was asked as to his condition, he replied: 'I am a free man, but the slave of Christ' and Febronia, a wealthy and beautiful virgin, shocked the judge by declaring herself a slave. When asked, 'Whose slave?', the reply was again: 'The slave of Christ'.(Workman:89f)

In the New Testament days this was a very radical costly statement.

Clement, serving as bishop at Rome, sent a letter to the church at Corinth. Clement opens his letter by referring to "the sudden and successive calamitous events." Persecution rolled over the church like wave after relentless wave. Clement wrote to comfort them and to exhort them to stand firm. Near the middle of his letter, he simply reminds the believers at Corinth that Christ is our leader and we are His soldiers.

Domitian's edict and the persecution that followed served to press an urgent question to the church. This question was there at the very beginning. It was there at the events surrounding the incarnation when Herod ruled. It was there when the soldier drew his sword in the garden of Gethsemane, and it was there all along the excruciating and agonizing road to the cross. The question never left the early decades of the church or even the early centuries of the church. The question was this: Caesar or Christ?

Domitian's edict made that question palpable, even visceral. Statues of him were sent all over the empire. On appointed days, feasts were held, and all of the populace had to pass before the cast image of Domitian and bow before him as god. It was very clear: Caesar or Christ?

At age eighty-six, Polycarp, the second-century bishop of Smyrna and disciple of the apostle John, was brought to the Roman authorities and ordered to confess that Caesar is lord. Though doing so would have saved his life, Polycarp refused and was murdered, inspiring others to remain faithful. "Eighty and six years I have served Him, and He has done me no wrong. How then can I blaspheme my King and Saviour? You threaten me with a fire that burns for a season, and after a little while is quenched; but you are ignorant of the fire of everlasting punishment that is prepared for the wicked." Polycarp was burned at the stake and was pierced with a spear for refusing to burn incense to the Roman Emperor.

Jesus Resurrection Means Jesus is Lord of all of the Peoples on Earth.

The New Testament quotes verse 22, speaking of the expansion of the gospel (see Hebrews 2:11-12). Notice the expansion here. Not only is this a description of how the new testament church grew and continues to grow today, it is also a logical statement. If Jesus is risen from the dead then he is Lord over all the earth. And all the earth must come and bow before Him.

"My brethren" (v. 22)

"Descendants of Jacob…offspring of Israel" (v. 23)

"Great assembly" (v. 25)

"All the ends of the world…all the families of the nations" (v. 27)

"The next generation" (v. 30)

"A people who will be born" (v. 31)

27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. 28 For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations. 29 All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive. 30 Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; (Psalm 22:27-30, ESV)

The Lord is to be magnified among the nations.

God desires that all the nations to turn to Him.

Normally it is the people of God, the covenant community, who are called to praise the Lord. But not here. No, it is the goyim, the "nations" (NASV, NIV, ESV, HCSB).

"Nations" does not refer to political states but people groups, different ethnic and linguistic groups. The "Joshua Project" (www.joshuaproject.net) list 16,320 different people groups in the world with 6,741 as unreached. The percent of unreached people groups is 41.3% totally 2.72 billion people. At this moment, 4,100 language groups have no hope of praising King Jesus as Lord of the universe.

God desires that all the nations Worship Him.

John Piper says, "The reason God seeks our praise is not because He won't be complete until He gets it. He is seeking our praise because we won't be happy until we give it….Missions is calling the world to do what they were created to do, namely, to enjoy making much of Christ forever."

The Lord is to be magnified because of His nature. For Kingship belongs to the Lord!

There is a rhyme and reason to God's call to magnify Him among the nations. It is a call rooted in the very nature and character of God. And what can we say about this God? He is great in His love for us and He will be faithful to love us forever.

Yes Our God is a God of love to any of all nations who will turn to Him.

22 I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: 23 You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! 24 For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him. 25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him. 26 The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD! May your hearts live forever! (Psalm 22:22-26, ESV)

He cares for the afflicted among His people (24). He cares for the afflicted in the earth. He wants people to find Him as the saviour and Lord that they need.

