Psalm 22

Psalm 22 (NRSV)
12 Many bulls encircle me,
strong bulls of Bashan surround me;
13 they open wide their mouths at me,
like a ravening and roaring lion.
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 moutha is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
you lay me in the dust of death.
16 For dogs are all around me;
a company of evildoers encircles me.
My hands and feet have shriveled;b
17 I can count all my bones.
They stare and gloat over me;
18 they divide my clothes among themselves,
and for my clothing they cast lots.
19 But you, O Lord, do not be far away!
O my help, come quickly to my aid!
20 Deliver my soul from the sword,
my lifec from the power of the dog!
21 Save me from the mouth of the lion!
From the horns of the wild oxen you have rescuedd me.
22 I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters;e
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;
stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!
24 For he did not despise or abhor
the affliction of the afflicted;
he did not hide his face from me,f
but heard when Ig cried to him.
25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation;
my vows I will pay before those who fear him.
26 The poorh 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 him.i
28 For dominion belongs to the Lord,
and he rules over the nations.
29 To him,j indeed, shall all who sleep ink the earth bow down;
before him shall bow all who go down to the dust,
and I shall live for him.l
30 Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord,
31 andm proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn,
saying that he has done it.
[1]

Lord,
I marvel at the poet’s faith and ask that his faith will inform my faith. He is clearly in serious trouble. And he is free to proclaim his problems to you with no pretension. As he engages you in prayer, he takes his problem to you in a state of absolute desperation. That desperation forces him to confess his absolute dependency on you. And in that state of physical, emotional and spiritual dependency, he becomes aware of your listening presence. In your presence he remembers desperate prayers long ago answered. Those memories, both personal and historical, remind him of your long persisting faithfulness. And remembering past faithfulness, he is made bold to proclaim that you will be faithful for all generations to come. It’s nearly paradoxical but it seems that his desperation becomes the tap root for hope.

In the words of Paul, it becomes grace delivered through faith. But this time, faith has been stirred by fear.

Lord, I confess that I would be more than happy to avoid those circumstance that generate fear and desperation – though with the present economy we may all be driven to that place. But I do confess my dependence on you and I seek your grace.

PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Speak your fears to God and ask for help.
As you speak, be aware of God’s listening presence and allow yourself to hope.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “Thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen


a Cn: Heb strength

b Meaning of Heb uncertain

c Heb my only one

d Heb answered

e Or kindred

f Heb him

g Heb he

h Or afflicted

i Gk Syr Jerome: Heb you

j Cn: Heb They have eaten and

k Cn: Heb all the fat ones

l Compare Gk Syr Vg: Heb and he who cannot keep himself alive

m Compare Gk: Heb it will be told about the Lord to the generation, 31they will come and

[1] The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989