Sermons on Psalm 22:1

Psalm 22:1 Interpretation:

Navigating Life's Seasons: Trusting God's Guidance and Provision (Community SDA Church of Englewood, NJ) interprets Psalm 22:1 as a part of a trilogy of Psalms (22, 23, and 24) that together depict the crucified, caring, and crowned Christ. The sermon highlights that Psalm 22 is about the crucified Christ, which Jesus quotes on the cross, emphasizing the suffering and abandonment he felt. This interpretation connects the Psalm to the broader narrative of Jesus' life and mission, providing a unique perspective on the passage as part of a larger story of redemption.

Forsaken for Us: The Depth of Christ's Sacrifice (Boulder Mountain Church) interprets Psalm 22:1 by focusing on the words "cry," "my," and "why." The sermon highlights the Greek word for "cry," which is more accurately translated as "shriek," emphasizing the depth of Jesus' anguish. The sermon also uses the analogy of "Divine vandalism" to describe the tearing of the temple curtain, symbolizing the removal of barriers between God and humanity. This interpretation underscores the profound spiritual separation Jesus experienced, likening it to "hell times a billion."

Embracing Lament: Honest Prayer in Suffering (St. Matthew Lutheran Church and School Westland) interprets Psalm 22:1 as an example of the language of lament, emphasizing the importance of being brutally honest with God about one's suffering. The sermon suggests that Jesus' cry of abandonment is a model for expressing deep sorrow and confusion to God, encouraging believers to embrace lament as a form of prayer.

Jesus' Cry: The Depth of Suffering and Salvation (Gospel in Life) interprets Psalm 22:1 by emphasizing the authenticity and rawness of Jesus' cry on the cross. The sermon highlights that Jesus' use of the Aramaic language in his cry is a testament to its historical authenticity, as it was remembered vividly by eyewitnesses. The sermon also notes that Jesus quoting Psalm 22:1 indicates his awareness of fulfilling scripture, suggesting that David's psalm prophetically pointed to Jesus' execution, which was a divine judgment.

Faith in Trials: Finding Jesus in Darkness (Open the Bible) interprets Psalm 22:1 by connecting it to the broader theme of feeling abandoned by God during trials. The sermon draws parallels between David's original cry and Jesus' use of the same words on the cross, emphasizing that both figures experienced a profound sense of divine abandonment. The sermon suggests that this feeling of forsakenness is a common test of faith for believers, who must learn to trust in God's presence even when it seems absent.

Psalm 22:1 Theological Themes:

Navigating Life's Seasons: Trusting God's Guidance and Provision (Community SDA Church of Englewood, NJ) presents the theme of Jesus as a shepherd who cares for his followers in all seasons of life. The sermon emphasizes that Jesus is not only a savior of the past and future but also a present help, providing guidance and care in the current moment. This theme is distinct in its focus on the immediacy of Jesus' care and presence in the believer's life.

Forsaken for Us: The Depth of Christ's Sacrifice (Boulder Mountain Church) presents the theme of substitutionary atonement, where Jesus is forsaken so that believers might be forgiven. The sermon introduces the idea of a "Great Exchange," where Jesus takes on humanity's sin, and in return, believers receive His righteousness. This theme is expanded with the notion that Jesus' obedience led to His abandonment, contrasting with the typical biblical narrative where obedience leads to life.

Embracing Lament: Honest Prayer in Suffering (St. Matthew Lutheran Church and School Westland) introduces the theme of lament as a structured, faith-filled expression of suffering. The sermon emphasizes that lament is not merely venting but a faithful appeal to God, rooted in the hope of His steadfast love and promises. This theme encourages believers to see lament as a vital part of their spiritual life, fostering a deeper trust in God's faithfulness.

Jesus' Cry: The Depth of Suffering and Salvation (Gospel in Life) presents the theme of Jesus' infinite sufferings and perfect obedience. The sermon explains that Jesus' cry of abandonment reflects the ultimate punishment of exclusion from God's presence, which he bore on behalf of humanity. This theme underscores the dual nature of the gospel: Jesus' substitutionary death and his imputed righteousness to believers.

Faith in Trials: Finding Jesus in Darkness (Open the Bible) explores the theme of spiritual desertion as a test of faith. The sermon emphasizes that feeling abandoned by God is a common experience for believers, which challenges them to trust in God's unseen presence. This theme is linked to the broader narrative of Jesus' own experience of abandonment on the cross, providing comfort and assurance to believers in their trials.

Psalm 22:1 Historical and Contextual Insights:

Navigating Life's Seasons: Trusting God's Guidance and Provision (Community SDA Church of Englewood, NJ) provides historical context by explaining the cultural practice of shepherding in ancient Judea. The sermon describes the narrow walkways in the hills of Judea and the open fields without fences, which required shepherds to guide their sheep carefully to avoid them eating neighbors' grain. This insight helps to understand the metaphor of God as a shepherd leading his people on righteous paths.

Forsaken for Us: The Depth of Christ's Sacrifice (Boulder Mountain Church) provides historical context by explaining the significance of the Passover during which Jesus was crucified. The sermon draws parallels between the darkness during Jesus' crucifixion and the darkness of the night when the death angel passed over Egypt, highlighting the fulfillment of prophecy and the symbolic meaning of Jesus as the ultimate Passover lamb.