Jesus said 28 "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

The risen Lord Jesus instructed His disciples to take the message to the entire world (see Acts 1:8)

Philip Schaff. "Jesus of Nazareth, without money and arms, conquered more millions than Alexander, Caesar, Mahomet, and Napoleon; without science and learning, He shed more light on things human and divine than all philosophers and schools combined; without the eloquence of schools, He spoke words of life such as never were spoken before or since, and produced effects which lie beyond the reach of any orator or poet; without writing a single line, He has set more pens in motion, and furnished themes for more sermons, orations, discussions, learned volumes, works of art and sweet songs of praise, than the whole army of great men of ancient and modern times. Born in a manger, and crucified as a malefactor, He now controls the destinies of the civilized world, and rules a spiritual empire which embraces one-third of the inhabitants of the globe. There never was in this world a life so unpretending, modest, and lowly in its outward form and condition, and yet producing such extraordinary effects upon all ages, nations, and classes of men. The annals of history produce no other example of such complete and astonishing success in spite of the absence of those material, social, literary, and artistic powers and influences which are indispensable to success for a mere man."

Jesus Resurrection Means Jesus is Lord and his Work is Complete.

31 they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it. (Psalm 22:31, ESV)

"he has done it" is one word in Hebrew: asah. It is one word in Greek: tetelestai: It is completed or It is finished (see Luke 23:46; John 19:30). It refers to the completion of the work of Christ.

It is a summary statement, a final statement, a statement of exultation.

You should hold this summary statement closely and deeply in your heart. It is finished. He finished it all for you.

Quit trying to convince God you are good enough to be saved (see Isaiah 64:6). The great word of the gospel is not do; it is done.

Some Christians feel forsaken by God. But it is an impossibility.

You may be experiencing His silence.

You may be experiencing His discipline.

You may be experiencing His displeasure due to sin, a barrier between you and God Isaiah 59:1-2.

But you can never be forsaken by God.

Jesus was forsaken so we wouldn't have to be.

He went through the darkness so we would walk in the light.

Have you put your trust in our resurrected Sovereign King?

Jesus' resurrection means Jesus is Lord. If anyone can get you to heaven He can. If he can't no one can get you to heaven.

Romans 4: 23 Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, 24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.

Have you believed in Him who was raised from the dead as proof that He is Lord, the only Lord, the saving Lord?

# posted by Groseys messages @ 9:23 PM

1Peter 3: 8-17 The Pursuit of Holiness: From Good To Godly

⁸Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

⁹Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

¹⁰For "Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;

¹¹let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.

¹²For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

¹³Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?

¹⁴But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,

¹⁵but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

¹⁶having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

¹⁷For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

¹⁸For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,

We live in a crazy world where through media control we are experience "compassion fatigue." We are told what we are to feel about which news story selected for our emotional manipulation. The media manages our sensibility and our insensibilities.

Peter introduces us to the real issues of real holiness. Real holiness has to do with our relationships.

Peter has begun talking about relationships as a Christian citizen, as a Christian slave or employee and as a Christian husband and wife. And the key word is submission; learning to contain our pride and self-will and order our lives under the Lord and those whom the Lord places in our lives.

Somebody said "How can I soar like an eagle when I am surrounded by turkeys?"

This passage tonight calls us to holiness through learning how to handle our relationships inside the church and outside the church.

· Keep Your Compassion Credible

· Keep Your Confidence Complete

· Keep Your Convictions Constant

· Keep Your Conduct Clean

· Keep Your Conscience Clear

We all want a peaceful and quiet life. But.. its not going to happen.. and sometimes that troubled life tells you that you are right in the centre of God's will.

17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

There are some terrible situations in life: you were faithful to your spouse: but he/she wasn't.

You were honest in your business but the boss wasn't.

You were put in the place where you had to blow the whistle, and you suffered horrendously for it.

Just the mention of these things from the pulpit triggers deep hurts and emotions swell to the forefront of your heart. And you may have trouble listening to me tonight. Try hard to listen to me. What we are going to talk about tonight is important stuff.

Sometimes the difficult people problems you experience are about God developing graces in you. God sometimes does His work to discipline us for our sins. Sometimes He allows persecutions and trials to develop us.

Keep Your Compassion Credible

8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

10 For "Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;

11 let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.

12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

Finally this relates back to the theme of submission as being an important factor in developing holiness.

Prov 19: 2 Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, And he sins who hastens with his feet. 11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression.

Prov 20: 24 A man's steps are of the LORD; How then can a man understand his own way?

In this case we need to learn submission to the Lord, living under the Lord's eyes.

Have

unity of mind, strive to have a unity of mind about things with other believers. Figure out what is important. Have unity around our confession of faith. Have unity around our understanding of the moral obligations of scripture. Have unity of mind about the purposes of the church. Grow by reading God's word so you attain to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God.

sympathy, have a fellow feeling together with one another. If one member suffers we all suffer together. Prov 10: 12 Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions.

brotherly love, the new commandment to love one another is a sign of spiritual resurrection.

a tender heart Good hearted towards others. Kind. Everyone you meet with this week needs kindness, because everyone carries their own hurts. Prov 10: 11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. 32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.

a humble mind

Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless

Taxi driver: besides the job itself I enjoy the people I run into.

The Lord is asking you to replace the natural response of payback for a supernatural one.

The natural response is evident in PNG with the One Tok (one talk) system. Offend one member of the tribe and someone else will get you sooner or later.

How do we get out of this natural desire for revenge. The Lord is saying over and over again: refocus on Him, see Him as sovereign over each situation and each person you face.

How?? Remember:

The eyes of the Lord are on you.

The ears of the Lord are open to your prayer.

The face of the Lord is against those who do evil.

Keep Your Confidence Complete

13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?

14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,

Fear of others is often the real problem at heart.

Isaiah 8 stands behind Peter's short quote.

11 For the LORD spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: 12 "Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. 13 But the LORD of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. 14 And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 And many shall stumble on it. They shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken." 16 Bind up the testimony; seal the teaching among my disciples. 17 I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him. 18 Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are signs and portents in Israel from the LORD of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.

Isaiah 8:12 and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread.

Isaiah 8:13 But the LORD of hosts, him you shall honor as holy.

1Peter 3:14 Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy

Refocus on Christ. Get your eyes off the guy that's hurt you.

The background issue at heart is that you and I have a choice about where we are going to focus our thoughts. You can let the other person be sovereign over you, controlling how you think and feel. Or you can recognise that the Lord is King, He is over all the situations you face.

I was confronted by the Lord over this issue. Who is really sovereign in my life? Am I a Christian or an atheist? Do I believe the Lord is sovereign over it all, and that each situation I face however uncomfortable it might be, however difficult the person may be, is Sovereignly ordered by God for my holiness and their salvation? Or will I let someone else take control of my feelings and thoughts? Will I secretly be an atheist who refuses to trust God with the problem people I face? The choice is mine and the choice is yours.

Let the Lord develop you. Or the Lord will discipline you. If you don't get it right the first time He will allow you to keep having these problems until you do get it right.

Keep Your Convictions Constant

15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

How you respond to your persecutors is on exhibition to all. You can become bitter and angry, or you can let it pass. Is the Lord sovereign over them or not? Your gentle response is the proof of the reverence and fear you have for the Lord. Who are you going to fear? Them or the Lord?

Apologia Our persecutions give us a platform for sharing the gospel! This is sometimes how people are converted. Paul.

Gently reasoning with our persecutors works a whole lot better than trying to win an argument. If you are set for winning arguments you won't win hearts.

Hope: not looking for retribution, not looking for revenge, looking ahead to return of Christ. An other-worldly hope lifts us above the need for solutions in this world.