Finding Healing in Christ's Suffering and Sacrifice (Life in Westport) provides historical insights into the practice of crucifixion, explaining its origins and use by the Romans as a method of execution. The sermon details the physical and psychological torment of crucifixion, highlighting the excruciating pain Jesus endured, which is etymologically linked to the word "excruciating" itself.

Psalm 22:1 Cross-References in the Bible:

Navigating Life's Seasons: Trusting God's Guidance and Provision (Community SDA Church of Englewood, NJ) references John 10:14-15, where Jesus declares himself the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep. This passage is used to support the interpretation of Psalm 22:1 as part of the narrative of Jesus' sacrificial love and care for his followers. The sermon also connects Psalm 22 to Psalm 23 and 24, explaining how they collectively portray the suffering, caring, and triumphant aspects of Christ.

Forsaken for Us: The Depth of Christ's Sacrifice (Boulder Mountain Church) references the tearing of the temple curtain, connecting it to the idea of direct access to God, as described in Hebrews 10:19-22. The sermon also alludes to the prophecy in Psalm 22, which Jesus quotes on the cross, and the narrative of the Passover in Exodus, drawing parallels between these events and Jesus' crucifixion.

Embracing Lament: Honest Prayer in Suffering (St. Matthew Lutheran Church and School Westland) references Psalm 13 and Psalm 22, highlighting the practice of lament in the Psalms. The sermon connects Jesus' cry on the cross to Psalm 22:1, emphasizing the biblical tradition of lament and its role in expressing trust in God's faithfulness despite suffering.

Finding Healing in Christ's Suffering and Sacrifice (Life in Westport) references Isaiah 53, which describes the suffering servant who was "despised and rejected" and "pierced for our transgressions." This passage is used to draw parallels between the prophetic description of suffering and Jesus' crucifixion, reinforcing the fulfillment of prophecy in Jesus' experience.

Jesus' Cry: The Depth of Suffering and Salvation (Gospel in Life) references Amos 8, which speaks of darkness as a sign of God's judgment. This passage is used to explain the darkness that covered the land during Jesus' crucifixion as a symbol of divine judgment being poured out on Jesus for the sins of humanity.

Embracing Lament: Finding Hope in Brokenness (Kiama Anglican Churches) references Lamentations 1 and 2, which express grief over Jerusalem's destruction. These passages are connected to Psalm 22:1 to illustrate the theme of lament and the hope of restoration, drawing parallels between the historical lament of Jerusalem and the personal lament of believers.

Faith in Trials: Finding Jesus in Darkness (Open the Bible) references Job 23 and Psalm 139 to illustrate the theme of feeling abandoned by God. These passages are used to show that even righteous figures like Job experienced a sense of divine absence, reinforcing the idea that such experiences are part of the believer's journey.

Psalm 22:1 Christian References outside the Bible:

Enduring Legacy: Hope Beyond Physical Death (St. Matthew Lutheran Church and School Westland) references Martin Luther's catechism, specifically the third petition of the Lord's Prayer, to discuss the themes of God's will and protection against evil. This reference is used to draw parallels between the struggles faced by David and Jesus and the challenges faced by believers today, emphasizing the continuity of God's protection and the eternal nature of the believer's name in the book of life.

Forsaken for Us: The Depth of Christ's Sacrifice (Boulder Mountain Church) references John Stott, who is quoted as saying, "The essence of sin is man substituting himself for God, while the essence of salvation is God substituting himself for man." This quote is used to illustrate the theological concept of substitutionary atonement and the profound nature of Jesus' sacrifice.

Jesus' Cry: The Depth of Suffering and Salvation (Gospel in Life) references Andrew Delbanco, a secular cultural analyst, who discusses the concept of guilt and its absence in modern culture. Delbanco's analysis is used to highlight the importance of recognizing guilt as a sign of something transcending the self, which is essential for understanding the need for Jesus' sacrificial death.

Psalm 22:1 Illustrations from Secular Sources:

Navigating Life's Seasons: Trusting God's Guidance and Provision (Community SDA Church of Englewood, NJ) uses the analogy of soldiers returning from the Vietnam War to illustrate the dishonor felt by David's army when they were not celebrated for their victory. This analogy helps to convey the emotional and social dynamics of David's situation, making the historical context more relatable to a contemporary audience.

Forsaken for Us: The Depth of Christ's Sacrifice (Boulder Mountain Church) uses the analogy of a hospital visit on Good Friday to illustrate the effects of sin and the hope of resurrection. The sermon describes walking through hospital halls as a reminder of the physical manifestations of sin and the victory over death that Jesus' sacrifice provides.

Jesus' Cry: The Depth of Suffering and Salvation (Gospel in Life) uses an illustration from Walker Percy's novel "Love in the Ruins," where a character named Tom is troubled by his lack of guilt after an affair. This illustration is used to emphasize the idea that guilt is a sign of something greater than oneself, which is necessary for understanding the need for redemption through Jesus' sacrifice.