Keep Your Conduct Clean

yet do it with gentleness and respect,

having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

Good 619 times in the bible. We won't study them all tonight.

1Peter 2: 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.

3John 11 Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.

Even as believers we need exhortations to do what is good. So often we just don't want to. We would rather treat people poorly. That is not what the Lord intends for your life.

Keep Your Conscience Clear

16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

You know what that means? If when you come to the end of your life will your conscience convict you that you did the wrong thing by that man or woman? But you know too there are things on your mind tonight that are just a bad conscience. Sort those out tonight if you can. Don't let them continue any longer.

Conclusion

17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

Are you interested in doing God's will? Get your relationships right.

Get your reactions right. Don't repay evil for evil.

Get your responses right. Point people to Christ, no-where else.

Get your eyes focussed right on the Lord who is sovereign and on the hope that you have ahead of you.

Many years ago I attempted to help my eldest daughter ride a pushbike in the church car park. It was a big car park. As she began to ride I was holding the bike upright. She said "I think I am going to hit the power pole!" I said "no we won't just keep peddling." She kept looking at the pole and saying "I think I am going to run into it!" Guess what, we did! Needless to say I didn't tach my daughters to drive!

What you focus on determines where you will go. If you focus on the Lord and the reward of your eternal hope you won't run into the painful desire for revenge. Focus on Christ. Get your mind off the other person, the painful situation, the hurt that follows you.

# posted by Groseys messages @ 8:12 PM

Psalm 22 The Agony of the Cross and the Victory of the Cross.

James Boice, in his commentary on this Psalm, writes: "The second half of Psalm 22 is a throbbing, soaring anticipation of the expanding proclamation of the gospel and of the growing and triumphant Christian church."

The opening and closing statements of this psalm are both statements Jesus made while hanging on the cross. "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (v. 1) and "It is finished" (see v. 31).

This psalm is quoted seven times in the New Testament, referring to Christ each time. The New Testament authors regarded this psalm as a messianic prophecy (John 19:24). It is a psalm of David. But we cannot find any instance in David's life that matches this text. It describes an execution: a righteous man being killed and killed on a cross. David wrote this 1,000 years before Jesus' death: 600 years before the invention of crucifixion. There is an accuracy and detail of a method of capital punishment that David could have known nothing about, except by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 2:30)

This psalm falls into two easily discernible sections. The first is the Messiah's description of the crucifixion (vv. 1–21a). The second is his exultation in the results of the cross.

We see the Agony of the Cross and the Victory of the Cross.

The crucifixion as depicted in Psalm 22 is just as graphic as the passion narratives found in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The gospel writers tell of the actual event after it happened and David tells the same story before it happened. And yet the accuracy of the prophecy is amazing.

The gospels tell us the events and the details of the crucifixion but this Psalm tells us the heart and mind of Christ while he was suspended between heaven and earth. We can see the Agony and the victory of the Cross.

I. THE AGONY OF THE CROSS (22:1–21)

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame." (Psalm 22:1-5, ESV)

Deserted by God (22:1–5) "My God, my God! Why have you forsaken me?"

William MacDonald, in his commentary on this Psalm, writes: "Approach this Psalm with the utmost solemnity and reverence, because you have probably never stood on holier ground before. You have come to Golgotha where the Good Shepherd is giving His life for the sheep. For three hours the earth has been enveloped in thick darkness. Now "Immanuel's orphaned cry" echoes through the universe: "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"

Darkness covered the land in the middle of the day. Jesus was silent during this time. He broke the silence with the words Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? (see Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34). "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Psalm 22:1)

This is the first and only time recorded that Jesus referred to God as My God and not My Father. He was experiencing the rift in His relationship with God as the sin of the world came upon His shoulders. A very real separation from God. He had never experienced the feeling of being separated from the Father (see John 11:41-42; 16:32).

Behind our Lord's poignant question lies an awful reality—the suffering Saviour actually was, literally and completely, forsaken by God. The Eternal Son, who had always been the object of His Father's delight, was now abandoned.

On two occasions—His baptism and His transfiguration—the heavenly voice had boomed "This is my beloved son ... listen to Him."

But now the voice is silent, and the presence of God in His life is absent.

Jesus knew it was coming; He knew it was part of the penalty that had to be paid for sinners; and yet when the abandonment actually comes it had to be heart-rending to the Son.

He had cried in the garden of Gethsemane, "Let this cup pass from Me!"

The Lord has been hanging on the cross now for about three hours. He has talked to His mother, His disciples and the people around Him. And ina solemn time of darkness now He traverses this Psalm in His heart and mind. The Lord Jesus dwelt in this Psalm in His memory as He continues His journey at the cross. Even in this awful moment, Jesus is fully aware of the Scriptures and what they say about His life, death, and coming resurrection.

He knew that this was all about his death at the cross being the point where He was made sin for us.

1 Peter 2:24 he Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross.."

Isaiah 53 All we like sheep have gone astray we have turned everyone to His own way, and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquities of us all."

1 Alas! and did my Savior bleed, and did my Sovereign die!
Would he devote that sacred head for sinners such as I?

2 Was it for crimes that I have done, he groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! Grace unknown! And love beyond degree!

3 Well might the sun in darkness hide, and shut its glories in,
when God, the mighty maker, died for his own creature's sin.

God is Holy. He cannot look upon sin. But now the sinless Saviour dies made sin for us! God's perfection can't mingle with our imperfection. Jesus, the perfect One, became the substitution for the imperfect ones.

Isa 53:3 He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.

The word "groaning" at the end of verse one is a strong word used of the shrieking of a person in intense pain.

He acknowledges the Father's holiness and sovereignty (v. 3)

"Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel." (Psalm 22:3, NIV84)

We discover in these first words of this Psalm the depth of what had been determined before the foundation of the world. The Lord Jesus Christ is the centre of history. All the history of the entire universe waited with gasping breath for this cry. For it showed not only was the Lord Jesus Christ the centre of human history, but that the cross itself was at the centre of the universe!

For our sake, God the Father crushed God the Son like a worm

"But I am a worm and not a man, ... ." (Psalm 22:6, ESV)

This is one of the more fascinating verses in the Psalm, which, when you understand, speaks wonderfully of God's redemptive work on our behalf.

The word worm in this passage is the Hebrew tola'at—known as the "Crimson Worm." In Palestine and Syria, these worms were collected and crushed in a basin because their blood was used as a dye to create the brilliant scarlet vestments worn by the priests. In fact the word scarlet in the Old Testament literally translates as the splendour of a worm.

In this Psalm, the Anointed One cries out, I am the tola'at.

First, the title reminds us of our Lord's humiliation at the hands of men—he was crushed as a man would crush a worm. "who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:6-8, ESV)

Second, the title reminds us that He had to be crushed in death, and His blood had to be poured out so that you and I might be clothed in glory.

Tola : Sometimes translated worm; sometimes translated scarlet, or a Crimson worm.

In ancient times, they would extract the fluid from this worm to make scarlet dyes. The only way to get the dye is to crush the worm. Jesus was the scarlet worm, lowly and ugly to look upon. When His life was crushed, His blood was the source to change our eternity. Life cycle of the crimson worm

When the female is ready to give birth, she embeds herself into the wood of a tree or branch. After giving birth, she dies. The crimson dye explodes onto the wood, staining it. In giving His life, Jesus brought life. After three days, the crimson dye turns flaky white and falls to the ground (see Isaiah 1:18).

Despised by People (vv. 6-8)

6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. 7 All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; 8 "He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!" 9 Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother's breasts. 10 On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother's womb you have been my God. 11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. 12 Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; 13 they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. 18 they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. (Psalm 22:6-18, ESV)

The chief priests and scribes mocked Jesus as He died on the cross, quoting this psalm almost verbatim (see Matthew 27:41-43)

The last half of verse six through verse eighteen refers to the travail that Jesus suffered at the hands of men.

He is scorned and despised (22:6).

He is mocked and insulted (22:7–8).

Do you hear the taunts of the Jewish religious elite in these verses as they sneer, He saved others. Let him save himself and come down off the cross! vv. 7-8 are virtually word-for-word what the jeering crowd said at Calvary. He is viciously attacked by his enemies (22:12–13, 16).

The Prophet Amos compares the leaders of the Jewish nation to the cattle of Bashan, and castigates them for oppressing the poor and crushing the needy. These bovines represent the chief priests and scribes who were responsible for the arrest and illegal trial of Jesus, and who handed Him over to Pilate and the Roman government for execution.

Psalm 22:7, "They hurl insults, shaking their heads", is quoted in Mark 15:29; Matthew 27:39 "And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads"

Psalm 22:8, "He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him", is quoted in Matthew 27:43 "He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him".

Psalm 22:18, "They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment", is quoted in Mark 15:24; Matthew 27:35; Luke 23:34; John 19:24.

Distressed by the Pain

Excruciating comes from a Latin word that means out of the cross. Excruciating pain is seen at the cross.

14 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; 15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. 16 For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet--- 17 I can count all my bones--- they stare and gloat over me;

(Psalm 22:14-17, ESV)

His life is poured out like water (22:14) Profuse sweating that dehydrates the body

Jesus began that process in the garden of Gethsemane when He sweat drops of blood (see Luke 22:44) Hematidrosis: the tiny capillaries burst into the sweat glands.

His bones are out of joint (22:14, 17) The body slumps and causes the joints to move out of place. This causes suffocation of the vital organs.

His heart is melted like wax (22:14) When Jesus was dead, a soldier pierced His side, causing blood and water to come out (see John 19:34). This is evidence that the pericardium had engorged, crushing the heart.

His strength is totally dried up (22:15) The Lord experienced intense thirst. One of Jesus' sayings on the cross was "I thirst!" (John 19:28)

His hands and feet are pierced (22:16)

Diabolically from Satan (vv. 19-21a)

"But you, O Lord, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid! Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog! Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen!" (Psalm 22:19-21, ESV)

Jesus refers to three enemies in this passage: the dog, the lion and the wild ox.

The dogs (plural of v. 16) most likely refers to the Roman soldiers who carried out the execution.

The dog (singular of v. 20) is probably a prophetic reference to Pilate, who, even though he finds "no fault" with Jesus, sentences him to death of the cross.

The lion is a representation of Satan who in 1 Pet. 5:8 is called a roaring lion.

At the end of Jesus' temptations in the wilderness the bible says that Satan left him for a season

Now he has returned and he is the roaring lion: He has personally entered Judas in order to accomplish his nefarious work; He has whipped the crowed into a frenzy—first before Pilate, and then at Calvary; he gleefully guides the hands of the Roman soldiers as the nails pierce his hands and feet; he instigates the Jewish leader in their taunts.

The wild ox is a picture of crucifixion itself. The Auroch was a huge wild ox that stood six feet tall at the shoulder that roamed throughout Europe, Asia and North Africa. Picture a Texan Longhorn and you've got a picture of what they looked like. In the near east, the Auroch was often used as a means of torturing and executing a person. Condemned victims, were bound, impaled upon the sharp horns and then the ox was released into the desert to run about until the man died.

The Psalmist writes that crucifixion was like impaling a man upon the horns of a wild ox.

As Jesus walked with the disciples on the Road to Emmaus, the Bible says that "Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in the Scriptures concerning himself."

And can it be that I should gain an interest in my Saviour's blood

Died He for me who caused His pain , for me who Him to death pursued
Amazing love how can it be that Thou my God shoulds't die for me.

Do you have a personal interest in the Saviour's death?

The hymn writer spoke of that personal interest.

He knew that the Saviour had suffered and died for him. You can know that too for yourself. Today.